Rangers sack Celtic fan marketing guru after...

Rangers sack Celtic fan marketing guru after fans reveal offensive posts on… Read More.

Rangers Football Club has dismissed Blaine McConnell, a newly appointed marketing consultant, after fans uncovered offensive social media posts from his past. McConnell, a well-known Celtic supporter, was hired by the Ibrox club in a consultancy capacity, despite having previously worked for his boyhood team, Celtic, in 2017. However, his tenure at Rangers was abruptly cut short after a controversial Facebook post from 2011 came to light, alongside photos of him surrounded by Celtic memorabilia and holding the European Cup at Celtic Park.

The Facebook post in question, made on Christmas Eve 2011, read: “Listening to home alone tunes…pumping…Kevin Mcallister hates the huns.” The post referenced Kevin McCallister, the character played by Macaulay Culkin in the popular 1990 film *Home Alone*. The use of the term “huns,” a derogatory word often directed at Rangers fans, sparked outrage among the club’s supporters.

An insider familiar with the situation clarified that McConnell was not an official employee of Rangers but was brought in as a consultant. He had only been working at Ibrox for a few days before his services were terminated. The insider stated that McConnell’s allegiance to Celtic wasn’t the issue; rather, it was the offensive language used in his social media post that led to his dismissal. “Using a derogatory word like ‘huns’ is simply unacceptable,” the source said.

Rangers fans were quick to criticize the decision to hire McConnell, questioning why a more thorough vetting process had not been conducted. One supporter remarked, “It is fairly standard, is it not, to do a social media check for jobs at that level – or at the very least to check previous employers?” Another fan expressed frustration with the club’s hiring practices, saying, “Why was this not all checked beforehand? What is going on with our club?! The person doing the hiring should be looked into as well.”

In a 2017 interview with Sports Marketing Scotland, McConnell had proudly discussed his role as Digital Marketing Manager for Celtic, highlighting his involvement in various high-profile projects, including the club’s Christmas video, kit launch, and season ticket campaign. He described the experience as a dream come true, stating, “It’s been a long road to get my breakthrough and it finally came in a role and environment I always wanted to be in. Being a supporter definitely helps.”

McConnell’s enthusiasm for Celtic was evident as he recounted his pride in working for the club. He mentioned how walking up the Celtic Way, even on non-matchdays, filled him with “an unbelievable sense of pride.” His deep connection to Celtic was a significant part of his identity, making his appointment at Rangers all the more controversial among the club’s fans.

In the wake of the controversy, McConnell has deactivated his Twitter and LinkedIn accounts and has not been available for comment. Rangers have yet to make an official statement regarding the situation. The incident has raised concerns among Rangers supporters about the club’s hiring processes and the potential for further embarrassing oversights in the future.