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      Celtic’s hopes of landing Howe as boss could be dashed by Bournemouth’s promotion push

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      BOURNEMOUTH’S promotion push could dash Celtic’s hopes of landing Eddie Howe as boss.The Hoops’ No 1 target wants to take some of his old backroom staff with him if he accepts the job — but may be priced out of it.
      Former Bournemouth manager Eddie HoweCredit: PA
      Coaches Stephen Purches and Stephen Weatherstone are already on good contracts and will pick up rises if they make it back to the Premier League.
      Bournemouth technical director Richard Hughes has also been earmarked for a crucial role behind the scenes.
      But promotion will make them more expensive for Celtic both in wages and possible compensation deals with the Cherries.
      Howe and Celtic may have to wait until after the play-off final on May 29 to see if Bournemouth are promoted or not.
      Howe wants to bring Richard Hughes, left, to CelticCredit: Getty
      But that wouldn’t suit Hoops chiefs — with the squad due back for pre-season on June 21.
      Celtic’s Champions League qualifiers start on July 20 and the new boss has a major rebuild on his hands.
      Howe emerged as the preferred candidate for Celtic after talks with Dermot Desmond — but a deal has yet to be sealed.
      And time is now ticking as the Hoops bid to win the title back from Rangers and make the Champions League.
      Meanwhile, national clinical director Jason Leitch reckons being able to have 10,000 fans at the Scottish Cup final – were it played elsewhere – would be a stretch.

      GLOVE ARRIVAL Celtic keeper Ross Doohan snapped up by Dundee United on emergency loan

      Fans have called for the showpiece game to be moved from Hampden to stadiums such as Celtic Park or Ibrox to allow supporters in.
      But Leitch said: “I think having 10,000 supporters in is a stretch. The final decision about where the Cup final is is nothing to do with me of course.
      “The game is when we are in Level 2 so without seeking permission you can have 500 supporters at an outdoor, seated event.
      “That means you can do that without coming to the government or the local authority without permission.

      “But we have also said that if you want more than that and can do it safely, there will be a mechanism to do that.
      “That’s how we have ended up with the Euros at 12,500. They will just have to say how it will be safe.
      “If you want more than 500 you will have to come with a plan for transportation, parking, policing, Covid officers and handwashing, etc.
      “That is not far away; level 2 is May 17. We would be cautious but not ridiculous.”

      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

      British Super League being planned in secret with Celtic and Rangers joining Prem in new US-style play-off system More

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      What is a British Super League, will Rangers and Celtic join, how many clubs will it have and how will it work?

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      THE European Super League is out but the British Super League may well be in.SunSport can exclusively reveal that the Premier League is still working towards reforming its structure despite the European Super League being shot down in flames.
      Scottish champions Rangers could soon join a British Super LeagueCredit: Getty
      The Old Firm could fight it out in front of a huge global TV audienceCredit: PA
      And top of the list of plans being actively discussed is a British Super League, which would see Rangers and Celtic invited.
      SunSport’s Martin Lipton gives you all the lowdown on whether the competition will come into fruition and how it would work.
      How would the British Super League work? Who will join and who will go?
      While the details are yet to emerge, the plan would see an invitation to Rangers and Celtic to leave the SPFL and join the Premier League.
      Some of the proposers would accept a short-term extension of the Premier League as it is now, while others are already pushing for 18 clubs in the top flight.
      But with 14 clubs needed to approve, including those in danger of relegation, there would be rucks – and turkeys don’t vote for Christmas.
      How a British Super League could work

      Would the British Super League have a US-style play-off system, and how would it work?
      An end-of-season play-off is one of the systems being discussed to increase interest in the competition.
      It would be very easy to put into place, with a two-legged semi-final with first against fourth and playing the second leg at home, followed by a probable one-off Grand final.
      What would happen to promotion from the Championship when changes were made?
      Almost certainly there would be fewer up or more down, maybe over two seasons.
      This is what happened when the Premier League was reduced from 22 teams to 20 in 1995 and Middlesbrough and Bolton replaced relegated Crystal Palace, Norwich, Leicester and Ipswich 

