Controversial pundit David Provan has sensationally claimed that “Gers spending this season looks criminal.”
In a column for The Scottish Sun, the ex-Celtic defender let rip on his own club, but loosely accused the Rangers Board of mistreating theirs. He also claims that the Ibrox side would happily see themselves liquidated again to stop 10-in-a-row.
“You get the impression Gers would take another liquidation if it meant stopping the Hoops reaching the big ten,” writes Provan. “For a club that went bust recently, Gers’ spending this season looks criminal.”
Provan would go on to slate Celtic’s transfer policy in this window. He claims Rangers have perhaps made the better moves this January and are now considerably stronger than when they went in to it.
The “criminal” comments might refer to the Board abusing their power at the club metaphorically, but given the campaign by some quarters to condemn Dave King, they are poorly judged and incredibly reckless. They centre around the ridiculous notion that Rangers are ploughing £65k per week into Jermain Defoe’s wages.
Whilst there is little substance to what David Provan is saying, there is however a clear sense of worry.
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He calls for Celtic to “bury” Rangers and the nervousness in his writing is palpable. He then points to £14m “blackholes” in Rangers accounts, and boasts of Celtic’s superior financial wealth.
It’s pretty desperate stuff, but this column stands out for Provan’s “criminal” comments in particular. Regardless of the intention, is it reasonable to expect more care by Provan? Do these claims amount to defamation?
