David Edgar has been perplexed by the decision to play the Rangers vs Celtic Old Firm game at 3 p.m. on January 2.
Despite the fact that the game takes place in the middle of the week on a Tuesday, Sky Sports will show the afternoon kickoff.
Mid-week games that do not fall during the holiday season are typically scheduled for late evening kickoffs.
Edgar posted on X: “I still can’t quite believe it, but that’s what they’re saying!”
Rangers and Celtic fans will be furious with this news.
The Old Firm derby being scheduled for 3 p.m. on a Tuesday clearly contradicts fans’ typical expectations and practical reasons for attending the event.
Midweek games, particularly those that do not fall on holidays, are traditionally scheduled for evening kickoffs to accommodate supporters’ travel and work schedules.
This afternoon period, however, presents considerable obstacles for supporters, particularly those who travel from afar or must take time off work.
Because of the early timing, many fans may be unable to attend owing to work obligations, especially since this is not a normal holiday season.
This ignores fans’ requirements once more, treating the match as a televised event for viewers’ convenience rather than taking into account the live audience, perpetuating a trend in which supporters’ experiences are frequently pushed aside in favor of broadcast schedules.
Fans, however unlikely, will be hoping for a last-minute modification to accommodate the needs of the matchgoing public.
Rangers supporters will recall Welsh international left-back Declan John from his brief stay at Ibrox in 2017/18.
The former Cardiff City left-back joined Rangers on loan from the Welsh club and was so successful that the club made the signing permanent six months later.
Only a few months after Declan John signed a permanent agreement with Rangers, the arrival of Steven Gerrard to the club’s management marked the beginning of the end for the defender.
But John could be returning to Ibrox this season after signing a short-term contract with one of Rangers’ Scottish Premiership rivals.
Declan John signed with St Mirren.
Declan John has signed a short-term contract with St Mirren until January, following the controversial dismissal of defender Jaden Brown.
The 29-year-old left-back joins St Mirren after being released by Bolton Wanderers in the summer following a loan spell with Salford City.
It is now up to the former Rangers defender to secure a longer-term contract in Paisley, with Saints manager Steven Robinson pressing John to make an impact.
“Declan is here on a short-term contract with the option to extend depending on how things go,” Robinson informed the official St Mirren website.
“Due to the conditions, we are severely lacking in defensive cover. Declan comes in with a wealth of experience.
“He’s played at some of the highest levels and has previously played in Scotland, so we’re quite fortunate to have him.
“We’ve witnessed his abilities in his first few days of training. He’s a talented child with excellent technical skills, but he hasn’t played much football in recent months, so we need to look into that and attempt to get him up to speed.
“To add to the squad with the quality and background Declan has, I believe we are very lucky at this stage of the season.”
Rangers are scheduled to travel to St Mirren on Scottish Premiership duty on December 26th, with St Mirren returning to Rangers on February 22nd.
It means John will have to sign a longer-term contract with St Mirren if he wants to return to Rangers next season.
Ex-Gers star is ‘delighted’ to be back in Scotland
Declan John returns to Scotland for the first time since leaving Rangers in the summer of 2018 to join Swansea City for £800,000.
However, the defender’s situation south of the border has not been favorable.
John was loaned out to Sunderland and then Bolton while at Swansea, before joining the Trotters permanently in 2021.
Declan John, who has returned to Scotland with St Mirren, is determined to make a difference for the Saints and says he is ‘extremely happy’ to be in Paisley.
“I’m absolutely delighted to be here,” John exclaimed. “It has been a hectic few days.
“I came up on Thursday, exercised on Friday, then went to witness the game on Saturday, which was a huge victory for the boys. I’ve enjoyed it and am looking forward to getting back into training.
“Everything has been so happy once we walked in, and you can feel it in the changing room. It feels like a pretty nice place to be.
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