A leap of faith into the dark

There was a disproportionate amount of fuss made over the empty seats and un-used cutlery at the table meant to be used by Rangers' official party at the PFA Scotland dinner a week ago.

So the side who have had a miserable, sometimes catastrophe-strewn season didn't fancy turning up and watching their greatest rivals sweep the boards when it came to prize giving time.

What's not to understand?

Murdo MacLeod tells the story of the time he attended a thirtieth anniversary celebration of the day Celtic won the league title by virtue of scoring five goals against St. Mirren on the final day of the season while Hearts were conceding two goals without replay against Dundee at Dens Park.

A re-run of the game in Paisley was shown to the Celtic supporters at the anniversary bash, but when it came to most stunning goal of the handful scored a funny thing happened.

It's the one involving a slick, inter-passing movement which features Danny McGrain, Paul McStay, Brian McClair and what seems like most of the other team members as well before the ball is finally stuck in the net to the rapturous acclaim of the away fans.

The only problem for the assembled audience was that the one who stuck the ball in the net was a certain Maurice Johnston, wee Mo for short and also long on an assortment of less savoury aliases coined by his detractors.

The finish he provided was the perfect compliment to the quality of the move which had preceded it and the goal was the equal of the one which took the seasonal award at the latest PFA dinner.

That was the goal Celtic scored against St. Johnstone at Perth, started by a Rabona from Mikael Lustig and ended with a sweet finish from Moussa Dembele.

But when wee Mo's crowning glory was shown on the screen the Celtic fans booed.

The reason for that being, of course, that Mo had later on his career committed the ultimate heresy and signed for Rangers. Cue eternal damnation.

What's not to understand in this part of the world?

So here's the thing.

Pedro Caixinha said in his pre-match build up to Saturday's game against Hearts that the two most recent games against Celtic, lost 7 - 1 on aggregate, had been, to use his word and not mine, "disastrous."

Under those circumstances, a no -show at an awards do where there was no mention of any Rangers players, not even an individual entrant to the Team of the Season far less a nomination in either of the Player of the Year categories, was at best understandable and at worst a waste of floor space at a densely populated affair.

Now for the main point.

Today is the final deadline for season ticket renewals at Ibrox. The Rangers supporters have shown incredible forebearance in the face of five tortuous years spent trawling the lower leagues and then witnessing the false dawn of hope that was Mark Warburton's time in charge of the side in the Premiership.

But would they have enjoyed sitting through Celtic's ascent of the league table while riding on the crest of the wave created by the arrival of Brendan Rodgers in the manager's office?

Not a chance.

Would they be any less susceptible to pain if the whole imbalance of power was to be repeated next season?

Nope.

If dejected Rangers players opt out of a night on the lash and elect to stay at home rather than watch a succession of Celtic players lift awards for excellence that's understandable.

As understandable as Rangers supporters wanting to know what they're getting for their money when they buy a season ticket for Ibrox.

At least the missing Rangers squad would have known what was on the menu for them if they had turned up at the PFA dinner.

The chickpea-spinach dahl, roast sirloin of Scotch beef and passion fruit tart for dessert were all listed on page five of the programme left at each place setting.

What do the Rangers fans know for sure about next season?

Only that they are being asked to take a giant leap of faith into the dark.

The list of players now surplus to requirements and on their way out of Glasgow is being put together in public view.

The list of those not wanted, but who represent a problem because they have time left on their contracts and need not go if they care to dig their heels in, is also well known.

The lsit of those wanted from elsewhere by Caixinha is out there somewhere, but known only to those in the manager's inner circle.

And given what he has had to say recently on the subject of information being leaked from within at Ibrox, there'll be no-one rushing to breach confidences any time soon.

In the meantime, could you please form an orderly queue for your season ticket.

There will be tens of thousands of the resolute and the resilient who will do just that. Others might also do it on a "This is your last chance" basis.

Either way the pressure is on Caixinha to hit the ground running after this wash-out of a season has finally been flushed away down the plughole.

There is a prevailing mood of scepticism over what the manager has to say at the moment. He has minds, if not hearts, to win over.

You could say that, at the same time, whatever statements Rodgers makes are taken at face value and rarely, if ever, questioned.

You could argue, for instance, that his praise for Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata in defence at Aberdeen on Friday night was overblown, given that both look error-prone at times and wouldn't inspire confidence at Champions League level.

But when you've got a team who are three up at Pittodrie before the latecomers have come into the ground what's to fear at domestic level?

That's the question Caixinha has to answer for those who part with their hard earned cash before deadline day expires.

• Hugh Keevins