CLIVE TYLDESLEY knows full well the significance of 10 and 55 to the Old Firm.
But the legendary commentator insists he will never question the legitimacy of either target as Rangers and Celtic bid for title glory.
Tyldesley saw his social media channels light up last month following comments he made during the RangersTV coverage against Kilmarnock.
Some took his words as him questioning the validity of Celtic's ten-in-a-row bid because Rangers spent four years outside the top flight.
Tyldesley said: “It has been completely re-reported from what I actually said. It obviously came off the top of the head. There is almost this dark, understood significance to this season that I have heard about and seen on my social media feed amongst Rangers fans.
“If the remark was directed at anyone, it was at any Rangers fan that is unnecessarily obsessing about stopping ten-in-a-row. I prefer to look to positive things to stimulate and inspire in general.
“The number 10 is the perfect source of motivation for Celtic because that is a positive thought for them.
“Rangers are emerging as genuine contenders again and that is their positive from the last couple of seasons.
“All of the early indications are that this could be an exciting title race and I prefer to look forward to that than look back at anything.
“With regards to the post that has run on social media - with my picture in a Rangers shirt, which is obviously photo-shopped – there were some that totally rewrote the words that I said.
“As with all things Twitter, as soon as something appears for ten minutes it becomes the gospel. What I would like to make absolutely clear is that you will never, ever, hear me say ‘we’ during a game for Rangers TV. That would be unprofessional and it wouldn’t represent my thoughts. I am not a Rangers fan any more than I am a Kilmarnock or a Celtic fan.”
The first few weeks on RangersTV have given Tyldesley more insight into the weird and wonderful world of Scottish football.
And the 66-year-old will always be firm but fair behind the microphone this term.
Tyldesley said: “I am certainly not in a position to try and put asterisks next to any club’s achievements. I may not be an expert on the Old Firm or Scottish football but I pay enough interest and do sufficient research to have heard all of the arguments about the average points last season or liquidation. That's fine, on you go.
“All I am trying to do in the commentary is be professional, serve the audience and reflect my understanding of what football means to genuine football fans in the city. I think, and I hope I am not wrong, that a bit of banter is an important element of the Old Firm rivalry.
“I understand that it goes beyond that for certain people and that just by taking a match fee from Rangers that I have gone over to the dark side. I would happily work for Celtic TV too. I am a professional.
“I don’t want to do the commentary in handcuffs, I want to be able to have a little bit of fun as well as a bit of insight and comment during the course of the game, as I would with any other match.”
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