Lots of Rangers supporters have been hammering Celtic on social media, after the Hoops confirmed they would be placing a ‘number’ of staff on furlough and taking up the government’s job retention scheme.
The decision has been taken amid the postponement of Premiership football due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen all remaining fixtures put on ice and leave Celtic boss Neil Lennon calling for his Parkhead side to be crowned champions if play cannot resume.
The postponement of fixtures has left all clubs around the United Kingdom facing a shortfall in cash flow without gate receipts, leading to Celtic placing an unspecified number of staff, likely non-players, on furlough to keep costs down.
A Celtic spokesperson has confirmed that the Hoops will still be awarding full pay to those placed on furlough, by using the government’s job retention scheme to pay 80% of their salaries.
“At this time, Celtic will ensure that each colleague on this scheme will receive 100 per cent salary, with all other conditions and benefits remaining unchanged.”
Rangers fans have reacted to word of their bitter rivals taking up the government’s offer by pointing to the way Celtic supporters treated Rod Stewart in December.
Hoops fans held aloft a banner reading ‘Tories not welcome’ aimed at the 75-year-old singer/songwriter following his backing of Boris Johnson’s successful bid to become Prime Minister.
Some Gers supporters also pointed to Celtic’s financial status, having boasted a pre-tax profit of £24.4million for the six months up until 31 December, 2019 in their financial results.
Here are some of the messages shared from Gers fans reacting to Celtic taking up the government’s job retention scheme…
Taking the Queens shilling even though they have had champions league profits for years. talk about penny pinchers
— Iansemple5 (@Iansemple51) April 1, 2020
Couldn’t paint a redneck on that lot. Brits out now
— RW72 (@RW72___) April 1, 2020
£30m in the bank? Hmm
— OnlyAnExcuse (@OnlyAnExcuse) April 1, 2020
When the cap fits……… 🇬🇧
— Alan Blaikie (@AlanBlaikie) April 1, 2020
Good old British government always giving handouts to the poor rule Britannia 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧
— kentwilltearyouapartagain (@RobertB6154) April 1, 2020
Hate the crown, love the half crown.
— Cgy P (@craigp27) April 1, 2020
Celtic should not be allowed to use this scheme if they are going to top up the other 20% thats a joke really. ironic that the club who claim to hate everything British should be going cap in hand to uk government especially when they are always telling us how much cash they got
— Mcphearsonsfearson (@Mcphearsonsfea1) April 1, 2020
— alloabear (@sammykdy) April 1, 2020
In other Rangers news, Steven Gerrard is ‘weighing up’ an approach to a 14-time international defender who is on course to leave his current side this summer.