That the increasingly deranged Tony Mowbray is rapidly losing any allies he had in Scottish media circles is beyond doubt, and it would seem even the “Celtic-Minded” amongst the 4th Estate are turning on him with venom.

Let’s start with the Scott Brown debacle. It was true. All true. Unless Scott Brown told Daily Record journalist Keith Jackson a lie. You may recall Celtic's veiled threat to “seek legal advice”. You will also have noticed that it all seemed to go quiet on that front shortly after. The reason? The Celtic hierarchy had made the schoolboy error of not doing their homework. You can’t take the Daily Record to court when they have Brown’s words all on tape, can you Mr. Lawwell?

So where do they go next? In true Lawwell style, a hastily arranged meeting was organised with Record Editor Bruce Waddell last Thursday. A truce was brokered. After all, you wouldn’t want that other little story regards Brown the Record are holding onto being released thus putting a further dent in his ever-decreasing market value would you Mr. Lawwell? Sports Editor James Traynor in particular wasn’t happy with this cosy-arrangement, and let it be known.

Meanwhile Celtic’s useful idiot Graham Speirs did his masters bidding on Radio Clyde, ridiculing Jackson’s story. There was only going to be one winner, with Speirs again being mocked by his colleagues, who were aware that Browns words had been recorded. They really do laugh at you Speirs. Really.

Next up Celtic held their Friday afternoon press conference. Instead of engaging his ever-shrivelling brain and quitting while the going was good, Mowbray used the gathering to have yet another go at the press, the Record in particular. Traynor was furious and announced to his staff “all bets are off”. Allegedly. He devoted a full page to attacking Mowbray in Monday’s edition in an article that carried the headline “What’s your agenda, Tony?”

“Tony Mowbray appears to be floundering at Celtic…..out of his depth…..setting himself up as a victim…..used this paper's story about Scott Brown to make it seem he was being singled out…..an old ploy used when managers are struggling…..swamped by fantasy…..kicking out frantically just trying to stay afloat…..stop bleating and deal with his problems” wrote Traynor.

Following Wednesday night’s defeat at home to Hibs, Mowbray was “questioned” by Scottish Sun reporter and Celtic supporter Derek McGregor (yes he who was once in the employ of the Rangers News). Again Mowbray lost his discipline and retorted with a string of childish remarks. McGregor’s face looked as if it was going to explode. He was livid.

Thursday morning’s Sun carried the banner back-page headline “Worse than Barnes – toiling Mogga under fire”. The author of the article? Derek McGregor.

“Tony Mowbray hit the boos as he lurched to a WORSE record than Celts dud John Barnes…..last night's disastrous home defeat…..his side face title oblivion…..the wreckage of another numbing set-back…..SunSport asked the Celtic manager if he felt under pressure. He said: ‘Great question - next question.’”, mocked McGregor, as Mowbray lost another potential “Celtic-friendly” crony.

Finally let me tell you about Celtic-Minded Hugh “Nuremburg” Keevins, who was at New St Mirren Park on Wednesday night to see champions Rangers stretch their lead at the top of the table. On hearing the result at Celtic Park, Hugh rushed to phone the Daily Record sportsdesk. He was overheard saying “I’ll do the Hotline tomorrow……I’ve got him now” referring of course to Mowbray, the man he refers to as “The Mumbling Middlesbrough Mystic”. Allegedly.

Thursday’s Record Hotline declared “Gordon Parks will take your calls today” (for Friday’s edition). Friday’s Hotline morphed into a “Hotline Special”, covering half-a-page of the paper instead of the usual single column and stated that Hugh Keevins had taken the calls.  It would seem Little Hughie was so desperate to put the boot into Mowbray, he nudged Parks out of the road thus allowing him to dictate which calls went to print. Keevins opened the column thus:

“You know you’re in the midst of a crisis at Celtic when a referee who disallowed a goal and then let Hibs score a controversial winner barely gets a mention. Ian Brines was a poor second to Tony Mowbray when disgruntled fans queued up at the Hotline’s door to let it be known they’ve lost faith in the manager….”

Keevins then proceeded to print the rants of ten disgruntled Bheasts in succession, all of whom slated Mowbray.

All is not well at The Theatre of Shame and the fact that their own are turning on them tells us things are getting worse. Long may it continue.

General Schomberg

PS Who are the Bheastie Bhoys going to blame for Wednesday night’s debacle?

a) Roman Catholic referee and schoolteacher at Trinity High in Renfrews Ian Brines ?

b) Irish Roman Catholic Hibs goal-scorer Anthony Stokes?

c) Roman Catholic Hibs manager and ex Celtic player John Hughes?

d) Roman Catholic Irishman and ex-Celtic player Liam Miller?

They really are running out of options in their quest to feed their rampant paranoia. I suppose they could always blame Donald Findlay.

All together now:

“They don’t care if they win, lose or draw, what the hell do they care?….”