Strachan is wary of rivals' spending power

GORDON Strachan, the Celtic manager, believes he must build a "fitter, bigger and stronger" squad this summer if he is to successfully repel the challenge he anticipates from Hearts, Rangers and Hibs next season.

The Scottish champions wrap up their SPL campaign at Aberdeen tomorrow with Strachan admitting his team have benefited from the rub of the green on their way to the title in his first season in charge.

He feels retaining the title will be a far tougher challenge in light of the advantage in spending power he expects both Rangers and Hearts to enjoy over Celtic in bolstering their squads for the 2006-07 campaign.

"I can see both Hearts and Rangers getting stronger with their finances," he said, "while if Hibs get back to full strength they will give everyone problems. Our finances are not any stronger than they were five months ago, but hopefully the players we can bring in will give us more quality.

"We're under no illusions we had turning points in the season that helped us. Overall, decisions have gone for us, there's no doubt about that. We'd be silly to expect to get breaks again like we did this year. We can't be looking for breaks, we are looking for better players, fitter players.

"You can't say we were lucky, because we won the league when 20 points ahead with six games to go, but we know we have to get better if we are to do it again. We need to get better to retain the championship. If we played the same way again, I think it would be a close run thing."

The £1.5million capture of Adam Virgo from Brighton last summer is not regarded as one of Strachan's finest transfer market moves, but the 23-year-old remains determined to earn the respect of the Celtic supporters.

Even a substitute appearance at Pittodrie tomorrow will qualify Virgo for a championship medal, but he admitted: "In my eyes, just three starts in the SPL this season isn't good enough. I've got a lot more to offer than I have done this season and with a full pre-season behind me, I'll be more hungry than ever to prove my worth here."

Aberdeen can leapfrog Hibs and claim fourth place if they win tomorrow and Tony Mowbray's side lose at Kilmarnock, and Pittodrie manager Jimmy Calderwood would be extremely satisfied if that turn of events transpired.

They face Celtic in the midst of another injury crisis, with up to nine first team players - in addition to the suspended Scott Severin - possibly missing against the champions.

Calderwood said: "I would be absolutely delighted to finish in fourth given the injury problems we have had, and the players have done great recently to put us in the position to do that."

Taken from the Scotsman