LEIGH Griffiths last night ridiculed claims that Celtic should have taken greater advantage of the four year absence of Rangers from the top flight of Scottish football.

Dave King, the Rangers chairman and major shareholder, suggested on Wednesday that the Parkhead club have failed to capitalise fully on the Ibrox club’s recent troubles,

But speaking as the 2017/18 Ladbrokes Premiership fixture list was unveiled, Griffiths said: “How much further away does he want us to be? Thirty nine points, two 5-1gubbings, one at home and one away, beaten in two cup semi-finals. Can you ask for a bigger gulf than that?

“They finished third and were touted at the start of the season to win the league. Last season they had Joey Barton saying he was going to be the best player in the league and he lasted a few months. Then he vanished back down the road.

“We just carried out our business professionally and respectfully and at the end of the season we reaped the rewards with a domestic treble and unbeaten. If he thinks we should be further ahead then he’s mad.

“Instead of taking about us he should be concentrating on them. He’s got a new manager and he wants to bring in players. The chairman should be focusing on that rather than us. Focusing on bridging the gap between us and them.”

King had claimed the record 5-1 defeat which Rangers suffered at home back in April had allowed manager Pedro Caixinha to see that many of his players were not of a sufficient standard to play for the Ibrox club.

But Griffiths said: “You can’t get beaten 5-1 and say it’s a good thing no matter who you are. I’ve been on the end of a 5-1 defeat in a Scottish Cup final and it will be talked about forever.

“The Celtic fans enjoyed that day and we proved that it should have been more then 5-1 really. They got off lightly. That’s 90 minutes of football and only wanted to get three points regardless of the score line - be it 1-0 2-0 or 5-1. We did the business, clapped the fans at the end of the game and went home happy.”

Caixinha has brought in eight new players so far and is keen to add more signings before the new season gets underway. But Griffiths admitted Bruno Alves and Ryan Jack were the only ones he knew of. “The only players I’ve recognised are Alves and Jack,” he said. “Alves is a good solid defender and is playing in the Confederations Cup with Portugal. He’ll be a good addition.

“I obviously know Ryan from his time with Aberdeen. I can’t say the same for the rest of them because I’ve never heard of them. We’ll soon see how quickly they adapt to the Scottish game. If they can then good luck to them.”