Under fire broadcaster Clive Tyldesley has backed up claims he made about Rangers’ title hopes and Celtic’s claims to a run at 10IAR.
The RangersTV man was speaking after he talked up the Ibrox club’s title ambitions and talked down Celtic’s spurious claims to a potential 10th title in a row.
Here’s what Clive said originally:
“My personal view for what it’s worth is that stopping 10 in a row is not a motivation,” said Tyldesley [RangersTV].
“Motivation for me is a positive energy it’s what you can achieve not what you can stop or prevent.
“55 should be the magic number for the season, not 10.
“Rangers weren’t even in the Premiership for four of those nine Celtic seasons.”
This is a view very much held by Rangers supporters and you’d think even our friends to the east would forgive Tyldesley for taking this stance.
But such has been the outpouring of criticism for the controversial comments Tyldesley has now spoken out to further explain them.
“It has been completely re-reported from what I actually said,” said Tyldesley [Glasgow Times].
“It obviously came off the top of the head. There is almost this dark, understood significance to this season that I have heard about and seen on my social media feed amongst Rangers fans.
“If the remark was directed at anyone, it was at any Rangers fan that is unnecessarily obsessing about stopping ten-in-a-row. I prefer to look to positive things to stimulate and inspire in general.
“The number 10 is the perfect source of motivation for Celtic because that is a positive thought for them.
“Rangers are emerging as genuine contenders again and that is their positive from the last couple of seasons.
“All of the early indications are that this could be an exciting title race and I prefer to look forward to that than look back at anything.
“As with all things Twitter, as soon as something appears for ten minutes it becomes the gospel. What I would like to make absolutely clear is that you will never, ever, hear me say ‘we’ during a game for Rangers TV.
“That would be unprofessional and it wouldn’t represent my thoughts. I am not a Rangers fan any more than I am a Kilmarnock or a Celtic fan.”
Tyldesley would then go on explain that he has absolutely no allegiance to either side – comments which won’t exactly warm him to Rangers fans – and that he’s in no position to put an asterisk next to anything.
The club’s supporters had originally lauded the legendary English broadcaster for his earlier comments.
“I am certainly not in a position to try and put asterisks next to any club’s achievements,” said Tyldesley.
“I may not be an expert on the Old Firm or Scottish football but I pay enough interest and do sufficient research to have heard all of the arguments about the average points last season or liquidation. That’s fine, on you go.
“All I am trying to do in the commentary is be professional, serve the audience and reflect my understanding of what football means to genuine football fans in the city. I think, and I hope I am not wrong, that a bit of banter is an important element of the Old Firm rivalry.
“I understand that it goes beyond that for certain people and that just by taking a match fee from Rangers that I have gone over to the dark side. I would happily work for Celtic TV too. I am a professional.
“I don’t want to do the commentary in handcuffs, I want to be able to have a little bit of fun as well as a bit of insight and comment during the course of the game, as I would with any other match.”
Rangers have been lauded for securing broadcaster Tyldesley as a commentator for RangersTV as the club invest heavily in their media coverage amid closed door matches.
