FORMER Rangers boss Mark Warburton says that any Celtic fans that are being honest with themselves will admit that Neil Lennon's side should have to play out the rest of the season to be named champions - and stressed that the remaining games must be played to ensure the Premiership's integrity.
Warburton, now manager of English Championship side Queens Park Rangers, insisted that he is not letting his spell as Ibrox manager affect his judgement.
And the 57-year-old reckons that no matter what happens, the 2020/21 season will feel the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
He told the Daily Record: "I know there’s an argument in Scotland that says Celtic should be given the title and put forward into next season’s qualifiers for the Champions League.
"But think about that for a minute. We don’t even know when those qualifiers will take place. Also I believe you have to win a title. You can’t just be given it.
"That’s not me speaking with my Rangers head on. You’ve got to win a title and I think any honest Celtic fan would agree.
"Down here Liverpool need two more wins before they can rightfully call themselves champions. That’s why we have to finish the domestic programme. There has to be integrity to the competitions.
"Obviously that will cause problems further down the line in terms of next season’s schedule but, without being rude, we’re going through a global pandemic. Thousands of people are dying.
"So how can anyone expect next season to be the same as always? At some point football is going to have to feel a bit of pain.
"If that means doing something radically different to shorten next season, starting it in November or December, then that’s what we have to do."
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