Dave King's creeping £50m Rangers concern is RIGHT as he finds unlikely Celtic ally after failed return bid

John Hartson insists Dave King was correct to declare the gap between Celtic and Rangers is huge - after the former chairman batted away Graeme Souness' previous claims.

King launched a bid for a sensational return to the Light Blues to replace John Bennett who is stepping down as chairman due to health reasons with former director John Gilligan – who helped the South Africa-based tycoon rescue the club in 2015 – taking on the role on an interim basis. The directors are set to knock back the offer to take over from King - but during his push to come back to Ibrox in the top job he took to the airwaves.

On talkSPORT, he disagreed with Light Blues icon Souness, who recently said that he didn’t believe there was a huge gulf between Rangers and Celtic - but would require a £50m cash-injection to sign four quality additions and close the gap. And Celtic legend Hartson reckons King got his verdict spot on. He told The Go Radio Football Show: "I think he is bang on.

"I respect Graeme Souness for what he has done in the game. But what I would say is they are miles away on the pitch.

"You have read out Celtic's bank balance, and what they have got and what they have spent. Brendan has said they brought in more money than they spent - which is remarkable from their finance team.

"I think a lot of people would envy how Celtic do their business. How they bring in players for very little money or through the system - you look at Kieran Tierney through the academy, Matt O'Riley, (Moussa) Dembele for £500k. Rangers need to change. They have to look at it from top to bottom and see if they are doing everything right - but clearly they are not at this moment in time."