      Would Rangers and Celtic also join the FA Cup/League Cup – or remain in the Scottish cup competitions?
      That would be a decision for the FA and SFA to make – but it is likely that they would play in the Scottish cups if they were allowed.
      Will other Scottish clubs be frozen out of ever entering via promotion? Will they be in favour of move?
      Again, this is far from clear.
      It is suggested the likes of Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibs and the Dundee clubs might see a league without the Old Firm as far more winnable.
      But a Super League would only be interested in Rangers and Celtic. And what would happen if one of them got relegated?
      The likes of Aberdeen could be in favour of the move if it gives them more chance of winning Scottish titlesCredit: Getty
      Why will it work this time after failed attempts in past?
      That’s the million dollar question (and we’ve had enough talk about money this week).
      There will be plenty of opposition, which might prove intractable.
      But this time Fifa would approve – if the FA and SFA did – after signalling they backed cross-border leagues only last month.
      In 2019, president Gianni Infantino said: “We need to be open to discussions.
      “The Belgians and the Dutch have been discussing creating a Benelux league and these discussions have been going on for 20 years and we are always saying no, because we are based on national leagues.
      “But maybe it helps? Maybe it is the only way out, maybe in Europe they have to think about this, maybe in Africa.
      “I was proposing something like this for Africa. I think we have the duty to study these things then we will see where it goes.”
      Gianni Infantino has declared that Fifa could be open to cross-border leaguesCredit: AP
      How much money is involved and how would all clubs benefit from this?
      Who knows? But the argument is that a British League, including the Glasgow giants with their worldwide fan bases, would have both a domestic and global appeal to broadcasters and sponsors.
      What is certain is that there would be demands for greater trickle down “solidarity” payments to the lower reaches on both sides of Hadrian’s Wall. More

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      British Premier League: What Rangers and Celtic have said as idea of Scottish giants moving south returns in shock plans

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      FEWER topics in Scottish sport have had more column inches spent on them over the years than the notion of Celtic and Rangers joining the Premier League in England. While it is a topic which has rumbled on for 20 years or more without resolution – it is back on the agenda with a vengeance right now amid the fall-out from the failed move for a European Super League.
      Could Rangers and Celtic join an expanded English Premier League?
      More fans are in favour of a British Super League than against it, according to our exclusive poll
      We exclusively revealed that the idea of these two Glasgow giants being invited to join an expanded British Premier League was back on the agenda.
      And an exclusive SunSport poll revealed more fans were in favour of the British Super League (47%) than against it (38%), with 14% unsure.
      So will the notion of Celtic and Rangers joining a cross-border British league do better at capturing the mood than the Euro Super League?
      Well, possibly – even if the usual heavyweight obstacles remain, on both sides of the border.
      In any case it is certainly a topic on which no shortage of opinions have been expressed over the years – and here SunSport collates some of the best of them.
      MARTIN O’NEILL
      Celtic legend Martin O’Neill once claimed the two Scottish giants should be in the Premier LeagueCredit: PA:Press Association
      THE former Celtic boss – speaking in 2009, around the time English Premier League clubs voted against a proposal from Bolton’s Phil Gartside which would have seen them included in the second tier – said:
      “My personal thought is that Celtic and Rangers would enhance the Premier League.
      “Glasgow is a phenomenal football city. Celtic house 60,000 fans and Rangers house 50,000 fans every game.
      “I’m not sure about Rangers but I know Celtic’s capacity could go from 60,000 to 80,000 overnight, without a doubt.
      “When I was manager a number of years ago, there was some talk of both teams joining the Premier League in some capacity.
      “There was mention of them being put in the Championship too, or maybe even lower down than that, and then making them work their way up through promotion.
      “If forced to do that they would eventually get to the top and end up as monumental players in the Premier League. Of course, the sceptics would say ‘Why do it?’ But I’m talking about enhancement.”
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      MICHAEL BALL
      In 2018, former Rangers ace Michael Ball opened up on the potential mergeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      THE former Rangers star – speaking in 2018, about his arrival at the Gers from Everton in 2001 – said:
      “I went to Ibrox and met David Murray and he sold the move to me.
      “He showed me around Ibrox and told me stories. It was fascinating.
      “He told me what he wanted to do, which was to be in the English Premier League in two years time. It was agreed with Celtic and Uefa.
      “He sold it to me and I phoned my dad on the pitch and told him I was signing.”

