Rangers 'fans' at the 2008 UEFA Cup final in Manchester

Of all the quotes that can be regurgitated relating to the darker side of Rangers and a helping of the imbeciles that have clamped themselves to the Glasgow club seemingly since time began, Ian Archer's musings remain perhaps the most pertinent. It was penned over 30 years ago. "This has to be said about Rangers, as a Scottish football club they are a permanent embarrassment and an occasional disgrace. This country would be a better place if Rangers did not exist," wrote Archer, who latterly worked on the now departed television programme Scotsport, in a Glasgow newspaper.

What was

Celtic attract adverse headlines in troubled times

So the Whyte knight may instead be Walter Mitty, but who do you believe amid this latest outbreak of muscular mudslinging? Who is the honest man in this hoary old tale?

Craig Whyte, a somewhat embattled businessman-turned-Rangers owner who has been busy defending his honour, reputation and intentions for the Glasgow club over these past few rabid days?

Or Scotland's "best for news and sport", the Daily Record newspaper, an organ that prides itself on its unwavering truthfulness, accuracy and impartiality?

All hell has broken loose since the Scottish tabloid unearthed the rather unflattering

Jimmy WhiteThe last time Jimmy 'The Whirlwind' White appeared in a meaningful final on a Sunday night, traditionally the evening when snooker tournaments conclude, he wound up finishing third on ITV's gloriously garish I'm a Celebrity..Get Me Out of Here!

For a lifetime apparently defined by second place, at least it was something different.

Celebrity chef Gino D'Acampo and minor TV personality Kim Woodburn were voted ahead of the ongoing snooker player by viewers in the Aussie 'Jungle' a couple of years back. It made a change from Stephen Hendry or Steve Davis doing the dirty on him. It may sound a tad

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Steve DavisHaving survived its latest tidal wave of tungsten over the festive period - along with copious amounts of glorious, boozed up characters dressed in various forms of outrageous garb - the Alexandra Palace in North London seems ripe for a spot of shameless ballyhoo every now and again.

The Ally Pally has hosted the PDC World Championship darts tournament since 2008 with the latest edition seeing Adrian 'Jackpot' Lewis proclaimed champion amid a crowd who seemed to prefer lager tops to their double tops. It all seemed to be going off as the 'disgraced' former England rugby union captain Mike

Every player has his price, but it tends to be an inflated one in the January transfer window. Despite this law of nature, it is unlikely to stop admiring glances being cast towards the best players performing in Scotland. These are some of the men who will command attention from elsewhere - particularly from interested parties in the Premier League and the Championship - over the next few weeks. Somewhat predictably, with Celtic and Rangers already over 15 points ahead of third-placed Motherwell at the summit of the Scottish Premier League entering the New Year, most of the prized assets can

Celtic's 'Green Brigade' abroadTrying to rouse myself for the day ahead this morning by catching a few snippets of news on the radio, one was immediately drawn to the tones of the vocally rampant Ray Stubbs, a figure who sadly no longer fronts the BBC's glorious coverage of the slightly eccentric BDO World Darts Championship when woozy early January comes into view.

It may have been before 8am, but Stubbs was brimming full of condemnation of Wales' assistant coach Raymond Verheijen, a forthright Dutchman who has let it be known publicly he is eager to succeed Gary Speed as national manager only a fortnight or so after Speed

Mark AllenAnd they said there were no characters left in the game. This week's UK Championship in York has been gloriously colourful without the need for the colours. Much of the nonsense has swirled around Mark Allen's public tête-à-tête with Barry Hearn, the chairman of World Snooker, a figure whom the Northern Irishman feels has left the sport snookered with his willingness to shorten the format of the UK event.

Allen swore in an outburst about Hearn before being charged with bringing the game into disrepute. He appeared in a press conference with his kisser dubbed up with masking tape after