I sense Brendan Rodgers will answer Celtic charges at show trial conducted by a bunch of wagon circlers – Hugh Keevins

Any man who relinquishes power but stays in position because there’s nobody left to take over is a lame duck.

And Crawford Allan’s decision to stand down as the head of Scotland’s referees, but retain the title until the end of the season on a nominal basis, raises serious questions. The first being the validity of Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers’ appearance in front of a disciplinary hearing on Thursday. Allan has effectively gone from office after a vote of no confidence in him, along with VAR and all its operatives, imposed by the Premiership clubs who were canvassed for their opinion.

That, to my way of thinking, makes Rodgers’ appearance before the authorities a show trial conducted by the members of a closed shop who have circled the wagons in an act of self-protection. Rodgers’ alleged offence was to use the word “incompetent” in relation to a series of controversial decisions during the match lost to Hearts at Tynecastle on March 3.

The decision now taken by Allan to “pursue new opportunities” comes after several other managers had found him to be overseeing an operation that was, in their opinion, seriously flawed. Deficient to the point where there are entitled to be concerns over the decision-making process at every game for the rest of the season.

The period when the two major prizes, the Premiership title and the Scottish Cup, come to a conclusion. Clubs have no faith in the way games are being refereed and believe decisions are, in some cases, being arrived at after obvious mistakes. This was the main thrust of Rodgers’ complaint yet he runs the risk of a touchline ban. Is that a safe way to conduct business in light of the news that Allan is standing down?

SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell’s statement on