Celtic Treble winner writes off Rangers challenge despite 49ers takeover and insists questions remain unanswered
The Ibrox club are expected to be stronger next season but one ex-Parkhead star isn't running scared
Former Celtic star Bobby Petta insists his old club should have no fears over a renewed challenge from rivals Rangers next season despite their takeover.
The Dutchman - who spent five years with the Hoops and won a domestic Treble under Martin O'Neill in 2001 - said it 'doesn't matter' what happens at Ibrox because Brendan Rodgers will lead Celtic to five in a row.
Rangers were taken over by NFL giants San Francisco 49ers' investment wing with the promise of an initial £20million cash injection to help improve the Light Blues squad.
But Petta, speaking to the Sunday Post, isn't concerned and said: 'For me, it doesn't matter what happens at Rangers. Sure, keep an eye on it and be vigilant, but they shouldn't be able to get too close to Celtic in the next year.
'I think Celtic will win the league and that will be five-in-a-row. It's getting higher and higher all the time.
'It's up to Rangers to be stronger and more consistent to make a proper challenge over 38 games.
'Let's see if they are capable of doing it under the new owners and the new manager.
"There are still lots of questions unanswered at Rangers.
'If I was at Celtic right now I'd be thinking to myself: 'Bring it on and let's see what you've got'. I would not be scared in any manner of Rangers.'
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
here and our Celtic community here.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Newcastle set to announce first summer signing after beating Real Madrid and Barcelona to stunning free transfer
Toon are also eyeing two Prem stars STRUCK A CORD Newcastle set to announce first summer signing after beating Real Madrid and Barcelona to stunning free transfer Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEWCASTLE are set to announce Spanish whizkid Antonio Cordero as their first summer signing. SunSport revealed in January that the winger, 18, would reject a contract extension at Malaga to join the Magpies on a free. 2 Newcastle are closing in on Spanish whizkid Antonio Cordero Real Madrid, Barcelona and Porto held talks with Cordero but he has opted for a five-year deal at St James' Park. Malaga confirmed last night the teen — who hit six goals in Spain's second tier this season — will leave on June 30. Newcastle have held talks with ex-Madrid executive David Hopkinson about taking over as CEO from Darren Eales, who is stepping down due to ill health. Cordero's family visited the North East earlier this year ahead of his proposed move to Tyneside. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS CRYS-IS Crystal Palace could be THROWN OUT of Europa League with fierce rivals benefiting It's understood that Newcastle could initially loan him out to continue his development away from the glare of the Prem. Ajax have been listed as a potential destination for the teenager next season. Cordero, who will turn 19 in November, played 40 times for Malaga this season, with 39 of those games in the league. Meanwhile, Newcastle have checked on 19-year old Rennes centre back Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal who has starred for Morocco U20s. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Boudlal is yet to make his senior debut for Rennes and spent the second half of the season on loan at Ligue 2 Amiens. Eddie Howe's side are also interested in Crystal Palace centre back Marc Guehi and Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo. Champions League places CONFIRMED after Aston Villa VAR controversy as Newcastle have to be saved by Man Utd Mbeumo has reportedly said he would prefer a move to Manchester United, with Arsenal also linked. Newcastle earned a place in next season's Champions League on the final day, but could lose goalkeeper Nick Pope to Leeds.
Press and Journal
3 hours ago
- Press and Journal
Duncan Shearer: Number 9 like Bojan Miovski - but not Miovski - top of the transfer wish-list for Aberdeen this summer
A striker must be top of the list of priorities for Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin this summer. The Dons confirmed their list of departures last week – and none of the names came as a surprise. Kevin Nisbet and Oday Dabbagh were the two strikers on the list of players leaving Pittodrie, and as well as Nisbet did for the club, I'll be surprised if we see him back. Millwall boss Alex Neil will, quite rightly, want to have a look at the Scotland international for himself, and it's no secret Nisbet will be on a very good wage in the English Championship. A package to bring the player back to Pittodrie would eat up a significant portion of the club's summer transfer kitty. Sadly, the same would be said for any Aberdeen fans dreaming of Bojan Miovski making a shock return to Pittodrie this summer… Reports from Spain claim Girona are looking to move the North Macedonia international on, but as much as I'd love to see Miovski leading the lead for Aberdeen again, I think the chances are slim. If Girona are willing to send him on loan then maybe, but even then it seems unlikely for me – and I just don't see the Dons paying the substantial fee it would take to bring him back permanently. It's a Miovski-type figure they should be looking for, though. We knew nothing of him when he arrived in Scottish football from MTK Budapest, but it became apparent very quickly he was a class act. Aberdeen's scouting network has expanded significantly in the Dave Cormack era and the net is cast much wider these days. If the Dons can pull another Mivoski out of the hat then their team will carry a serious attacking threat next season. There will be other positions in need of strengthening, such as the left-back position now that Jack MacKenzie has signed for Plymouth Argyle. But keeping the Aberdeen squad together is just as important as the recruitment. Shayden Morris' breakthrough season for the club saw him named player of the year at Pittodrie. Five goals and 13 assists are a fine return for a wide player, but with Morris now moving into the final year of his contract, extending his stay is crucial. If he maintains the progress he has made then I can see a big move happening for him in the future. His pace alone is such an asset. But the club needs to protect its investment in the former Fleetwood Town winger. Leighton Clarkson's strong end to the season will also have attracted interest – and you don't come through the Liverpool academy unless you have something about you. Mats Knoester has also been outstanding since he joined the club in the winter window. The Dutchman was a big reason for the club's recovery from a mid-season slump and was terrific alongside Jack Milne and Alfie Dorrington in the Scottish Cup final win against Celtic. I should probably add the manager to that list, too. When you beat one of the big boys – and they