AND so the great soap opera ended at Ibrox with the prize- giving in front of 50,000 fans whose emotions were wrecked during 90 minutes of mind-bending drama such as has rarely been endured, even in this exhilarating old business.

We may never see the likes of this finale again, and maybe for the health of the nation that is no bad thing. The way the SPL title ping-ponged its way across the 30 miles between Glasgow and Kilmarnock must have sent the blood pressure of myriad thousands of folk into the danger zone.

Unforgettable? You had better believe it. In the end, none the less, the team who will remember it with clarity, if perhaps not tomorrow, are Rangers.

They deserve every credit for the way they had to lift themselves time after time to score again and defy the news that filtered through at regular intervals of Celtic's impressive progress at Rugby Park.

At one point, indeed 10 minutes into the second half at Ibrox, the man in the crowd behind us, who had become the radio interpreter for us all, brought the news that Celtic were effectively ahead in the race for the title.

By then, any of us who had been working out calculations like demented maths students - I gave up when I discovered I proved the earth flat - stopped the thinking, and from then on it was exciting, enthralling and nerve-destroying.

The main players were clearly exhausted emotionally. Manager Alex McLeish, however, was able to present a calm face to the world as he relished his first championship in his first full season.

Therefore, when told that Celtic's Chris Sutton had said that everybody knew Dunfermline would lie down to his team, he responded quietly but firmly.

''Chris, give Rangers credit, give your own team credit. It was a great fight,'' he said. ''Unfortunately, in this great battle, there had to be a loser.

''Jimmy Calderwood was angry at the way his side lost. No way did they lie down. He played five in the middle and one up to try to stop us scoring goals. And they were dangerous themselves on the breakaway.''

Calderwood refused to comment on the Sutton remarks, but it is understood that his club are furious and are considering their legal position after the Englishman made his views known on television.

At the very least, it seems that Sutton will incur the wrath of the SFA.

McLeish confessed that it was difficult to take it all in. ''It was turmoil out there, but it was an experience that will stand me in good stead in the future. The aggression of my players and their positive nature was incredible.

''At the end it was torture as we waited to hear the final score at Rugby Park. We'd done all we could.

''We were aware, very aware, of the fact that Celtic were in front after their third goal at Kilmarnock and, in fact, I told the players we needed to score again. We had to be patient and move this way and that before we made the breakthrough with Ronald de Boer's goal, and then Steven Thomson's goal gave us a further break.

''I had said penalties would be taken by Shota Arveladze, but when it came Mikel Arteta picked up the ball and obviously Shota could see he was confident.

''Remembering that he got a lot of stick when he lost the ball 70 yards from goal against Celtic and seemed to be getting all the blame, he showed great responsibility. I am pleased for him because he has had to come here and learn the British style of play.''

He recalled that, after losing to Celtic, his team were accused of not having the resolution to come back and win the title. ''The players showed they had the 'bottle' and when Celtic, to their credit, came back at us, they stood up to the test.

''I believe our equaliser against Dundee in the 2-2 draw was the turning point for us.''

The manager acknowledged that he would have to give serious consideration to finding new players as they tackle the Champions League next season. ''We want to get into the Champions League proper, of course, and for that you need a strong squad. But there is financial fall-out in the game throughout the world and I won't be rushing into things. I will try to do my homework.''

Was this the high point of his career. ''Well, this is the present and it feels as it is that. As a manager, when you win like this everybody benefits - the players, management, staff and supporters. As a player you are blinkered by your own performance.''

For the captain, Barry Ferguson, it was equally sweet. ''I have dreamed of winning the championship and being captain of Rangers,'' he said. ''I did feel a few nerves last night and when the gaffer let me know that we were behind Celtic it was probably the worst I have ever felt. I watched Celtic on Wednesday and I thought they were superb.

''We have only one new player from last year, Mikel Arteta, and I don't know what the difference is, but maybe it is Alex McLeish.''

On the park, amid the bedlam and joy, Lorenzo Amoruso, who is expected to join Blackburn Rovers this summer, told the crowd: ''Rangers is my life. I don't want to leave.''

Well, it was that kind of day.

