Strachan content with resources at his disposal despite European exit

GORDON Strachan has backed the fiscal policy implemented by Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, insisting the long term security of the club takes precedence over any short term success he could achieve with a bigger transfer budget.

In the wake of Celtic's elimination from Europe this week, Lawwell has been the focus of critics who claim Strachan has been hamstrung in the Champions League this season by the lack of funds available to him during the summer.

Former Celtic players Charlie Nicholas and John Hartson were among those accusing Lawwell of a return to the club's once notorious 'biscuit tin' philosophy, but Strachan firmly rebutted any suggestion he is unhappy with the resources at his disposal.

The Celtic manager believes the club's policy is vindicated by the current global financial crisis which he thinks could see some major English Premier League clubs encounter the kind of serious difficulty to which the Scottish champions, just £3.52 million in debt in their most recent accounts, are immune.

"Now that the credit crunch has come along, a lot of big clubs around the world, especially the English ones, could have a big problem," observed Strachan. "We are nowhere near that position in terms of the debt they have.

"We are absolutely as safe as houses. The club can continue no problem. We are trying to look after the club. That's what Peter is trying to do, so are the board of directors.

"Peter looks after the finances, I look after the players. That's the way it is, that was the remit when I came along. I don't have a problem with that. I get on great working with Peter. I enjoy his company, so that is fine."

When it was put to Strachan that he may end up bearing the brunt of supporters' frustration if there is a sense of dissatisfaction with the standard of the Celtic squad, he was dismissive.

"That's not a problem," he replied. "Don't worry about that, because I'm not worrying about it. I'm quite happy to work with what I've got, that's part of the deal."

Strachan feels the reaction to Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat in Aalborg has bordered on hysteria in some quarters. He even upbraided his former Scotland team-mate Andy Gray, now a widely respected Sky Sports analyst, for lacking perspective in midweek.

"I'm a big fan of Andy, I think he is the best pundit out there," added Strachan. "He said Rangers and Celtic shouldn't get beat by Kaunas and Aalborg. I can understand where he is coming from.

"But the counter argument to that is that Celtic and Rangers should never beat Lyon, AC Milan, Manchester United, Benfica, Shakhtar Donetsk, or all the rest of the teams Rangers beat last season. The gap has been bridged at times, other times it hasn't.

"There has to be a balance. In any argument, there has to be two sides. As long as the arguments on both sides are proportionate, then people can make up their minds. If it is imbalanced, for whatever reason, then you have a problem. Media start wars, so they can easily cloud people's judgment.

"Look at the games we have played in the last two Champions Leagues. Look at the defining moments, they are incredible. I'd be here too long going through them all with you, but I've done it with the coaching staff.

"Over the last couple of years, we have been very proud of Scottish football. We have reached the highest Uefa ranking we have had for a long time. This year, it's not gone as well.

"It is a thin dividing line. Once the hysteria has gone, you have got to actually look at how we are doing, how we are playing.

"I was happy with the performance in Villarreal, against Aalborg we had more than enough to win. They were our best away performances since I've been here."

Strachan has seen his team win every SPL match they have faced immediately after a Champions League fixture this season and he is confident they will recover from Tuesday's crushing disappointment to maintain that trend against Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Celtic Park today.

"When you are a football manager or player, the hurt is huge at the time of the game but then you get on with it," he said. "We have got a lot to be thankful for.

I haven't needed to remind the players of that. I thought 'do we need to tell them what they have done over the last few years, do we need to tell them what they have done right?'. But no, they have done it themselves. The training this morning was first class.

"There is no test of character for my players on Saturday, not at all. They have got great character."