      RICHARD SCUDAMORE
      THE Premier League in 2009 – after the Gartside proposal was defeated – said:
      “We have made a clear and unequivocal statement.
      “No means no – Celtic and Rangers are not coming in.
      “The clubs were of the opinion that bringing Celtic and Rangers into any form of Premier League set-up was not desirable or viable.”
      BRENDAN RODGERS
      Brendan Rodgers has managed in both the Scottish and English top flights
      THE Leicester and ex-Celtic boss – shortly after compiling unbeaten Scottish season in September 2017 – said:
      “Celtic in the Premier League would be an amazing story.
      “It would be an amazing experience for everyone, not just for Celtic but for other teams.
      “I just don’t think it would ever happen. There are so many barriers to go over. Celtic are one of the great iconic clubs in the world.
      “If they were in the Premier League, what that would generate… we played, for example, Ross County at the weekend, we got 58-odd thousand.
      “Around 60,000 every home game. You could take over virtually every away stadium when you go away, the travelling support will bring 10 or 12,000.”
      KEITH WYNESS
      THE former Aberdeen chief executive – speaking December 2001 when plans were already being mooted – said:
      “[Celtic and Rangers] are like two old girls in Sauchiehall Street raising their skirts to any league that walks past.”
      NEIL DONCASTER
      SPFL chief Neil Doncaster spoke up about the possible move in 2016Credit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
      THE SPFL chief executive – speaking in 2016 when a fresh EFL proposal for Rangers and Celtic to join the fifth tier was mooted – said:
      “As we have discovered ourselves a league structure and format is a topic that never ever goes away.
      “It’s always in debate, certainly in Scotland but that’s equally the case in other leagues around the world.
      “So it’s no surprise that the English Football League should be talking about theirs again.
      “I’ve clearly seen the reports on a possible fifth tier and we’ll see what emerges from the discussions with their clubs.
      “There will be a lot of change in European football over the next two decades.
      “We need to do what we can to ensure the interest of Scottish football are promoted and protected.
      “I think we can expect there will be more focus in the years ahead throughout Europe on cross-border leagues.
      “We’ve got our own cross-border competition in the Irn-Bru Cup where we welcome teams from Northern Ireland and Wales.
      “It’s a concept that is relatively new, it’s certainly new for us, but I suspect it will feature increasingly in European football landscape in the years ahead.
      “We need to be prepared and positioned for that.”
      DAVID MOYES
      David Moyes manager of West Ham United has been linked with the Celtic job
      THE West Ham boss – speaking in October 2020 – said:
      “I think that Celtic and Rangers should have been joining the Premier League.
      “But that is not going to be the case, those two clubs up there are huge and I think it would have been great.
      “As someone who comes from Scotland I think both Celtic and Rangers are completely under estimated in what they would bring to a league.
      “I think having them and their level of support would be good for the Premier League. That’s my opinion.
      “Yes it would effect Scottish football, just like the effect would come if some so-called bigger clubs went into a European league. We wouldn’t necessarily like that.
      “It would be incredible. I don’t think it will ever happen because of the power of the other clubs and that.”
      STEVEN GEERRARD
      Could former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard take on Liverpool?
      THE Rangers manager – speaking January 2020 – said:
      “I would love the Scottish league to filter into the English leagues. All of them. To save and help the Scottish game a lot. It would be unbelievable.
      “Could you picture now, the Premier League with those two clubs in it?
      “But even for their own clubs sake, let’s use Bournemouth for example. Imagine Bournemouth going to Celtic Park twice a season, or once a season or in a cup game.
      “The atmosphere at Celtic Park and Rangers is off the scale. It’s a unique experience for a fan, for a player, to go and coach there.
      “I think it would be unbelievable. I don’t think it will happen.
      “It’s massive. It’s massive but unique. I don’t think everyone understands the size of Rangers.
      “People from Liverpool or people from around England don’t realise how big Celtic and Rangers are because they only watch the Old Firm games.”
      DERMOT DESMOND
      Dermot Desmond has long hoped that Celtic could play in a cross border set-up
      Celtic’s largest single shareholder – speaking earlier this year – said:
      “Everything now is about the size of clubs and their followings. It’s become a digital world – streaming, Zoom.
      “This pandemic has changed things.
      “Now, what are we going to see with football? Will we see clubs sell their own international rights, take more control of their finances internationally?
      “If that’s the case, because you know the top clubs in England want to control their international rights, those rights will be far more valuable if they’re playing against Celtic and Rangers.
      “Celtic and Rangers are in the top eight clubs in Great Britain by any metric – support, attendance, international appeal.
      “At some stage, there’s going to be the realisation that if they want to maximise their revenues, then there’ll be a British Premier League.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      British Super League being planned in secret with Celtic and Rangers joining Prem in new US-style play-off system More

