Football far from Strachan's mind

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan admitted his thoughts were not on the Old Firm game even before Wednesday's scheduled derby was postponed out of respect to the family of Phil O'Donnell.

The death of the Motherwell captain, who played for Celtic for five years, has had a profound effect on the players and staff at Parkhead. First-team coach Tommy Burns signed O'Donnell for £1.75million when he was Celtic manager, while reserve coach Willie McStay, from O'Donnell's hometown of Hamilton, is a close friend.

Strachan said: "I've no idea how we could play a game of football."

Celtic on Monday asked for a postponement of the January 2 clash with Rangers after the squad met for the first time since O'Donnell collapsed with a suspected seizure on Saturday while playing for Motherwell against Dundee United.

That was quickly granted by the Scottish Premier League following the backing of Rangers as neither set of players had the appetite for a game so soon after the 35-year-old's death.

Celtic skipper Stephen McManus on Monday laid flowers on behalf of the club as he visited the temporary shrine to O'Donnell outside the main stand at Fir Park along with Strachan.

They were joined by Rangers players such as Barry Ferguson and Lee McCulloch, who, like McManus, hail from Lanarkshire and were all close to O'Donnell and his family.

And Strachan was relieved they were able to pay their respects rather than prepare for a football match that had paled into insignificance following the heartbreaking loss of committed father-of-four O'Donnell.

"When the news came filtering through the other day we had a lot of upset people at the club," he said. "Willie McStay went on holiday with him recently and Mick (McManus) is close with the family.

"I know the Motherwell lads and the Celtic lads get on very well. Tommy just disappeared into the gym when he heard. There was a lot to take in really."