A grown man enforcing Rangers rules will be made fun of behind his back and the comedy doesn't stop there – Hotline

They don’t call the summer transfer window ‘silly season’ for nothing and some of the opinions on the Hotline in recent days have had callers in hysterics. Celtic penny pinching, Brendan Rodgers gone by Christmas, Michael Beale’s business at Rangers dubbed “comedy gold” ... it’s open season for punters wanting to take cheap shots as we wait for the real stuff to start.

Beale was first to get Hotline jester’s hat over the departure of 18-goal Antonio Colak for Parma. Paul McArdle, Gourock, said: “Michael Beale is absolutely clueless. He got rid of Colak who had scored 14 goals in half a season before getting injured then chose to stick with waste of space El Duffalo when the Croat was fit again. Now he's punted him and brought in several strikers who have scored less than 14 goals between them in three or four years. Comedy gold.”

Paul Price, Belfast, said: “As a Celtic man I’m surprised Rangers sold Colak as he was a natural goalscorer and even impressed me when he played for Malmo. I“d also like to commend Graeme Souness for his charity swim for wee Isla Grist. Things like that put rivalry aside where it should be regarding illness.”

However, Alan Flett emailed: “Celtic fans can say what they like about Beale but at least he’s in full control of player recruitment and will stand or fall by his decisions. Rodgers, on the other hand, is working with whichever players are given to him, as Celtic’s recent transfer activity only goes to show. If he fails, he can use the excuse that ‘it wasn’t my team anyway'.”

John Bruce stoked the flames on yesterday’s edition when he accused Celtic of taking the cheap option by resigning players already there.

But Kenny Wilson, Moffat, fired back: “It’s well and truly silly season