WALTER SMITH AND NEIL LENNON SPEAK EXCLUSIVELY ON BBC ALBA’S ‘CLUB TV’
CLUB TV
BBC ALBA – Thursday 28th April 21:00
The last in the current series of BBC ALBA’s CLUB TV will provide viewers with exclusive behind-the-scenes access at Rangers and Celtic, including interviews with Walter Smith and Neil Lennon as well as Gers goalkeeper Allan McGregor and Hoops striker Gary Hooper.
This week’s show, broadcast on Thursday 28th April at 9pm, will hear from Rangers manager Walter Smith after his final Old Firm match at the Ibrox helm last weekend.
Smith tells CLUB TV that his biggest accolade was being asked to become Rangers manager by then chairman David Murray, insisting that Murray could have asked “any manager in Britain” to become the Ibrox boss.
When he leaves Rangers in the summer, Smith says that he will “never say never” when asked whether he will take up any future role in football but maintains that he would not accept another managerial post in Scotland.
Above all else, Smith insists that his main hope is that people look back on his Ibrox stint as a success, saying: “I would hope people would look at me as someone who can win while I’ve been in the job.”
CLUB TV also features a tribute to the departing Rangers manager, with Ally McCoist and David Weir among those to pay tribute to Smith. Celtic manager Neil Lennon also gives his thoughts, describing Smith as “the greatest Rangers manager ever”.
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor also speaks to CLUB TV and states his desire to stay at Rangers for the rest of his career but acknowledges speculation about a move in the summer is outside of his control.
Also featured on the show is an exclusive look at Rangers youth academy, where under 19s coach Billy Kirkwood takes the cameras on a behind the scenes tour.
Over at Celtic, manager Neil Lennon talks about the title run-in as the season reaches its conclusion and admits his belief that winning trophies as Hoops boss will outweigh his achievements on the field at Celtic Park.
The CLUB TV team also speak to Celtic hitman Gary Hooper, who talks of his delight at his nomination for PFA Scotland's Player of the Year award.
Hooper also discusses his enjoyment from Celtic’s style of play this season and also his own hopes for a call-up to England’s squad for U-21 European Championships this summer in Denmark.
Meanwhile, Celtic youth goalkeeper Robbie Thomson, son of ex-Raith Rovers goalkeeper Scott Thomson, speaks to the CLUB TV team about life at the Parkhead club.
CLUB TV is presented by former club players Tom Boyd and Arthur Numan respectively, along with Gaelic Sports anchor Calum Macaulay and is produced for BBC ALBA by mneTV. The show will be repeated on Sunday 1st May at 12.00 midnight.