Its a massive night for Celtic. Avoid defeat in Benfica ( and a result for Barca) and we will have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions league with a game in hand. To be in this situation is truly outstanding by Lenny, his management team and players. Even if things go wrong in Lisbon, we still have a game at home and there could be a fall-back to the Europa League guaranteed too after tonights results! Who would have thought that when the draw was made? Words really cant do the team justice, sadly it seems the same may not be said of the Board.
It was sad to read that the Green Brigade, who have done such a wonderful job leading, and indeed rejuvenating the Celtic support, are now being forced to take up a Parkhead Boycott. The Green Brigade propose to miss 2 games at Paradise in order to highlight their constant harassment from the Police. Despite calls for support for the Green Brigade, the Celtic Board have been marked absent and now a dark story is circulating that The Board are in fact encouraging the Police to crack down on The Green Brigade and against fans deemed “ones for the watching”.
We can only pray that there has been some misunderstanding. Would anyone be surprised of a possible muddying of the waters by certain Law-Upholders? That is indeed possible and the Club have issued a firm statement of denial. Time will tell but this is one story that just wont slink off into night especially given the numbers of the Green Brigade being focused on by Plod.
Last weeks AGM also heard a resounding SLAP on every Celtic fan in attendances forehead when Chairman Ian Bankier told a fan who had asked for the club to go it alone in Sponsor deals, that Sponsorship deals was ‘out of the clubs hands’. Incredible. Just when we all thought our club had taken our thoughts on Rangers and The Rangers on board, we are patronisingly patted on the head, turned around and shoo-ed away with worrying tales of how it would cost fans money if we didnt have such nauseating joint sponsorship deals. A positive frame of mind would herald a PLC Board for being so financially mindful but the Celtic pessimist knows that its not a Football Club Board anymore, its purely business and we are all losers when sponsorship deals with tax cheats continue despite our loud and constant protests.
The final “No way!” exclamation regards the Celtic Board came yesterday afternoon with the announcement from Neil Doncaster and his SPL clubs that ALL 12 clubs have agreed to push ahead with expansion plans that will see them invite SFL sides to break away and form a new two-tier set-up. Somewhere the son of god started crying. Will they never learn? Did The recent Newco-Armaggedon-NOT mean nothing?
After the most embarrassing debacle in the history of Scottish Football, yes that does include Farrygate and Argentina 78, we all thought lessons has been learned. Now at a time when the SPL is at its most positive in years. When Hibs and Celtic are jostling at the top of the League, When 18000 folk are turning up at Pittodrie for a midday kickoff between Aberdeen and Celtic, what do the SPL do?..they decide to change the game!
In the next few weeks, an SPL Working(!) Party will deliver a set of fine-tuned proposals that will seek to entice 12 SFL clubs to walk away from their league ( the same one and only League that managed to come out the Newco affair with any Dignity). The Proposal is clearly a response to the SFL’s recent Call For Change but given the power the SPL has, couldnt they simply have said “No thanks!” and left the SFL to shuffle away in a wee huff. Well yes they could have, unless there’s another agenda of course.
The changes proposed make the current stupid Split seem positively mundane. The SPL appear to propose 2 Leagues of 12 with the Season culminating in a 3 way Split after 22 games. Then we would see the 8 teams in SPL 1 making a wee League playing for The Title and Europe, the Bottom 4 from SPL 1 and Top 4 from SPL 2 making a league to play in a Promotion\Relegation dogfight and then the Bottom 8 from SPL 2 making a league to play for..err…hmmm….stuff ( would their SPL license be taken by an SFL club if they come bottom..will the remains of the SFL recognise a new SPL set-up..hmm?). Yes Really! Apparently this will make more interesting games ( after the first dull 22 games of course) and put more bums on seats? Really? No disrespect but do they honestly think more people will go see St Mirren v Dundee or Motherwell vs Inverness Caley Thistle if they add Partick Thistle to the boardroom?
