Tom Boyd believes that Celtic are entitled to take a travelling support to Belfast should Linfield be confirmed as the club’s opponents in the UEFA second round Champions League qualifier.

However, the former Celtic captain will look for the authorities to guarantee the safety of fans going in and out of the city at a time when tensions traditionally run high.

It is believed that PSNI will have the final say of when the game will be played with a reversal of legs of the tie suggested or the prospect of a 5pm kick-off on possibly July 11th or even July 13th.

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The prospect of Celtic refusing to accept tickets for the game has also been suggested but Boyd maintained it would be unfair to prevent supporters from turning out to see their team.

“The problem or issue would not be our supporters causing any trouble, it would be more likely about them being guaranteed safety,” he said. “You would be denying supporters the right to go and see their team playing.

“Their team has been playing all over the world and the supporters have gone to back them. I think you would be just denying some of them an opportunity to see their team. There’s quite a few fans who stay over there and for some it would be a rare opportunity to see Celtic play.

“It’s a difficult one. But for that game I don’t see Celtic supporters causing trouble.

“Hopefully it will be the case that they’ll be looked after.

“I’m sure there’s been plenty so-called powderkeg games before, certainly in Belfast. Is there not a Linfield-Cliftonville rivalry? And I don’t think tickets are refused for those games, are they?

“The main problem is that the police are going to be otherwise disposed with certain other things at the time of the possible Celtic tie. Police numbers will be an issue.

“However, I think our fans are prepared to go wherever to support their team.

“Obviously, there will be discussions going on.

“As I say, our supporters want to see Celtic playing all over the world. Hopefully there will be safe passage for them to do that.”

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Boyd has watched with interest this summer as Rangers have confirmed nine new signings so far in this window, an injection of numbers that has been regarded as a source of some optimism for the Ibrox support.

Wholesale changes can take time to gel, as Boyd can testify after being a key part of Wim Jansen’s squad that stopped ten-in-a-row in 1998. The Dutchman made five new signings before the season started but added further numbers as the campaign went on to revolutionise the club.

For Boyd, though, the key factor was the quality that arrived at Celtic as they sought to stop Rangers.

“Wim changed a few players but it took a wee while though,” he said. “We lost our first two league games that season if you remember. But it did happen for us so it is possible.

“But it does seem a hell of a lot (of players that Rangers have signed). And they need to be quality players.

“When Wim came here he bought a current Champions League winner in Paul Lambert. He brought in someone who went on to become a Celtic legend in Henrik Larsson, who was also a bargain. He brought in very good players in Craig Burley, Marc Rieper - international players. There was quality coming into the football club at that time. I don’t know anything about those (Rangers) players but we will see what happens. But you want competition from all the teams.