don't come bigger in Scottish football than Celtic right now – people tend to take notice. When you beat them for silverware, you're effectively putting a target on your back. Jimmy Thelin has done just that by guiding Aberdeen to cup glory. Clubs in England think nothing of taking a punt on a manager who has enjoyed a modicum of success, and Thelin's name will be on the file of potential new managers for clubs in the months ahead. He strikes me as a guy who is committed to the project he has taken on at Aberdeen, but we won't know for sure until a club tries to tempt him and test his club's resolve. I'm pleased to hear Don Cowie will be staying on to lead Ross County's bid to win promotion back to the Premiership. But I'm saddened to see Carl Tremarco and Paul Cowie leave the club. It's never pleasant to see people lose their jobs, and I'm sure both Carl and Paul will be back in the game somewhere soon enough. It's clear chairman Roy MacGregor felt he had to make some changes following the club's relegation from the top-flight. There's a big rebuilding job needed at the Staggies this summer, but it became apparent pretty quickly that Roy was backing Don. Had he wanted to make a change it would have happened already – and before decisions were made on players leaving the club in the last few ways. The addition of John Robertson to the backroom staff as assistant manager will help. Robbo has the experience and the contacts in the game to help Don and he will be the perfect foil for the manager in the new-look coaching team. He'll need to delve into that contact list to help Don reshape his squad for the new campaign in the Championship.. Seven loan players – Jonathan Tomkinson, Jack Grieves, Zac Ashworth, Kacper Lopata, Eli Campbell, Will Nightingale and Nohan Kenneh – have returned to their clubs, while Scott Allardice, James Brown and Ryan Leak have left. That's 10 guys already out the door if you are keeping count, and I know from speaking to the chairman in the past how frustrating he finds having to start over with building a squad every summer. It's the nature of the beast for County due to the club's location and it has been a major challenge for every manager who has been there. Robbo can only help Don on that front. I look at the division and I'm convinced it is getting tougher every season – it's certainly a more competitive Championship than it has been for years. In St Johnstone, Partick Thistle, Ayr United, Raith Rovers and Dunfermline, that's five teams who will be expecting to be in the hunt for the title alongside the Staggies before a ball has been kicked.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘I don't know why I can't get a job' – Rangers cult hero quizzed on whether Old Firm past is denying him opportunities
He reckons people still think he acts like he did on the pitch - and called one of his old Celtic enemies "one of the nicest people you can meet" OUT OF THE GAME OUT OF THE GAME 'I don't know why I can't get a job' – Rangers cult hero quizzed on whether Old Firm past is denying him opportunities Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FORMER Rangers star Nacho Novo is desperate for a job in football management. But he has been left scratching his head as to why he hasn't had more opportunities. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Nacho Novo was a cult hero during his time at Rangers Credit: Alamy 3 Novo during his time with Lexington SC in the USA 3 He's been talking about his hunt for a full-time managerial job Credit: LET ME BE FRANK The ex-Gers striker returned to Scottish football with Drumchapel United as part of the coaching staff last year. Drumchapel currently ply their trade in the West of Scotland Football League Premier Division - the sixth tier of the SPFL pyramid. While Novo admits he loves working with the part-timers but has found himself questioning why, after such a glittering playing career, that he's been passed over for other coaching jobs. It was reported last year that Novo applied for the Raith Rovers job when Ian Murray was bizarrely sacked just one game into the season. But the Kirkcaldy club appointed Neil Collins as his successor. Novo, 46, retired in 2017 after having played in the top flights of Spain, Scotland and Poland and winning seven trophies (six with Gers and one with Legia Warsaw). He went through his coaching badges before landing his first job as a coach at Lexington SC in USL League One (the third tier of football in the United States). He initially served as assistant manager and as the head coach of the Under-23s before being promoted to the interim role in September 2023. But he left and within a year had returned to Scotland. After a full season with Drumchapel, Novo has admitted he is still chasing a dream of opening a football academy if he doesn't get a full-time job in management. Rangers fans react as 49ers takeover completed Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank podcast, Novo said: "I've been at Drumchapel for a whole season now and I love it. "Especially because it's proper football, that's how I'd say it! Proper tackles! "We had a good group of boys, some have been pros. They did well this season." Drumchapel finished sixth in the Premier Division this season. And despite his reputation as a former Rangers fan favourite, Novo insists he never had any added grief on the sidelines over the past year. But he does wonder if his association to the Light Blues has held him back when it comes to applying for other jobs higher up the food chain. He said: "I don't know why I can't get a job in football as a coach or anything like that. "Is it because of Rangers? I don't know. "It's probably because of how I was on the park but how I was on the park is not how I am as a person outside." Expanding on that point, Novo talked about how former Celtic foes like John Hartson remain good family friends to this day. And how one-time arch rival Neil Lennon is one of the nicest people he's met in football. Novo said: "People think about Neil Lennon for example, they think he's terrible, that he acts like he did on the pitch. He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. "John Hartson, he's a good friend of my family. "We played on the same park and hated each other but we respected each other. "On the pitch we were enemies and that was my mentality but outside of that I'm very quiet and a family man." Novo has been approached for a scouting job that would see him scour Scotland and the north of England for talent. But his main ambition is to open a cross-border football academy that would link his homeland and his adopted home. He said: "I tried to open a football academy here and in Spain. "I wanted to bring clubs from Scotland over to Spain for a tournament and bring Spanish teams here for the same thing. "But that takes a lot of insurance to do it right, a lot of admin and red tape. "That's my idea at the moment." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
