THE thought of a final-day championship finale was perhaps more exciting than the reality. A helicopter, the favoured mode of transport for delivering the Clydesdale Bank Premier League trophy, was berthed in Gleneagles, halfway between Glasgow and Dundee.
When Pedro Mendes scored a second goal for Rangers against Dundee United at Tannadice Park on the stroke of half-time its rotor blades twitched. Celtic, who needed to defeat Hearts at Parkhead, were drawing 0-0, which was still the case at the final
whistle. For the second successive season the pilot could confidently navigate a way to Dundee, but this time Rangers rather than Celtic fans applauded the thrum as the helicopter circled above Tannadice.
In a season of Ibrox apologies, Rangers made no mistake yesterday. Although Celtic's failure to defeat Hearts meant they could have afforded to slip-up, the Ibrox side never looked like failing to secure the three points. It is the club's first title success since 2005.
Kyle Lafferty, the latest Ibrox player with a need to broadcast his contrition after conspiring to get an opponent sent off last weekend, set Walter Smith's side on their way with a sixth minute opener. A second goal from Mendes in the 45th minute saw the celebrations begin during half-time at Tannadice. Deposed skipper Barry Ferguson played the final 17 minutes of yesterday's win, and was invited by Davie Weir, his successor, to join him in hoisting the championship trophy into the air. Ferguson was stripped of the Ibrox captaincy after misbehaviour when on Scotland duty.
"Barry has been captain for 25 to 30 games this season and I would not have felt right lifting the trophy myself," said Weir.
As well as ending Celtic's spell of dominance after three successive title wins, heavily in-debt Rangers are also guaranteed six Champions League matches next season. "It was a big thing for Rangers," said Smith. "We were always aware of the financial situation."
For the fourth time in 35 years Rangers claimed a title at the home of Dundee United, whose 100th birthday was spoiled by a failure to qualify for the Europa League. Craig Levein's side were leap-frogged by Aberdeen, who finished in fourth place after defeating Hibernian 2-1 at Pittodrie. Before the cheers had subsided it was revealed Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood had left the club, after five years in charge, along with assistants Jimmy Nicholl and Sandy Clark. The club announced the departures had been by "mutual consent", but negotiations to bring Motherwell manager Mark McGhee to Aberdeen, where he starred as a player, are believed to be already well underway.
McGhee saw his Motherwell team lose 2-1 to Kilmarnock on Saturday, when the issues in the bottom half of the league were resolved. Falkirk, who play Rangers in the Homecoming Scottish Cup final on Saturday, staged a great-escape with a 1-0 victory in their relegation decider with Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Inverness could only have been saved had St Mirren lost by more than three goals against Hamilton Accies. The Paisley side lost only 1-0.
Calderwood wasn't the only departure at Pittodrie. Hibs assistant manager Donald Park announced he is leaving to become head of coach education at the Scottish Football Association.
But it was at the top where attention was fixed yesterday, and Celtic were given little motivation by news of Rangers' early goal at Tannadice. Manager Gordon Strachan's future is also up for debate. He insisted on no questions in the after-match press conference and accepted his side had not been good enough in the final analysis.
"It is disappointing but we have only ourselves to blame," he said. "We will analyse it later on but it doesn't take a genius to see that in some areas, we weren't as good as we have been in the last three years. We say well done to Walter (Smith], Ally (McCoist], Kenny (McDowall], and Jim (Stewart] and their players."
Rangers' victory yesterday was much less fraught than had been expected. Kris Boyd wrapped up the points and the title with a third goal just nine minutes into the second-half. For the Rangers fans in the 14,077 crowd, some of whom had found access to the home stands, the party had begun.
The full article contains 725 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