Substitutions

Rangers McCann (Caniggia 45), Thompson (Mols 62) Dunfermline Dempsey (Grondin 45), Walker (MacPherson 70), McGarty (McGroarty 77)

Subs not used

Rangers McGregor, Malcolm, McLean Dunfermline Ruitenbeek, McNicol

REFEREE Stuart Dougal

bookED

Rangers Ferguson Dunfermline MacPherson, Wilson, Bullen

Attendance 49,731

Possession

5644

Shots on target

123

Shots off target

92

Corners

140

Successful Passes

498278

Misplaced Passes

123147

Pass Completion %

8064

Tackles

2827

Offsides

50

Fouls

1217

rangers' main men

STEFAN KLOS (left)

Arguably the key player for the new champions. A string of clean sheets is testament to the

German's talents, indeed it is

difficult to recall a serious error. Not the tallest of men, he makes up for that with wonderful reflexes and superb positional play

CRAIG MOORE (centre)

Often an unsung hero but he was sorely missed in defence when he was out injured. A consistent and powerful defender, he always tries to do the simple things well

ARTHUR NUMAN

Like Moore, left a

serious gap when he was out injured, a

rarity during his Rangers career. His pace and body strength have been massive assets to the club, not forgetting his professionalism. He will leave Scotland with the admiration and respect of many beyond the Ibrox vicinity.

BARRY FERGUSON (right)

Captain and inspiration for so much of the season. Has a bundle of Player of the Year awards in his cabinet. They speak volumes for his brilliant

contribution to the season

RONALD DE BOER

A proven world-class player before he came to Ibrox, he has taken some time to overcome the injury problems that hindered his attempts to acquire the fitness needed for the SPL. This season he has managed that and in the process produced some breathtaking displays of quality play.

Key matches

Sunday, October 6

Celtic 3, Rangers 3

The first Old Firm derby of the season and the one that would set the tone for the championship. Mikel Arteta opened the scoring as Robert Douglas spilled the Spaniard's tame shot into the net but Henrik Larsson restored parity before the interval. The cat-and-mouse capers continued, with Larsson's second swiftly cancelled out by Ronald de Boer and while Douglas was again the villain, pawing an Arthur Numan shot straight to Shota Arveladze, Chris Sutton spared his blushes. None the less, it was a vital away point for Rangers.

Saturday, December 7

Rangers 3, Celtic 2

Like the previous fixture, a nationwide audience was gripped on Glasgow's gladiatorial joust. Celtic scored straight from kick off, with the Rangers defence retreating and allowing Chris

Sutton in after only 20 seconds. Craig Moore hit back within 10, as Robert Douglas flapped at a corner, while Ronald de Boer and Michael Mols gave the home side some welcome breathing space after the early scare. Celtic fought back with a 61st minute John Hartson goal but Rangers survived the onslaught to take four points out of six on derby duty.

Sunday, December 22

Partick Thistle 1, Rangers 2

A lacklustre performance at Firhill was compounded by a typically opportunist strike from Alex Burns. Unable to unpick the staunch Thistle defence, Rangers grew increasingly desperate as time ticked on. The introduction of Steven McLean posed Partick an unfamiliar problem and Alex McLeish's gung-ho tactics paid off when Michael Mols scored with 20 minutes remaining and Ronald de Boer completed what had seemed an unlikely victory with 10 minutes remaining.

Saturday, February 1

Rangers 2, Aberdeen 1

Michael Mols calmed the nerves during this notoriously tense

tussle with a goal eight minutes before half time but, not for the first time in the campaign, profligate finishing failed to kill off their opponents. Aberdeen duly equalised with 15 minutes remaining through Steven Tosh but the Dutchman provided further evidence of his recovery with a vital winner two minutes later.

Sunday, May 4

Dundee 2, Rangers 2

A story of two missed penalties. Lee Wilkie's on-going misfortune took the form of a first-minute own goal at Dens but a quick-fire double from Fabian Caballero atoned for the home side's nightmare start. Barry Ferguson, though, failed to score not once but twice from the penalty spot and when John Rowbotham spotted a hand ball with five minutes remaining, Mikel Arteta assumed the responsibility and the role of saviour.

Sunday, May 11

Rangers 4, Kilmarnock 0

It could have been 10, but four was sufficient to leave Rangers in rude health as the likelihood of the championship being decided by goal difference intensified.

Two early strikes from Michael Mols during a high-tempo match set-up a goal feast but amid a plethora of squandered opportunities, Shota Arveladze and

Claudio Caniggia beefed-up their goals-for column.