FOOTBALL fans are being advised by leading psychologists to ''keep the heid'' during the most nerve-racking climax to the league championship in years.

Celtic and Rangers supporters will experience the final highs and lows of an emotional roller-coaster of a season on Saturday when the championship will be decided.

One set of supporters will enjoy the ecstasy of victory while the others suffer the agony of defeat as Celtic, who lead Rangers by just two points, seek to win the league for the first time in a decade. A Rangers win would create a world record of 10 championships in a row.

Former Celtic assistant manager Billy Stark has admitted that the nervous energy among the fans Celtic Park ''will be enough to fuel a small power plant'' while supporters in Scotland can think and talk of little else during the build-up to the matches.

But psychologists are advising fans not to let the stress get to them.

Dr Geoff Scobie, a senior lecturer in psychology at Glasgow University, said yesterday: ''There is a section of the population, which is not restricted to any particular social class or personality type, for whom this is a very important issue in their lives and they will be finding this period extremely stressful.

''There are very high levels of anxiety elements, basically because it is an all-or-nothing situation. The league has been perpetuated to the very end and the tension has been held until the very last day of the season.

''All stress situations have what we call psychosomatic elements related to them. What psycho-somatic elements occur depend on the individual but you do have people who feel nauseous, have a headache, or just get generally irritable so you may find they blow their top more often than they might usually.

''If this is a stress situation for people then they will be responding in a way similar to they would if their job was under threat.''

He added: ''People have got to remind themselves that it is not as important as they think and need to put into perspective.

''The other technique is to think of something else and preoccupy yourself with that. Relatives also need to try to relax them and take their mind off things.''

Personal development coach Jack Black, a Celtic fan, said: ''I am going through this myself. Both Celtic and Rangers fans are experiencing incredible stress just now because they invest so much of their lives in the clubs, their expectations are so great, and yet all of what is happening is outwith their control.

''The increased levels of stress manifest themselves in people in different ways. They can wake up in the middle of the night thinking about matches that have just been played and matches coming up and it must also have an impact on people's work, their ability to concentrate, and even relationships.''

He added: ''I think we have to remember that football is only a game but, if you are going to think about it so much then think positively. Think about your team winning.''

Meanwhile, Mr Peter Burdon, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: ''Glasgow's top two clubs are keeping their supporters on tenterhooks right up to the wire.

''Our own staff seem remarkably calm about this battle but as Saturday approaches we expect an attack of irritability and insomnia to take hold.

''Next Monday, the outcome will be known and I urge all employers to show a bit of sympathy for those drained of emotion by the weekend activities. At least it gives everyone a bit of training for June and the World Cup.''

q Scottish fans expecting their World Cup tickets in the post could be kept waiting after a lightning strike by French postal workers.

The entire stock of 2.5 million tickets should have arrived at a high security depot in Paris last week to be sent off around the world but is languishing at an aircraft hangar in remote French countryside.