Derek Johnstone: Celtic took the bait over Dave King comments

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Ex-Glasgow Rangers man Derek Johnstone feels Celtic should’ve kept quiet despite comments by Ibrox chief Dave King.

Derek Johnstone has told The Glasgow Evening Times that Celtic should not have taken the bait by responding to the controversial claims made by Rangers chairman Dave King last week.

The Rangers man made headlines by suggesting that Celtic should have done more in the four-year period that the Gers were in the lower leagues.

King went on to claim that the Hoops – who finished 39 points ahead of the Ibrox side last season, and won a domestic treble without losing a match – are not that far ahead of Rangers in terms of football.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, and his striker Leigh Griffiths, both rubbished the comments via the media, and Johnstone believes the Bhoys duo made a mistake by rising to the bait.

He told The Glasgow Evening Times: “Dave King knows, like all Rangers fans do, that the club is not liked in Scottish football. That has been evident for many years now.

“But he said something that I didn’t agree with in terms of Celtic winning six-in-a-row. I don’t think he had to say that. We have had Celtic players and the Celtic manager now coming out and saying their tuppence worth. They have taken the bait.

“It shouldn’t matter what Dave King says. If you have won a Treble, you are on a high. Celtic have got money in the bank and a good side on the park, but they took the bait and came back at the Rangers chairman.”

Johnstone added that King ought to be a little more mindful of what he says in public, given his position.

“It is great for the media I know. But Dave maybe has to be careful with what he says sometimes. He has upset people in the past and he has certainly upset Celtic fans. He might have upset a couple of Rangers fans, but I think many of them would probably agree with him.

“As chairman of Rangers and a custodian of the club, he has to be mindful of what he says and how some people will take it. Maybe has to watch that, now and again, he doesn’t go over the top.”