CELTIC HAVE refuted Scottish first minister Alex Salmond’s claim that the survival of Rangers is crucial for the Parkhead side and the rest of Scottish football to prosper. Salmond was responding to the financial crisis engulfing the Scottish champions after they went into administration on Tuesday.

The Ibrox club were forced to call in administrators Duff and Phelps over an unpaid tax bill of €10.8 million, accrued since Craig Whyte’s takeover in May.

Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell had earlier this week claimed Celtic could survive and thrive without Rangers, and a statement released yesterday on Celtic’s official Twitter site read: “We are very disappointed with the First Minister’s claims that Celtic ‘need’ Rangers and that Celtic ‘can’t prosper unless Rangers are there’.

“This is simply not true. In a series of interviews given just three days ago, we made it abundantly clear that Celtic has a well defined strategy and a business plan independent of the fortunes of any other club. That remains absolutely the case.

“The predicament of Rangers is clearly a serious and complex matter with a whole range of possible outcomes. However, we are extremely well qualified to make our own position clear and have no wish to see that being misrepresented for political reasons.”

Salmond told David Frost, in an interview to be broadcast on Frost over the Worldon Al Jazeera English: "Obviously HMRC have got to pursue, in the public interest, taxation. Equally, they've got to have cognisance of the fact that we're talking about a huge institution, part of the fabric of the Scottish nation, as well as Scottish football, and everybody realises that.

“The most die-hard Celtic supporter understands that Celtic can’t prosper unless Rangers are there. The rest of the clubs understand that as well. Therefore you have to have cognisance of these things when you’re pursuing public policy.

“We’ve certainly been arguing to HMRC on one hand, and indeed to Rangers, to for goodness sake get a settlement, get a settlement and a structure over time whereby Rangers can continue because Rangers must continue for the future of Scottish football and for the fabric of the country.”

Celtic manager Neil Lennon backed up his club‘s stance on his Twitter account, saying: “Important statement from the club today with regard to Mr Salmond’s quotes. Once again we have made our position clear.”

Rangers’ administrators yesterday said they have received “several expressions of interest from parties not connected to the club” since taking over the running of the Scottish league champions.

Paul Clark, of administrators Duff and Phelps, made the announcement during a press conference in Glasgow.

Clark yesterday said that interest in the cash-strapped club will be given due consideration.

“As administrators we have to look at all other expressions of interest in the club and to date we have received several expressions of interest from parties not connected to the club,” Clark said.

“These will be subject to ongoing discussions and examined in the forthcoming days.”