Neil Lennon has dismissed suggestions that Scotland and Celtic need a strong Rangers team in order to be successful.
Rangers are the subject of an ongoing investigation that could see them face a £49m tax bill.
The Ibrox club led the SPL table by 15 points in November, but have since been overtaken by their Old Firm rivals.
Rangers now face life without top-scorer Nikica Jelavic, who has joined Everton for £5.5m on deadline day.
The Hoops boss claims his team's strong position is a result of to hard work, as oppose to pressure from their Glasgow neighbours.
He told Sky Sports News: "I'm not in the camp who believe the SPL, or Celtic, need a strong Rangers.
"I'd be quite happy if we were a lot stronger than Rangers. A lot of people think Celtic and Rangers need each other, well at the minute we don't.
"We're in a strong position financially with good young players coming through. But we've had to work hard and be patient for that."
Meanwhile, Lennon believes the loss of Jelavic will hurt Rangers.
"It will certainly weaken Rangers' squad because he is a superb player," he added.
"For the time he was here he scored very important goals for them at crucial times in games."
Celtic are next scheduled to meet Rangers on March 25 at Ibrox.
Robert Summerscales
