The Hoops boss spent the morning struggling to communicate with his players in the wind and rain in a short training session before leaving to prepare for tomorrow's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Hibernian at Easter Road.

Strachan admits he may have to ask the club to extend the indoor facility at the club's new purpose-built training complex at Lennoxtown but insists the problem is Scotland-wide.

Strachan said: "I'm luckier than most coaches in Scotland. We have a superb training ground where the surfaces can take water.

"We have an indoor facility but it's not a full-size pitch. That's not helpful, not at all although it's handy for warm-ups.

"We will think about extending it but we are not just thinking about Celtic, we are talking about the Scottish game and we must think outside Celtic and Rangers.

"It is nearly impossible at this moment to coach players and I feel that the product can be a lot better if we had more time to spend coaching.

"The coaches are determined to work hard but unfortunately because of facilities and weather, they can't give the hours that they want to give. It's not fair on the public either.

"We are trying to explain things to players on a board but it's far better to do your coaching on the training field.

"But even when you are doing your coaching on the training pitch, the players can't hear you when you are more than 20 yards away."

Strachan continued: "The surfaces are poor which is not conducive to good football.

"I keep going back to the Falkirk game recently, that was as bad a game as I've seen. It was impossible.

"There was wind and rain, the surface was horrendous and there wasn't a decent shot and that's what we have to put up with in this weather.

"So it's a problem for Scottish football and if we want to make the product better we have to find ways of making sure that the players are on the training field more than they are.

"If you get more hours for these coaches then you will get better football."

This time last year Celtic had all but sealed their second title in succession but they find themselves four points behind rejuvenated Rangers ahead of their trip to Easter Road.

Strachan admits he is one of the few not invigorated by the excitement surrounding the title race.

He said: "I would rather be bored to tears by being miles ahead. Our points total is a bit down on last season but Rangers have improved vastly so it has become a right good championship this year for people outside Celtic.

However, we welcome the challenge and we are relishing it.

"We expect Hibs to raise their game again by 20% like every team we play against.

"We know it will be a right hard game."