The gap between the Glasgow rivals has ballooned to a staggering 16 points, with Celtic now just three victories away from clinching the title before the league split.
While Brendan Rodgers’ side delivered a dominant 5-2 victory at the weekend, Rangers stumbled once again, suffering a damaging defeat to Motherwell.
This inconsistency at Ibrox has only highlighted the issues that Naismith and others have repeatedly pointed out—years of poor recruitment and decision-making have left Rangers lagging far behind Celtic.
The former Hearts manager was candid in his critique, condemning the way Rangers have been managed in recent seasons. He suggested that self-interest, rather than the club’s best interests, has been at the core of the problem, resulting in financial difficulties and a squad that falls short of the required standard.
He said: [RecordSport] “It’s sad. It’s sad because they’re so far back, they’re so far behind Celtic, in terms of recruitment, the style and the quality of the squad to the trophies they’ve won.
“It’s a combination of years of making terrible decisions on recruitment. People that are ‘Rangers men’, saying we are going to do this and that. Looking back now they’re not – they’ve not done the best for the club.
“They’ve done the best for the club, which also suits themselves and that’s been from managers to further up the food chain. That’s why the club is so far back, that’s why they’ve lost so much money over the years.
“That’s the problem, I think it needs to have the real people that want the best for the club and not their self-interest. The proof is in the pudding. The squad’s not where it needs to be, the recruitment’s not where it needs to be. Unfortunately they’re a bit away from their biggest rivals.”
There is speculation about a potential takeover at Rangers, with reports suggesting the San Francisco 49ers are close to finalizing a deal. However, simply injecting money into the club won’t be an easy solution, especially with Financial Fair Play regulations restricting spending based on revenue.
For now, Celtic supporters can relax and enjoy the spectacle. Their club is on the brink of securing another title, while their fiercest rivals remain mired in turmoil.