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      British Premier League: How Rangers and Celtic match up against English opposition on stadiums, transfers and honours

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      ENGLAND’S major clubs are looking to shake things up – and they want the Old Firm to join them.Plans for a European Super League have been binned but the big hitters down south now want to establish a new British Super League with Rangers and Celtic invited to join them.
      Rangers and Celtic fans could soon be adding noise and colour to a British League
      And it’s understood the new proposals would get the backing of Fifa, Uefa and the UK Government.
      Chat about the Scottish giants joining up with their English counterparts has been rumbling on for years.
      But it now looks like it could finally become a reality.
      The Premier League clubs have looked at Celtic and Rangers’ massive grounds, long honours lists and huge fanbases and decided they want to introduce that to their game.
      But just how do the Scottish pair stack up with the 20 best clubs in England?
      We’ve taken a look at a number of key areas ahead of the British Super League’s foundation.
      STADIUMS
      Celtic and Rangers would have the fourth and eighth biggest capacities respectively in a British League
      Ibrox and Celtic Park are two of the most famous grounds in world football.
      And when full to capacity they are usually intimidating and hostile cauldrons that put the fear in the opposition.
      That atmosphere could be huge in helping the Glasgow pair get the upper hand when Premier League clubs come calling.
      Parkhead’s capacity of 60,411 would make it the fourth biggest stadium in a new British League behind Man Utd’s Old Trafford ground, the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Arsenal’s Emirates.
      Rangers would have the eighth biggest ground after West Ham’s London Stadium, Man City’s home at the Etihad, Liverpool’s famous Anfield stadium and St James’ Park in Newcastle.
      Both Scottish clubs operate out of stadia bigger than the other 12 Premier League outfits including Chelsea, Everton, Leeds, and Leicester.
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      TRANSFERS
      Rangers and Celtic lack the spending power of the big English clubs
      Rangers and Celtic may dominate the Scottish landscape but they remain the poor relations with England when it comes to spending power.
      The Ibrox side’s record transfer remains the £12m paid to Chelsea for Tore Andre Flo in 2000.
      Celtic broke the bank in 2018 to sign Odsonne Edouard on a permanent deal from PSG.
      But both those deals are dwarfed by the fortunes spent by the Premier League clubs to land their own record signings.
      Man United lead the way with the £89m shelled out for Paul Pogba, followed by the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton to recruit former Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk.
      Even relative minnows West Brom and Burnley have broken the bank to boost their squads, with the Baggies paying £18m for Grady Diangana and Burnley laying out £15m for Ben Gibson.
      But should the British League prove as lucrative as the Premier League then it won’t be long before Rangers and Celtic are soon smashing their own record transfer deals.
      HONOURS
      Rangers and Celtic have won significantly more honours than their English counterparts
      Rangers and Celtic do, however, lead the way when it comes to the list of major honours won by every club.
      The Glasgow pair have lifted more than 100 trophies each, with Rangers out in front with 116 and Celtic next with 111.
      The Ibrox club’s 55 league titles is a world record with the Hoops hot on their heels with 51.
      That puts them miles in front of the major English clubs. Man United lead the way with 66 domestic and European honours, followed by Liverpool (65) then Arsenal (48), Chelsea (31), Man City and Spurs (both 26).
      At the other end of the table, Crystal Palace and Southampton have just one major trophy win apiece, while Fulham and Brighton are still waiting for their first silverware success.
      TRAVEL
      Rangers and Celtic fans will be clocking up the miles to watch their team in the British League
      Rangers and Celtic’s current furthest matchday trip is the 180-mile journey to take on Ross County in Dingwall.
      But their supporters will need to really put in the miles if they are to watch their team in the British League.
      While Newcastle is slightly closer than Dingwall at 151 miles, most other away days will involve round trips of more than 500 miles.
      And any fans wishing to drive to take in an away match with Brighton will clock up 926 miles journeying to the English south coast and back.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      British Super League being planned in secret with Celtic and Rangers joining Prem in new US-style play-off system More