Neil Doncaster proudly stated ‘‘We all exist on the same corridor at Hampden. We all want a model that works for all levels. I’m not going to second guess how people would feel about it, but we would seek to work with all the relevant parties. Our responsibility here is to full-time professional football clubs and those clubs who aspire to be that…But there was a unanimous view that we should be looking at a new league structure which involves expansion at the top end. Also, it should be a structure that ensures meaningful and exciting games, provides competition and works from a financial point of view.’ That statement regards all in one corridor shows where one of the main problem lies but the big problem is yet again its all pure greed and self preservation. The blame argument can wait for another day. Today is all about “Celtic Board..what are you thinking?”
Lets look at Doncaster’s key phrasing here ‘Our responsibility here is to full-time professional football clubs….and works from a financial point of view.’. Could anyone think of a full time club that might want to climb away from SFL part-time competition and could also help increase SPL monies at this point in Time? Could Charles Green have been telling the truth all along regards promised plans to help new club The Rangers skip up the Leagues? Have we all been duped?
Doncaster cited that ‘It’s too early to say precisely what the mechanism for invitations would be, but it would have to be seen to be fair.’ No one can be in any doubt that The Rangers are laughing their head off today. How handy is this announcement, just before an IPO too…”Yippee…thanks SPL, love ya!” Of course Charles Green said he wouldnt take The Rangers into the SPL, well that’s fine as the Comic Cartel will be rebranded and ironically unlike The Rangers will gladly lose all connections to its toxic history. This is a win win for Chuck and an even bigger slap in the face to football fans by the leaders of the SPL Clubs and a big 2 fingers up to the fans and boards of respected SFL clubs.
Last night when the intial plans were aired, a fan called up Radio Clydes SuperScoreBoard to ask Why should anyone in Scottish Football listen to SPL and Neil Doncaster. It was a good point given they made such a mess of the Newco situation. Sadly Hugh Keevins ignored the guys argument and moved the guy along after the guy dared to say the SPL had “nae brains!”. Keevins then clearly stated that this move was not about Rangers. Keevins is right. Its about The Rangers.
All the evidence would suggest this is very much involving The Rangers and its an afront to all self respecting Scottish Football fans and especially Celtic fans if our Board are in anyway involved in giving this team assistance. On December 3rd the full plan will be outlined by The SPL ( Sad Pitiful Losers? – Ed) Working party and we shall know a lot more of what’s going on and who we can expect to see being involved. Once again it could be up to the SFL clubs to show their integrity and demonstrate their solidarity in order to uphold some decency in the Scottish game.
On a personal level, the fact that we have to even consider the Celtic Boards actions are tragic. In one of the biggest months for our club in recent years, a month where our team and fans have led the way with Pride and dignity, we can only pray that our Board are doing the same. Time will soon tell us all we need to know.
You are an arse. Basically! Listen. Leave your bigoted chip on your shoulder diatribes behind. Follow Celtic and stop worrying about Sevco!
The CFC BOard continually demonstrate professionalism and dignity. In no wy have they let ANY fan down…even the green brigade.
There are protocols to go through in the event of police harassment, (alleged).
Follow these and get on with life and stop moaning. Its guys like you that are causing the chasm in Scottish football, where a victim culture is promoted. Other leagues don’t have such issues. They leave politics (in the true sense behind and get on with it.
You are living in a 1970s time warp.
Let me qualify my comments. Firstly, if any victimisation is indeed occurring then that is abhorrent and must be stamped out. In no way do I wish to cause offence to any Celtic fans who feel that they have been victimised in some way.
My main thrust is that the world has changed. We are in a GLOBAL society…and guess what? Scottish football is at the periphery and not the centre of the world.
Society in general has moved on and the world is better for it.
Celtic fans should not continually tie themselves up in knots over Sevco. Our Board have taken the correct pathways over the past 20 years since the inception of the EPL has witnessed a seismic shift in football power. The mere fact we are still competing in the CL is phenomenal…and is a testimony to our Board.
It is a real shame therefore that they, despite putting out a strongly worded statement to the contrary, are being smeared without foundation. This is not the behaviour of true Celtic fans. With our attendances going down, it is even MORE imperative that all Celtic fans stick together.
