The former Scotland team-mates united at Ibrox this afternoon at the end of a week in which the rivalry between the Glasgow clubs hit a new low.

Former Celtic manager Hay backed current incumbent Neil Lennon's defiance in the face of a parcel bomb plot which has seen him targeted with two viable devices, both of which were intercepted.

Jardine believes both Old Firm clubs need help rather than blame as Scotland deals with the sectarian problem, which has been highlighted around the world by the publicity surrounding the terror campaign.

Celtic and Rangers were last month summoned to a summit with First Minister Alex Salmond and Strathclyde Police leaders, but Jardine feels that was a "knee-jerk reaction" to the Scottish Cup replay between the teams, when three Rangers players were sent off and Lennon clashed with Ibrox assistant Ally McCoist.

Jardine instead wants long-term policies implemented throughout Scottish society.

Jardine, who works for Rangers, said: "The club is trying everything it can. I think the club needs help.

"The vast majority of the Rangers supporters, the silent majority, need to start to get behind the club and get behind all the action we're taking.

"But we also need the help of the police and the politicians. We can't do it all ourselves. We have worked extremely hard to try and eradicate it and I don't know what more the club can do.

"We need the vast majority of Rangers supporters to stand up and be counted and anyone who is doing these things, they are dragging the name of the club into the gutter, they are an embarrassment."

Rangers face two UEFA disciplinary cases over alleged sectarian singing at their recent Europa League games against PSV Eindhoven, with fans set to be banned from the stadium for European games next season.

Jardine urged Rangers fans to "weed out" the troublemakers but he wants more action from external sources.

The former full-back, who won the European Cup Winners' Cup with Rangers in 1972, said: "It is a huge problem, sectarianism, but everyone that comes into the stadium doesn't happen to be sectarian.

"They might sing some of the songs, they might not mean it, but get caught up in the atmosphere.

"But what happens when people go home to their communities? The police and politicians should be trying to address it there.

"There are young kids getting taught sectarianism and they are not even in this stadium or any football stadium.

"What is the Government doing, what is the police doing in the communities to sort it out?

"That's the question I would like to ask them. They keep asking Rangers. We try to do as much as possible and now we'll probably have to do more because of what UEFA have in mind."

Jardine and Hay both spoke about the mutual respect their generation of Old Firm players had.

Hay said: "You've got to remember part of the Old Firm is the intense rivalry, that's what makes it sometimes when it's concentrated on football.

"When I look back to my playing days, we did everything possible to get a victory and I might have accidentally fouled Sandy in the odd game.

"But when we got together and played for the national team we developed a friendship.

"Maybe this could be a watershed. We've got to realise, as much as it's extremely important if you're a Rangers fan or a Celtic fan, there are other issues that are more important than football."

Hay feels Lennon is right to continue as Celtic manager despite the security threat.

"You can go two ways, you give into them and it means the nutcases have won," said Hay, who managed Celtic between 1983 and 1987.

"He has shown a bit of bravery in that.

"Since he has taken over, his team have improved hugely. He is focused on that and he gets a lot of support from the supporters.

"They are behind him for two reasons, how well the team are doing and as an individual they are showing him warmth.

"It is difficult for him but I think Neil has been used to it even as a player, but not to this extent, this is beyond the pale."