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      Jose Mourinho enters next Celtic manager market as ex-Tottenham boss claims he is ready to jump back in

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      JOSE MOURINHO has entered the race to become the next Celtic manager with the sacked Spurs boss ‘ready to go again’.The Special One was relieved of his duties in North London on Monday morning.
      Jose Mourinho is in the running for the vacant managerial post at Celtic following his Spurs sackingCredit: Reuters
      But he insisted he does not need a break from football.
      And with no permanent Celtic boss sorted for next season, could that mean a knee slide along the touchline north of the border before long?
      European Super League-bound Tottenham announced the 58-year-old was fired just six days before the Carabao Cup final.
      So could Mourinho and the Hoops be a match?
      His wages, line of suitors and past honours make it an extremely farfetched scenario.
      Not to mention – as SunSport broke first – Eddie Howe remains the overwhelming favourite for the Parkhead job.
      However, Mourinho can be backed at as short at 13/1 with Paddy Power to tackle Steven Gerrard’s rampant Rangers next season.
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      The Portuguese said on Monday that he did not need to recharge his batteries and was ready to jump straight back into another job.
      But this could be the time when he takes a stab at his national side and go back to being a pundit.

      Betfair have the Portugal job as favourite for Mourinho’s next job, with any MLS team and Juventus next in the market.
      A return to Porto and taking over from Gareth Southgate at England are the next two followed by the Celts gig.

      He has a reputation of falling out with the top players at his club, suggesting it is a ‘battle of the egos’ that he gets involved in.
      But Spurs stars Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, two players who could walk into most clubs around Europe, were both disappointed to see him going.
      Kane posted on social media: “Thank you for everything Boss. A pleasure to have worked together. I wish you all the best for your next chapter.”
      While his Tottenham strike partner Son said: “I have no words to describe how I’m feeling, it’s been a pleasure to work with you, I’m sorry things didn’t work out and truly grateful for the time we’ve had together. Good luck and all the best for the future.”
      ⚽ Follow all of the latest news and live reaction to Jose Mourinho’s sacking here
      Eddie Howe remains the favourite for the Parkhead gig after a year out of the gameCredit: PA

      Tottenham fans react to Jose Mourinho sacking in the week of their Carabao Cup final game against Man City More

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      Jose Mourinho enters next Celtic manager market as ex-Spurs boss claims he’s ready to jump back in

