Mark Hately on Strachan

lil eva · Mark Hately on Strachan

Rangers legend Mark Hateley claims Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will leave Ibrox after today's Old Firm game either looking to make history or facing an ignominious Parkhead exit at the end of the season.

The Light Blues are three points ahead of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions with a game in hand, although two Old Firm matches at Celtic Park have still to be played.

Strachan's sides have failed to score a goal in three derby games following the return of Rangers boss Walter Smith in January last year, and the pressure is on the former Coventry and Southampton boss to retain the title won in his first two seasons at Celtic Park.

Hateley, who had two periods under Smith during the club's nine-in-a-row years in the 1990s, told TalkSPORT that Strachan's future could be decided this afternoon.

"This is the biggest 90 minutes of Gordon's Celtic career," the former England international said.

"At the moment he is going through a dodgy spell at Celtic but in the previous couple of seasons he has been all-conquering.

"It does have to be said that Rangers were not that good under Paul Le Guen and it was difficult for Alex McLeish when he was in charge of the club.

"Gordon has won trophies and championships and he is going for his third title on the trot, and if it happened he would be the first Celtic manager since Jock Stein to achieve that.

"But Celtic need to turn up for the game because if they don't, that's it over. It will probably be another nail in Gordon's coffin.

"But Gordon is Gordon, he has a strong will to win and he has been like that throughout his career. One thing about him is that he does stick by his principles.

"There are 90 minutes ahead and form goes out the window in an Old Firm game. It's the team that has the sleeves rolled up the furthest who wins the game."

chimp

hateley who had his best two games ever for rangers against leeds in that fateful euro tie. had we won - we would have been in the final that year (rangers narrowly missed out) ifs and buts, but if the old leeds board had seen the tills ringing then they would have never have sold out ah if only.

gaz

if he does we should get him in as manager and put macc as his number two