Years of downsizing, lacking ambition, treating fans like criminals, and running the club as a bank rather than a football business has left fans disillusioned, angry, and restless over an inept board
I heard that Celtic interim Chairman Brian Wilson is trying to arrange a meeting with the Celtic Collective next week, to try and iron out the difficulties between the club and the support, and the potential reinstatement of the Green Brigade, to get behind the club, in the drive to retain the League title, and the forthcoming showdowns with Stuggart, and the Scottish Cup.
Meanwhile the Sun has published a big sex scandal involving Ranger's players today. They don't have their troubles to seek either.
There needs to be a meeting between the club and the Celtic Collective to try to sort this whole mess out - but imo the only way that is going to happen is if Nicholson and McKay step down and I doubt very much that will happen. The Not a Penny more campaign certainly seems to making the hierarchy take notice but I dont think it has had a huge impact on finances that the collective had hoped - however, the potential boycott of the Dundee game certainly made them sit up and decide to go back to the table to speak to the fans.
The reinstatement of the Green Brigade is a secondary issue - but is being framed by some as one and the same with the Celtic Collective. The allegations from both sides is worrying but it is clear that there is a consistent pattern from club security to target the GB and work in tandem with their former employers at Police Scotland because the GB are doxing coppers who get overly aggressive with their members and other Celtic fans inside and outside of the ground.
One thing is clear, the atmosphere is flat without them and it needs to be sorted asap.
Common sense must prevail, there has to be talks, and mediation between the Board and the Celtic Collective is the only way forward I feel. As you say, the atmosphere is flat at Celtic Park, it must be disconcerting for the Celtic players, and definitely not conducive to winning silverware. Rangers and Hearts are benefiting from the Celtic Board/fan fall out, with Rangers guaranteed 60,000 vociferous fans every home game, same for Hearts at Tynecastle, with 30,000+ highly vocal and partisan fans roaring their team on to a League title victory, both of them hope, while Parkhead is moribund and passive.
In saying that, I feel there has to be a Reformed Green Brigade if it is ever going to be successful, they can't keep their antagonistic political campaigns going and wilful and indiscriminate use of flares at games home, away and in Europe, costing the club, hundreds of thousands of pounds in fines and risking suspensions, section closures etc.
Self discipline, compromise and responsibility from both sides are badly needed, if common sense is to prevail.
Good article as ever Andy, and one that goes to the heart of the problem, the Board.
Despite that, I am excited at the imminent arrival of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is proven class and ability, and at the age of 32, he has the ideal platform at Celtic Park to strut his stuff again. I do think Martin O'Neil has been very shrewd in the transfer market with the timely acquisitions of Julian Araujo , Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur, will all add physicality and power to a Celtic team that has long been seen as powder puff, especially in midfield. But like you say Andy, if Celtic go on to win the league again, with all the recent background noise, it will be a sickener for Rangers and Hearts, who will never have a better chance to wrestle the SPL title back again.
I am intrigued also to hear you mention the bias that Celtic have faced too from referees like Dickinson, Beaton and Dallas, who are all known to have Ranger's leanings and being Anti Celtic, don't forget either Steven McLean, whose brother played with Rangers too, Beaton himself caught drinking in a Ranger's pub, right after had had handled a derby game at Ibrox, and Digger coming from a big Ranger's supporting family.
Agree wholeheartedly Andy, but without coming across as a happy clapper (which I'm certainly not), if the board sold Engels the fans wouldve been up in arms, yet there are some like moaning face James Forrest (whinging blogger not player) who aren't happy that they never took the c.£25m when it was offered.
Problem still remains, how to rid ourselves of those useless board members? The ONLY road is a boycott of STs, but they know there'd be more than 50% sold no matter what, so instead of £36m they'd bank £18m along with c.£20/25m via Engels' sale, that'll leave our kitty with something like £120m, I reckon they could batten down their hatches for at least 3 years. Where does that leave the fans then?
