For Rangers fans not on social media, they will be blissfully unaware of the current war that is raging between The Daily Record journalist Michael McGivern and the Heart and Hand podcast.
The feud stems from an article – published on the front page of the paper – featuring contributors to the Rangers fan podcast and posts they have made on social media including offensive language and derogatory terms – Police Scotland has confirmed that there is no criminality but the individuals concerned have stepped down from the producing content.
It appears as if The Record is targeting the podcast because they are an official media partner of Rangers, they haven’t been given any special favours though, they have paid the required fee for the privilege, something the dwindling tabloid has refused to do.
They have, however, picked a fight with the wrong person in David Edgar – the podcast’s founder.
After apologising on behalf of the pod and then publishing apologies from the contributors, he has taken to detailing several incidences of when McGivern himself has been less than respectful in some of the language he has used – coincidentally, he is a Celtic fan, but, of course, you already knew that.
Edgar – and countless other Rangers fans – whilst not condoning some of the posts that were published started fighting back at those who had thrown stones in the club’s and the podcast’s direction – those in glass houses and all that.
Not on journalism Mark, on you. You don’t qualify for the term. Even in that short tweet you lied – they stepped down, not ‘axed’.
And btw I’m just starting. Trust me, there’s LOTS of public interest in it. I’ve been inundated with info about you. Some from your colleagues.. https://t.co/LP3yX28j7V
— Heart & Hand Podcast (@ibroxrocks) September 3, 2021
It’s a conflict that is likely to run for time, that The Record has chosen to target a Rangers fan media outlet with nothing about Celtic, Aberdeen or any other club’s fans reeks of a vendetta, I’m not sure what they thought the fallout of the article was going to be but I bet they didn’t think they would find themselves the subject of potential Police investigations.