The Ibrox side are on brink of being taken over by a wealthy American consortium but that won’t cure all of their ills

Alan Stubbs insists Celtic are a runaway train under Brendan Rodgers – and it’s going to take more than a cash injection at Rangers to help them catch up.

The former Hoops star is convinced his old club are on the right track with a fourth Premiership title in a row all but sealed and the chance of another Treble on the horizon. Stubbs spent five years at Parkhead and managed Hibs to their famous Scottish Cup win in 2016 – with both sides set to square up in the cup this weekend.

It should be a corker of a tie but in the grand scheme it’s Celtic who have left the rest of Scottish football in their wake. And Stubbs admitted he can’t see anyone stopping them just yet. He said: “They’ve been unbelievable. The worst thing for everybody else is Celtic have gone to another level. And it’s been impressive. In terms of the two Glasgow clubs, I think the stature of the two clubs is still enormous.

“But in terms of their spending power, we’ve got one, we’ve got a runaway train. And we’ve got one that’s trying to catch up and finding it very difficult.

“The rest are miles behind. While Brendan’s there, and he’s putting demands on the Celtic board to keep improving then it’s great for Celtic.

“The biggest question mark over Brendan was his results in Champions League football. And he’s done that this season. Celtic have been a breath of fresh air to watch. It’s been great for Scottish football, because in previous seasons, Rangers have been flying the flag and keeping it going. And Celtic have come to the table this season in what was a tough group, but a group where they could get results as well.”

Rangers fans are hoping the Hoops gravy train is going to be halted by the proposed takeover in the coming weeks, with the San Francisco 49ers dollars on the way. Stubbs believes it’s going to take time as well as money at Ibrox and it’s not like Gers are going to be Galaticos overnight.

The Scouser knows it’s more than just dosh that counts as well. He’s watched his beloved Everton squander millions and it hasn’t got them anywhere in recent years. It will be down to decision making even more than just splurging – and it’s easier said than done. Stubbs said: “If Rangers get investment, it doesn’t guarantee they’re going to have success.

“I’ve seen that first hand with my team, Everton. It’s okay to have an investment, it’s what you do with investment. That’s the most important thing.

“Celtic had it a few years ago where their recruitment wasn’t great. Since Brendan’s come back, we’ve seen players go out and I think there’s been a real upturn in terms of the calibre of players they’re bringing in.

“If Rangers get taken by the 49ers, the owners are there. But, and I’ve said this about Everton, the most important signing for Rangers is a director of football. A head of recruitment, not a manager. It’s because it’s the players that need to be the right one. Because managers are going to come and go. It’s the DNA of the football club and the style of play that needs to be set from the top down.

“And if a manager does leave, then he’s coming in to carry on with the same type of players. Rather than a turnaround of players where, no I don’t like these players. The next manager comes in, no I don’t like those players. This is why Rangers are in the situation that they’re in right now. Because they’ve had such a turnaround in managers, everyone who’s come in has not liked the previous managers’ players. The director of football, the head of recruitment, is the most important decision.”

Stubbs isn’t predicting Rangers to hit the buffers under new owners though. And he doesn’t actually want to see the Light Blues toil any longer, despite his allegiances lying across the city. The former classy centre back remembers a time when Scottish football’s two superpowers were more evenly matched – and he’s convinced it’s better for both clubs to be competitive. Stubbs would also love to see other sides step up as well for the all round good of the game.

He said: “I want to see the league as competitive as it can be. I’d love to see Celtic and Rangers in the Premier League, but I know it’s not going to happen. Back then in my playing days, the two teams were really strong. Rangers aren’t as strong now.

“Does Celtic need a stronger Rangers? Not just Celtic, but Scottish football does. I think Scottish football needs a strong Aberdeen. I think it needs a strong Hibs and Hearts, and the other teams to get stronger. This is not just about Celtic needing a strong Rangers. They need the other teams to get stronger too. Even though I’m back in England now, I want to see Scottish teams doing well in Europe.”

Alan Stubbs was promoting Premier Sports’ live and exclusive coverage of Celtic v Hibernian on Sunday from 2.30pm on Premier Sports 1. Watch Premier Sports via your TV provider on Sky, Virgin TV, STV Player and Amazon Prime as an add-on subscription, and on the Premier Sports’ streaming platform.