I ask the seen Brigade what use a boycott will be? Who are you targeting, the police or Celtic?
You guys do a fantastic job and we all take our hats off to you. You do not need however to become protesters. The other fans appreciate your input.
Let us unite and continue to support the restoration of Celtics fortunes…and establish a club which over the next 10 years will dominate Scottish football and become a regular CL fixture, in a manner which is untarnished as it will have been done legitimately and legally.
Also, let us become more socially inclusive and lose the chips on the shoulders. We are better than that.
The piece has been edited now to include the Clubs statement which i was unaware off when scripting. While the clear denial is very welcome it would also be positive to see the Board support both Green Brigade at home and Celtic fans away from home who are also continually targetted by Police and over heavy stewarding. It is a disgrace that the Green Brigade do not feel comfortable at Celtic Park. The silence and deadly atmosphere when they are absent will hopefully have some fans asking “Why arent they here?”. Imagine if the Green Brigade werent involved in the Barca game or the possible vital Spartak game coming up?
Regards Sevco…this isnt about Sevco ( apart from the Board who are happy to be linked with Sevco). Its about trust. Its about unity between Fans and Board. 2 months after the omnishambles the SPL including Celtic come back with another disastrous money maker. The STV website has a nice comparison on how Austria tried the same set up and it was a boring waste of time, says it all. When we need men with vision in Scottish Football, too many are blinded by the shining coin.
Brianbhoy, I actually agree with some of your comments re the victim mentality that continues to pervade our club’s fans.
However, the Board have got it wrong with the joint sponsorship. Once the furore dies down of The Rangers fans saying they will boycott Celtic’s sponsors product – whatever that may be, Celtic will demonstrate that they do not need Rangers in any way shape or form. Celtic are a world wide brand. To show that we have the balls to go it alone in a single action shows that they dont want to be part of this rotten secterian based relationship. Yup we will lose some money initially, but our brand as a stand alone entity will put us in a much stronger financial position within a coupel of years.
Brianbhoy, I’m being a bit of a pedant here but you cannot claim there is a global society and then place yourself on the periphery. The whole global concept is based on there being no periphery. Perhaps a better metaphor could be found.
that said there are merits to both your and Desi Mond’s arguments. What continually annoys me is that all three of the “governing” organisations are in the same building and replicating each other’s work. Start with a rationalisation there.Once there is only one organisation there is no grounds for seperating leagues, national teams, youth development and reproducing it all three times. I suspect this is the core barrier to addressing the league stucture issue.
I am perplexed at Celtic signing up to the SPL proposal unless they ahve a certain exit strategy and I do not for one second believe that is in place.
I doubt the Green Brigade protest will make any impact. Celtic’s loss of income will be marginal (unless they make the boycott perminant)so the real losers are the GB themselves. The police will be laughing through their teeth. Would the GB not be better to set up a fund to support members who are unjustly harrassed by the police, to fight them through the courts?
Elchappy!
Totally agree with you! We can go it alone! First though, we need to be united and have 60000 at every game!
Getting it right in the SPL and being a CL fixture will open up many opportunities as investors and sponsors like to be linked with success.
To the Green Brigade: Call off your boycott please. To the Club; arrange a meeting with the Green brigade spokesperson to hear what they have to say and try and broker some understanding.
Elchappy, your comments about breaking the sectarian ties are brilliant. We don’t need to be associated with such bigotry so why not leave it behind. What is good is that at the match we don’t even sing about Sevco much now. They are purely coincidental and we should concentrate on what makes us great.
We don’t need them.
Desimond, I hope I didn’t offend you but please write responsibly and accurately in the support of our club and our Board, who incidentally have got a lot more right than they have wrong!
Write responsibly? I asked a few questions of the board. What is irresponsible about that? There was also no bigotry and no chip on my shoulder in respect to your first post.
The Board may have done well helping Lenny and John Park but a Board can always do more. It should be demanded of them, not just expected or hoped.
If the Board want 60’000 at celtic Park, perhaps they should ask what they can do to make that happen?
