GRAEME Souness will find himself at the centre of a cauldron of hate when Rovers take on Celtic in a UEFA Cup Battle of Britain later this month.

That's the view of Phil Boersma, Souness's side-kick, who knows exactly what's awaiting his Blackburn boss when he steps out at Celtic Park on October 31.

As far as Celtic fans are concerned, Souness is still regarded as public enemy number one after his long and successful association with arch-rivals Rangers.

But it's not so much the fact that he was responsible for dragging Rangers out of the doldrums after years of decline which really sticks in Celtic fans' throats, it was his audacious swoop for Maurice Johnston which left a bitter taste in the green and white half of Glasgow in what was one of the most controversial transfer deals in football history.

Such is the depth of the sectarian divide which exists between the two Glasgow giants that no Rangers manager had previously tried to sign a Catholic until Souness came along.

So when he and Boersma suddenly changed the face of Scottish football forever by unveiling Celtic hero Johnston as their latest signing in front of a stunned Press conference at Ibrox, it caused wide-spread consternation to the point that even the Bishop of Glasgow had his say.

"Obviously, the taking away of Maurice Johnston created a huge outcry at the time and I'm sure they've never forgiven him for that," said Boersma, who was part of Souness's backroom staff at Rangers.

"My one abiding memory of that was it was kept so quiet that when Maurice walked through the door everybody just gasped, in disbelief rather than admiration.

"But Maurice went on and did great things for Rangers, so all credit to him for that.

"It was a very, very bold signing by Graeme, it shook Celtic to the core, and they never really recovered.

"So I'm positive he'll get a very warm reception when he returns but he'll relish going back to Parkhead and it will be a very, very interesting British game."

Rovers' keenly-awaited tie with Celtic will also stir up some special memories for Boersma, too.

He spent five years in Glasgow working alongside Souness in what was one of the most successful spells of the duo's careers.

So if anyone knows what to expect at Celtic Park in three weeks' time then it's Boersma, who is a veteran of Celtic-Rangers derbies.

"It's going to be a hostile atmosphere, there's no doubt about that. But it won't be like Celtic against Rangers or Liverpool versus Manchester United.

"They are a fanatical crowd who are really passionate, probably as passionate as any fans anywhere in the world, so it should be a tremendous game of football.

"I think we got the better of them during our time there.

"I can only really recall two defeats by them in the one season.

"They were always frantic, explosive occasions where anything could happen."

As for the game itself, the pundits have already started to build it up as a battle between England and Scotland.

Former Celtic striker, Charlie Nicholas, was quick to stoke the fire when he said the Glasgow giants wanted a bigger club than Rovers in yesterday's second round draw.

But Boersma has responded to those comments in typically bullish fashion.

"I've heard Charlie has said that 'with all due respect to Blackburn Rovers, Celtic would have preferred a bigger club.'

"But I think that works both ways, don't you?"