CELTIC have refused to respond to Walter Smith's withering attack on Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell. The Rangers manager launched a broadside at Lawwell, accusing him of putting pressure on the SPL to rearrange the fixture list to suit Celtic while disguising his motives under the banner of "sporting integrity".
The SPL champions were keeping their counsel yesterday following the criticism by Smith on the eve of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League encounter between the sides at Celtic Park.
Whether or not the Ibrox side reach the UEFA Cup final, Smith's si
de will have to play four games in eight days in the title run in.
Smith questioned Lawwell's motives in criticising the SPL, saying: "We have a 'sporting integrity' situation which gave me a good laugh. Peter Lawwell appears to be the person who is the head of the sporting integrity committee for the SPL, its chairman and chief spokesman.
"Peter would be better coming out and saying he wants Rangers to play four games in a week because it suits his team and helps their quest to retain the title.
"If it was the other way about I would be hoping that Celtic had to play four games in a week. So he should be honest about it instead of trying to hide behind what he is calling sporting integrity.
"He's doing what he feels is the right thing for his club by saying the season shouldn't be extended, but he's doing it for his own reasons."
Smith believes Celtic have enjoyed plenty of preferential treatment at the hands of the SPL this term. "The thing that bothers me most is that the SPL have this season acceded to every request Celtic have made," Smith continued. "It's no coincidence that we are playing one of our biggest games of the season when they (the SPL) would have a fair idea that we would be playing it between two very important semi-final games.
"I don't mind playing four games in a week. Celtic are using that situation to their advantage, but that's what it's all about. We have got to overcome that if we are to win the championship. The most galling aspect is that they have given Celtic everything they asked for and Peter is still complaining."
Smith insists all the dissenters over the proposed extension of the season should instead focus on the good Rangers' European run is doing for the Scottish game.
"I don't take part in conspiracies. I thought it was a reasonably simple request to extend the season, but maybe I was being naive," Smith added.
The full article contains 440 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