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      JOSE MOURINHO has entered the race to become the next Celtic manager with the sacked Spurs boss ‘ready to go again’.The Special One was relieved of his duties in North London on Monday morning.
      Jose Mourinho is in the running for the vacant managerial post at Celtic following his Spurs sackingCredit: Reuters
      But he insisted he does not need a break from football.
      And with no permanent Celtic boss sorted for next season, could that mean a knee slide along the touchline north of the border before long?
      European Super League-bound Tottenham announced the 58-year-old was fired just six days before the Carabao Cup final.
      So could Mourinho and the Hoops be a match?
      His wages, line of suitors and past honours make it an extremely farfetched scenario.
      Not to mention – as SunSport broke first – Eddie Howe remains the overwhelming favourite for the Parkhead job.
      However, Mourinho can be backed at as short at 13/1 with Paddy Power to tackle Steven Gerrard’s rampant Rangers next season.
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      The Portuguese said on Monday that he did not need to recharge his batteries and was ready to jump straight back into another job.
      But this could be the time when he takes a stab at his national side and go back to being a pundit.
      Betfair have the Portugal job as favourite for Mourinho’s next job, with any MLS team and Juventus next in the market.
      A return to Porto and taking over from Gareth Southgate at England are the next two followed by the Celts gig.

      He has a reputation of falling out with the top players at his club, suggesting it is a ‘battle of the egos’ that he gets involved in.
      But Spurs stars Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min, two players who could walk into most clubs around Europe, were both disappointed to see him going.
      Kane posted on social media: “Thank you for everything Boss. A pleasure to have worked together. I wish you all the best for your next chapter.”
      While his Tottenham strike partner Son said: “I have no words to describe how I’m feeling, it’s been a pleasure to work with you, I’m sorry things didn’t work out and truly grateful for the time we’ve had together. Good luck and all the best for the future.”
      ⚽ Follow all of the latest news and live reaction to Jose Mourinho’s sacking here
      Eddie Howe remains the favourite for the Parkhead gig after a year out of the gameCredit: PA

      Jose Mourinho clears out Tottenham office – including pictures from Amazon doc – as he breaks silence after sacking More

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      Rangers 2 Celtic 0: Steven Gerrard’s Gers end Old Firm rivals’ trophy hopes as champions set sights on double

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      RANGERS’ hopes of a league and Scottish Cup Double are ON after a derby win over Celtic at Ibrox.The Light Blues ran out 2-0 winners to secure a spot in the quarter-final stage of the competition as they aim to add to their Premiership triumph.
      Rangers claimed a big Old Firm win on SundayCredit: The Sun
      Steven Davis and an own goal from Jonjoe Kenny handed Steven Gerrard’s men another victory over the Hoops this season and ensured their rivals won’t end the season with any silverware this campaign.
      Celtic were handed a massive chance to pull a goal back with 11 minutes to play from the spot after sub Leigh Griffiths was bundled over by Joe Aribo.
      However, Allan McGregor dived low to his right to deny Odsonne Edouard. It was a good stop from the Rangers keeper but the Frenchman will be disappointed with his effort.
      Betfred Cup winners St Johnstone are next up for Rangers with the duo set to go head-to-head at Ibrox next weekend.
      The hosts – who are yet to taste defeat in the league this season – grabbed the opener after just 10 minutes following a stunning goal from veteran midfielder Davis.
      The Northern Ireland international produced a wonderful acrobatic overhead kick to leave Hoops keeper Scott Bain with no chance following Aribo’s deflected shot that spun through the air into his path in the box.
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      Steven Gerrard had Allan McGregor to thank for the clean sheetCredit: Getty
      The goalkeeper saved Odsonne Edouard’s penalty with the score at 2-0Credit: The Sun
      Celtic grew into the game despite trailing with Edouard forcing McGregor into a fine spot before Filip Helander cleared off his own goal line as the visitors looked for a way back into the contest.
      But they were unable to make the pressure count and Rangers doubled their lead 10 minutes before the break.
      A well worked move released Aribo down the right-side and after tearing past Diego Laxalt with some impressive footwork the midfielder fired across the face of goal towards Ryan Kent but the last touch came off Kenny as he turned the ball past his own keeper.
      One minute into the second half McGregor was forced into a flying save from David Turnbull as John Kennedy’s men looked for the perfect start to the half to bring them back into the match.
      The Rangers No1 was called into action once again as he produced another big save, something he has done on numerous occasions this season.
      Kenny’s ball down the channel found Elyounoussi who turned away from two Rangers defenders before firing low at goal but McGregor was quick off his line to deny the attacker with his body.

