'Doesn't count' - Celtic-daft snooker icon John Higgins aims thinly veiled Rangers 2021 title dig
The Wizard of Wishaw has given his take on the Scottish Premiership title race ahead of commencing his Snooker World Championship bid
Celtic-daft snooker star John Higgins has taken aim at bitter rivals Rangers when asked for his verdict on how this season’s Scottish Premiership title race will end up.
Ibrox boss Danny Rohl has dragged the Light Blues back into the title equation in recent months, having found themselves 13 points behind long-time leaders Heart earlier in the campaign. Reigning champions Celtic have been clinging on to hopes of defending their crown.
The ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ - a lifelong Hoops supporter - is fearful that a resurgent Rangers side have all the momentum at present with just five games remaining. But he has aimed a pop at the Govan giants by insisting their last title triumph “doesn’t count”.
Celtic must finish the season with a 100 per cent record if they want to guarantee a fifth successive league trophy. If they fail, it will be the first time since 2021 when Steven Gerrard led Rangers to an unbeaten season.
And while they cruised to the title by 25 points, Higgins is dismissive given it was done in empty stadiums due to the Covid pandemic. He is clinging to hope that Martin O'Neill can secure an unlikely triumph, but admits the veteran interim boss has a big task on his hands to get it done.
Speaking on TNT Sports ahead of the World Snooker Championships getting underway on Saturday, Higgins said: “Ugh...it's a horrible thing, because it's not happened in the last few years/
“Apart from the Covid year when Rangers won the league, which you don't really count. I think we might be able to do it but it's going to be incredibly difficult.
“We have five games left. If we win the five games, there's every chance we're going to be champions and I'm rooting for them.”
John Higgins on his love of football
The four-time World Snooker champion grew up football-mad in Lanarkshire and admitted, “Like any wee boy… I love football,” reflecting a childhood shaped by football.
Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank podcast: “Like any wee boy I’d be out on my bike to play football when you were younger. I love football. I thought it was okay for my standard round about, but I know this was probably going to be brought up.
“I remember playing a Scottish Cup game, I’ll never forget it. I played midfield and the manager was saying ‘this young boy you’re going to be up against in midfield, it looks as if he just signed S-forms with Rangers – a guy called Charlie Miller’.
“And I was like, ‘Oh right, is that right?’ Well, oh my god, they blew the whistle and then I never seen him for the rest of the game.