Former Hearts and Scotland boss Craig Levein has sensationally claimed that Celtic run Scottish football and it was their pressure which called the campaign last season.
The Edinburgh club were of course relegated as a result of Celtic’s title-grabbing efforts with the Parkhead club awarded a dubious “ninth” title in a row despite Rangers’ vocal displeasure.
Speaking as Hearts look to come back up at the first time of asking from the Scottish second tier, Levein criticised the powers that be and Celtic’s influence at the very top of the game.
However, Levein also claims that the same kind of boardroom manipulation happened during the reign of David Murray at Ibrox.
Levein claims he is “fed-up” with both Rangers and Celtic in Scotland’s Old Firm duopoly and its impact on the game.
“I’m fed up with the two of them. Honestly, it’s all people think football is in Scotland, and the Press play up to it all the time,” said Levein [Football Daft].
“This whole stuff last season with Hearts getting relegated was a nonsense, an absolute nonsense, and part of it was to do with Celtic getting the title so that they could try and break this record of nine-in-a-row.
“I just can’t be bothered with it. For a while David Murray ran Scottish football and Rangers were calling all the shots and getting all the good publicity and now I think Celtic are doing exactly the same.
“They call the shots with all the big decisions in Scotland and I think it’s really unfair. So I can’t be bothered with the nonsense.”
The Ibrox side went to war with the SPFL after the member’s body ignored a Dundee vote which would’ve prevented the season being curtailed, before leaked WhatsApps appeared to show someone called “Peter” influencing Dundee director John Nelms to change the vote.
This would end the season – not before Rangers demanded the suspension of SPFL CEO Neil Doncaster and an investigation into the organisation – and Scottish football remains fractured.
Levein clearly thinks the powers that be have bent over backwards to appease Celtic in their dubious charge for a record-breaking 10th title in a row.
But despite all the interference and dodgy handshakes, Rangers’ early season form has them worried that no matter their off-field influence the Gers can stop them this season.
