Philippe Clement the butt of a Rangers joke as Hotline told he's the one who will magically vanish

Three days to go until the Old Firm lock horns for the fifth and final time this season in the Scottish Cup Final. But if you tune in to the Hotline you’d be forgiven for thinking the game was over… for Philippe Clement at least.

The Belgian was in the firing line and George McLeish was first up as he emailed: “What is it with Clement? All he seems to do is make excuses before games about all the injured players at Rangers. Maybe he wants to concentrate on his defenders who are the problem. Do any of these defenders know how to defend long, high balls? Any team that plays Rangers knows if they put balls in from wide areas or play the long ball they will get goals. These players need a good kick up the backside, we don’t have one leader in this team. It’s time to bring in a nucleus of Scottish players, not posers.”

Tam Williamson, Lanarkshire, added: “Big Phil mutters about the imminent clear out at Rangers? Well if he gets gubbed by the champions at Hampden he will be the first in the clear out? He is named 'the magician' but in reality he is an escape artist, a modern day Houdini who vanished in a taxi from Monaco when their disillusioned fans turned ugly.”

Sticking with Rangers and Motherwell keeper Liam Kelly is set for talks over a return to Ibrox and Andrew Lamb, Fraserburgh, said: “Inspired piece of business for Rangers to sign free agent Liam Kelly, if it comes off. Kelly's at the right age and what I've seen of him on televised games this season, he's in top form. I'm already excited about Rangers new look side for next season.”

Robert Livingstone, Palm Beach, said: “The return of Kelly to Rangers is good, the Scotland goalie has been in good form at struggling Motherwell though you'd have to feel for Robby McCrorie, he's played his part as the loyal deputy to several top Gers goalies and deserves his chance to play first team football at another club.”

Over to the other side of Glasgow and the gloating over sealing a mens’ and womens’ league double in the last week refuses to die down. Eddie Easson, Ballingry, said: “Once again Celtic have done their talking on the park. We’ve heard the craziest of statements from Philippe Clement about moral victories. Then we had ladies manager Jo Potter trying to upset the Celtic huddle. Rangers hierarchy really need to tell them to stay away from the microphone. They are now years behind the greatest team of in the history of Scottish football.”

James Brown, Glasgow, poked fun at the Union Bears’ Europa League banner earlier in the campaign when he said: “Has the Rangers bus reached Dublin yet? I thought they were coming?”

Stephen Mulhern emailed: “Instead of talking up there team’s chances of lifting the cup, I see the usual Rangers Hotliners are banging on regarding Celtic fans celebrating in the Trongate. The phrase pot, kettle and black comes to mind. Was George Square and breaking Covid rules just a figment of my imagination? I’m looking forward to Celtic winning the double with Kyogo running riot up front.”

Robert McEwan, Mount Vernon, added: “What planet are these people on? If Rangers won title you can imagine the celebrations! We were lucky to get Brendan Rodgers back. Like Walter Smith, his statue in the future is a cert.”

Meanwhile, Gordon Ashley, Ayr, took a swipe at a fellow Celtic fan saying: “I nearly dropped my toast the other morning when I read so called Celtic fan David Bryce praising Brendan Rodgers. This guy wanted him sacked after a couple of bad results, the same as he wanted big Ange sacked in his first season, he does nothing but put the boot into the players and club every week and is everything that is wrong with the modern day plastic football fan. Leave the celebrating to us real fans mate.”

Finally, Scott Gowers emailed: “I have to congratulate Celtic women on winning the SWPL. Although I think a season should be decided without a split the women's league had more integrity than the men's game. The women’s split at the halfway stage of the season ensuring that the top half and bottom half of the league play equal home and away fixtures against each other over a season. Why the difference in the men's game?. Since the men's split has came in there has been no integrity.”