We are in mid-September and Celtic are already nine points ahead of the Rangers. The Ibrox club have had some bad times over the years but it is safe to say that this is a new low point for them. When things get like this, it almost becomes inevitable for the manager to be sacked, even if he was appointed in the summer, as was the case with Russell Martin.
There have been suggestions that Martin continues to have the backing of the Rangers board. That can't continue for long if results don't improve. But unfortunately for the Rangers, it looks like their 'dream' target to replace him is no longer available.
Jose Mourinho had been linked with the Rangers job for a little while. And while those rumours always felt a bit far-fetched, even as the Portuguese icon is struggling to find his feet in recent years, a good section of the Ibrox support seems to believe that such a move is possible.
Perhaps the perfect opportunity to make it happen had come around as well with Fenerbahce sacking Mourinho. But he has already been announced as the new manager of Benfica.
Rangers handed blow by official announcement as Celtic eye 5IAR
So, the Mourinho to Rangers move is now off the table. He was amongst the favourites to replace Martin before his appointment as the new Benfica boss.
Of course, most Celtic fans never believed that such a move was ever on the cards. And they have been proven right over time.
Celtic have their own issues at the moment. Despite that, they are nine points ahead of the Rangers in the league title race. And it looks like they could already be well on their way to 5IAR.
Admittedly, it is a bit too early to think about winning the league title. Celtic have been nowhere near the mark lately and need to raise their game.