I hope Hibs’ Scott Allan is aware of one inviolable rule of football – he is in charge of his own destiny.

This rule cannot be applied absolutely, but it still holds sufficient sway.

Which is to say, in this interminable saga at Hibs, Allan might not get to choose his ideal new club, should he leave Easter Road in this transfer window.

But he absolutely does get to choose where he does not want to go, and defer accordingly.

The bad old days of a football club saying to a player, “son, get your stuff, we’re selling you to them” are long gone. Or they should be.

The news that Celtic are preparing a bid for Allan will be viewed by some as sheer meddling.

The Scottish champions appear to be absolutely stacked with central or attacking midfielders – Scott Brown, Nir Bitton, Charlie Mulgrew, Kris Commons, Stefan Johansen, Stuart Armstrong, Tomas Rogic and more can all play the role. The need for Allan to join this throng looks a tad unconvincing.

With Rangers’ desperate to land Allan, and Hibs stalling, is this merely tactical or posturing by Celtic? It looks a bit like it.

Hibs are quite right not to sell Allan to Rangers. It is sheer common sense. I’ve yet to meet an indignant Rangers fan over this affair, were they in Alan Stubbs’ or Leeann Dempster’s shoes, who would do any different.

But, equally, Allan is perfectly right to pursue his dream of playing for Rangers. It is what the kid wants, what he claims he has dreamed about, and who is anyone to decry him for it?

It is perfectly obvious what Celtic can do here. They can hike the Allan price up, effortlessly outbid Rangers in the process, and make sure there is no earthly reason why the midfielder should be anywhere near Ibrox this season.

If Celtic wanted to really rub it in, as many have mooted, they could even buy Allan and then loan him back to Hibs.

In this context there is an element of panto about this Allan affair. It is hard to believe Celtic’s “motives are pure” - whatever that might amount to in football.

All this could prove a test of the young Hibs midfielder’s mettle. Celtic could offer Allan many carrots, not least the possibility here and now of Champions League football. The Parkhead club could also offer Allan a salary way in excess of what Rangers could afford.

The fact that Allan is a Rangers supporter may end up being the least of all the factors concerned here.

It is true to say of the modern game that the top players – the wanted players - will go and play anywhere, purely for their career. The idea that “supporting a club” means you go and play there is a quaint notion, scarcely applied these days.

Scott Allan will have to be clear in his own mind of what he wants. If he does not wish to go to Celtic, then that should be the end of it. But will he waver over the possibility?

Certainly, being a Rangers fan will not confine Allan in his playing career. If he goes to Rangers, and excels there, and is a wanted man again in England, he will bolt out of the Ibrox door to get to England as quickly as anyone.

Allan would leave Rangers – or Celtic – just as soon as he would leave Hibs. Maximising your career is every footballer’s goal. Which club you support scarcely comes into it over time.

It has been a strange case. I remain convinced that neither Rangers – and certainly not Celtic – need Scott Allan. Both clubs are importing players, to the point where the significance of Allan has become blown out of proportion.

In fact, Ronny Deila said at the end of last season that he had too many players, and that he wanted a more compact Celtic squad to work with. He certainly does not need any more midfielders.

Allan may have to decide if he wants to go to Celtic or not. If he does, that’s fine. But no bayonet should be held to any footballer’s head today.