      The rebound landed at the feet of Edouard but the Frenchman fired over the bar.
      Two minutes later the Hoops missed a golden chance to pull a goal back.
      A mistake at the back from Nathan Patterson allowed Edouard to race down on goal before laying in Elyounoussi – but the Norwegian took a poor touch that allowed McGregor to dive out to his feet and deny the attacker. It really was a huge chance for the Hoops man.
      Just after the hour the hosts could have put their Old Firm rivals out of sight.
      Steven Davis acrobatically put Rangers aheadCredit: Getty
      The Gers are looking to pull off a league and cup doubleCredit: The Sun

      Kent expertly turned Brown before unleashing a shot at goal and after being denied by Bain, the follow-up fell to Morelos in the box but he fired straight into the hands of Celtic No1.
      With 11 minutes to play Celtic were handed a massive chance to get themselves back into the contest after Griffiths went down after a push from Aribo
      But McGregor produced a fine stop to deny the Frenchman from 12-yards.
      It proved to be the last act of the game as the Light Blues advanced to last eight with St Johnstone awaiting the champions next weekend.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Celtic manager search has TALIBAN following developments and captain Brown hailed as ‘very strong leader’

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      CELTIC’s search for a new manager has dominated the headlines since February – and now even the TALIBAN are following developments.Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and Hoops fan Jamie Doran has been filming a new documentary in Afghanistan.
      The Taliban are following developments on Celtic’s search for a new manager, it’s been claimedCredit: The Sun
      Jamie Doran in 2002 has been filming a documentary in AfghanistanCredit: Alamy
      This week, he travelled with journalist Najibullah Quraishi and a cameraman to mountains outside the city of Herat, near the border with Iran.
      They were due to interview one of the Taliban’s military leaders for the documentary, which is scheduled to be released later this year.
      However, Doran was surprised when fighters who accompanied them as guards recognised the Celtic jersey he was wearing.
      And he admits it was bizarre to hear of their interest in the club’s search for a new manager, and players such as Odsonne Edouard and Scott Brown.
      Speaking to BelfastMedia.com, Doran said: “It was a pretty bizarre situation.
      “They seemed just like ordinary blokes in many ways, wanting to know which team I supported.
      “They’d obviously spotted the Celtic top underneath my tunic and, when I confirmed this to them, they couldn’t stop talking about Odsonne Edouard, Scott Brown – ‘he is a very strong leader’ – and a couple of other players.
      “But the biggest topic was the new manager.
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      Taliban fighters in AfghanistanCredit: AFP
      “They’d heard of Eddie Howe, but wondered why we weren’t going for someone more famous. I wasn’t about to disagree with them.
      “From what I could gather, their fascination with the club stems from the support Celtic fans have given to the Palestinian cause over the years.
      “This is close to the heart of all Muslims and the backing from the Celtic diaspora has obviously struck a chord.”
      We told you earlier this year how Doran had made a documentary on Celtic and its supporters for Al Jazeera TV.
      And speaking at the time, he admitted it was vastly different from anything else he had ever made.

      He said: “I’ve been shot at and dodged bombs on so many occasions, I’ve lost count, so no doubt they expected Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Islamic State, Al-Shabaab and the other usual suspects to feature in anything I planned to make.
      “But no, not this time. This time I wanted to do something very different.
      “I suggested that we produce a series on football fans; on what it means to be a true follower of six of the most iconic teams in the world.”
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