Simon Jordan hits back at Graeme Souness over Celtic brand damage as pundit claims Rangers 'was toxic as it could get'

Simon Jordan refuted Graeme Souness’ claim that major sponsors will be put off associating themselves with Celtic over a section of their support’s anti-monarchy stance and pointed to how Rangers have managed to rebuild their reputation after claiming the Ibrox club’s brand was “as toxic as it could get”.

Former Light Blues boss Souness claimed the actions of some of the fans in unveiling banners, and chanting, against the Queen during a Champions League clash in Poland and against St Mirren on Sunday will have caused commercial damage.

However, fellow talkSPORT pundit and former Crystal Palace owner Jordan hit back at that and believes Rangers are an example of why it won’t cause a lasting impact. Jordan pointed to the financial collapse of the club in 2012 and the controversy over the club’s use of EBTs under former owner David Murray. Rangers used the scheme to give millions of pounds worth of tax-free loans to former club staff, players and coaches – including Souness himself who later said he received it for doing scouting work while out of work.

But Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs argued they were salary payments and subject to tax. The subject came up during the discussion about Celtic and here is the exchange in full between the radio colleagues on host Jim White’s lunchtime show:

SJ: Graeme is probably a little bit idealistic about the idea that they won’t find commercial sponsors in the future because these are moments in time. And while they are unpalatable, and people are allowed dissenting voices and a different opinion, the tragedy is people use freedom of speech as an excuse for being abusive and disrespectful which isn’t the same. Having a freedom of speech doesn’t entitle you to run into a full