Former Rangers striker, David Healy, has encouraged his former club to give champions Celtic a guard of honour when the two clubs meet on Sunday.
Rangers are reportedly set to reject the chance to give the Bhoys a guard of honour after Neil Lennon’s men clinched their eighth successive league title at Aberdeen last Sunday.
But, former Ibrox favourite Healy is adamant that giving Celtic a guard of honour is the right thing to do and that Steven Gerrard’s men should re-think the decision.
“I read Kris Boyd’s comments saying Rangers would be a classier club if they did give the guard of honour,” Healey said in the Scottish Sun.
“In this day and age I firmly believe that it would be in the right spirit to do it.
“It’s not for me to say what’s right or wrong, or to be critical of a club I have so much respect for. Only the people in charge there can make the decision.
“However, my personal opinion is Celtic have more than earned the right for any team to give them a guard of honour.
“It would be a huge thing for Rangers to give Celtic a guard of honour on Sunday. Not just because of the Rangers-Celtic element of things, but for Scottish football as a whole. I think it would help bring back a positive image of the game.
“Then, if Rangers were to win the league next year or whenever, it could be reciprocated by Celtic.”
OPINION
Celtic have been deserved winners of the Scottish Premiership this term, and despite the ugly scenes which unfolded during the last old-firm meeting, Rangers should respect the champions. The last old-firm meeting was one of the fiercest match-ups between the two clubs in recent memory, the ugly moments that unravelled that day at Celtic Park should be learned from. This is the perfect opportunity for the two clubs to put their differences aside for the good of the game. We think Steven Gerrard should take David Healy’s advice and place egos to one side. Healy’s Linfield were given a guard of honour by Cliftonville after their achievements, and as highlighted by Healy, it went down well amongst those associated with the two clubs. Rangers should re-evaluate their stance and make the morally correct choice. We don’t expect them to but it would be a big gesture that would earn Rangers a lot of respect.