Celtic manager Gordon Strachan could be banned from the touchline for 10 matches after he was ordered from the dugout during his team's win at Aberdeen on Sunday. However, he will have to wait for the case of his dismissal during April's match against Hearts to be heard before any punishment for the incident is imposed.
The Scottish FA said yesterday that the hearing into the incident in the Hearts match, which was due to take place today, has been postponed. If Strachan is found guilty of a disrepute charge when that case is heard, he will be issued with a four-game ban as it will be a second offence within three seasons. And under SFA guidelines, as confirmed by the national governing body this morning, a third offence will result in a further six-match suspension.
Strachan was ordered to the stands by referee Stuart Dougal on two occasions in Celtic's matches against Hearts last season, in August 2006 and most recently in the April 29th game at Parkhead.
Dougal has become unavailable for today's scheduled hearing, which Strachan requested to appeal against the mandatory four-game ban. That must be concluded before an inquiry into the events at Pittodrie can take place, and it has necessarily been put back to a later, undetermined date.
Strachan was sent to the stands by referee Charlie Richmond following an argument with an Aberdeen official in Sunday's game. The incident followed Kenny Miller's 85th-minute goal which put Celtic 2-1 ahead in their 3-1 victory.
The SFA expect to receive Richmond's match report today. Coach Tommy Burns revealed Strachan had been defending his assistant Garry Pendrey following accusations he had made a rude gesture to the Aberdeen fans behind the dugout. Strachan was apparently pointing out to the Aberdeen official that Pendrey's two-fingered gesture was to mark the second goal.
However, it was not all bad news for the Parkhead outfit as Celtic's turnover rose by €26.5million to €111.2million, a staggering €44.2million ahead of that of their Old Firm rivals. The figures are particularly impressive given their €6.2million loss for the equivalent period in 2006. Progress to the last 16 of last season's Champions League accounts for the vast majority of Celtic's improved income, but player sales amounting to €13.8million are also a contributory factor. Overall net debt has been cut by €7.4-€13.3million.
"They are great results," said Brian Quinn, the Celtic chairman, "and by far the best we have ever posted." Quinn refused to discuss his own position, but he is widely expected to resign his chairmanship in the near future with John Reid, the former British cabinet minister, tipped to replace him.