"a Hearts side whose early season confidence has now turned into an arrogant window licking belief"
Eh? Where did this angry nonsense come from? 🤔
I heard that Celtic interim Chairman Brian Wilson is trying to arrange a meeting with the Celtic Collective next week, to try and iron out the difficulties between the club and the support, and the potential reinstatement of the Green Brigade, to get behind the club, in the drive to retain the League title, and the forthcoming showdowns with Stuggart, and the Scottish Cup.
Meanwhile the Sun has published a big sex scandal involving Ranger's players today. They don't have their troubles to seek either.
Very good article, Andy, by the way !
There needs to be a meeting between the club and the Celtic Collective to try to sort this whole mess out - but imo the only way that is going to happen is if Nicholson and McKay step down and I doubt very much that will happen. The Not a Penny more campaign certainly seems to making the hierarchy take notice but I dont think it has had a huge impact on finances that the collective had hoped - however, the potential boycott of the Dundee game certainly made them sit up and decide to go back to the table to speak to the fans.
The reinstatement of the Green Brigade is a secondary issue - but is being framed by some as one and the same with the Celtic Collective. The allegations from both sides is worrying but it is clear that there is a consistent pattern from club security to target the GB and work in tandem with their former employers at Police Scotland because the GB are doxing coppers who get overly aggressive with their members and other Celtic fans inside and outside of the ground.
One thing is clear, the atmosphere is flat without them and it needs to be sorted asap.
Common sense must prevail, there has to be talks, and mediation between the Board and the Celtic Collective is the only way forward I feel. As you say, the atmosphere is flat at Celtic Park, it must be disconcerting for the Celtic players, and definitely not conducive to winning silverware. Rangers and Hearts are benefiting from the Celtic Board/fan fall out, with Rangers guaranteed 60,000 vociferous fans every home game, same for Hearts at Tynecastle, with 30,000+ highly vocal and partisan fans roaring their team on to a League title victory, both of them hope, while Parkhead is moribund and passive.
In saying that, I feel there has to be a Reformed Green Brigade if it is ever going to be successful, they can't keep their antagonistic political campaigns going and wilful and indiscriminate use of flares at games home, away and in Europe, costing the club, hundreds of thousands of pounds in fines and risking suspensions, section closures etc.
Self discipline, compromise and responsibility from both sides are badly needed, if common sense is to prevail.
Unity is Strength.
Good article as ever Andy, and one that goes to the heart of the problem, the Board.
Despite that, I am excited at the imminent arrival of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is proven class and ability, and at the age of 32, he has the ideal platform at Celtic Park to strut his stuff again. I do think Martin O'Neil has been very shrewd in the transfer market with the timely acquisitions of Julian Araujo , Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur, will all add physicality and power to a Celtic team that has long been seen as powder puff, especially in midfield. But like you say Andy, if Celtic go on to win the league again, with all the recent background noise, it will be a sickener for Rangers and Hearts, who will never have a better chance to wrestle the SPL title back again.
I am intrigued also to hear you mention the bias that Celtic have faced too from referees like Dickinson, Beaton and Dallas, who are all known to have Ranger's leanings and being Anti Celtic, don't forget either Steven McLean, whose brother played with Rangers too, Beaton himself caught drinking in a Ranger's pub, right after had had handled a derby game at Ibrox, and Digger coming from a big Ranger's supporting family.
There will be more on the referees soon boaz.
Dallas of course is well known. His Daddy blotted his own copybook as we all know, long time ago.
Agree wholeheartedly Andy, but without coming across as a happy clapper (which I'm certainly not), if the board sold Engels the fans wouldve been up in arms, yet there are some like moaning face James Forrest (whinging blogger not player) who aren't happy that they never took the c.£25m when it was offered.
Problem still remains, how to rid ourselves of those useless board members? The ONLY road is a boycott of STs, but they know there'd be more than 50% sold no matter what, so instead of £36m they'd bank £18m along with c.£20/25m via Engels' sale, that'll leave our kitty with something like £120m, I reckon they could batten down their hatches for at least 3 years. Where does that leave the fans then?