You cite investors and sponsors…we have won the league and are doing well in Europe…yet the Club dismiss any break in joint sponsorship deals. Do you think we will ever be in a better position to stand alone?
You ask the Green Brigade listen to your plea, the Board dont listen to ours though do they if joint sponsorship continues and SPL2 come to pass?
If the Celtic board have backed an SPL2 that invites The Rangers to apply for membership then shame on them. If they dont, well done. As I say, time will tell but its not irresponsible to ask the questions.
Feel free to write up a praise the Board piece and I’ll publish no problem.
Sorry to butt in Desi but I have just done a comment and it is not showing. I have asked before but not had any reply. Is there a word limit on comments because that could be the problem. On the other hand, maybe you have monitored it and decided it was too much drivel for one post :>)
H H
Should show no problem, you are pre approved so no reason not to display. Once pre approved all comments then show. I cant see it under comments listings. Perhaps try under direct article instead?
It’s ok, Desi. I seem to have lost it as well as my enthusiasm for repeating it. Thanks anyway. If you can post it, that would be good because I felt a strong need to respond to Brianbhoy
H H
Sorry Brianbhoy
Could not let you off. I think a little decorum in your tone would have been better appreciated. Your opening statement put me right off as I try to be respectful even if I am angry at a post or comment – just as I am being now, though I feel you do not deserve it. There are a number of points that I could debate but I wrote a rather lengthy response earlier that seems to have disappeared. I genuinely do not have the energy nor time to repeat it.
I would simply say that because the trousers you wear look great does not mean you should not do something about the God awful jacket. So might it be with the Celtic board. On your point of chips on shoulders, well, if you are of certain age, you know that finding a remedy does not necessarily rid one of the pain. As for peripheral football in Scotland, well, for an old mug like me, it is pretty near to my heart – not in a global context, of course.
As for the board, can I just remark that I would hope that their response to the potential abuse of their fans, would be as rapid and vehement as their defence of their own reputation. Besides, there is no proof either way or the whole three ways, if you include the Peelers, what is the the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Given the propensity of some involve for “manipulation” I am not sure whether I should make “so help me God” an appeal or a commitment.
Anyway, Brianbhoy, take it from an old man with a dicky heart, politeness is a joy and being nice is good for the soul. Make your points, enjoy the debate but when you are annoyed – CHILL! – I am letting you off lightly, by the way.
H H – and no boots through the tele if we are getting beaten tonight :>))
The names Gerrard, good comments. You miss my point that we are peripheral in terms of finance and that our thinking is small minded. We cannot seem to leave the baggage behind. Im getting too old now to get worked up by who did what to whom in Ireland 90 years ago! It is an irrelevance and all Celtic fans should leave this baggage behind. That said, most have!
Your point regarding taking legitimate actions to complain is spot on, as is your assertion, (veiled in my comments), that the GB are only hurting Celtic and themselves. Those who oppose will indeed be laughing at this.
STAND united as Celtic fans and take this club forward!
Quite a Ridiculous Headline! This is exactly what the establishment are trying to achieve,a division between the amazing Celtic fans and the best board of Directors Any Club could wish to have! I have been following Celtic for over 60 years,and the Green Brigade have been immense in their Displays and vocal support of the team,just as The Jungle Bhoys Where I stood! and the West Terracing did in the past! Back then there was just as much police harassment and probably even more arrests! but then, fans were freely allowed to bring Alcohol into the ground, and thank god this is not the case now! So I can understand the concerns of the Green Brigade especially when one of their members were arrested for having a bottle of WATER! The Green Brigade are an Amazing set of fans! But I honestly wish they had not called a boycott which in turn will punish the club and possibly bring the wrong sort of Publicity they seek! After the BREATHTAKING ANNIVERSARY DISPLAY, EVERY Celtic fan Should be behind you, but as an older fan I would like if possible,to speak with the Celtic Board before taking any action! HAIL TO THE GREEN BRIGADE!
The Headline covers the subject, a question of current Boards actions in respect to the subjects covered.
While the Board may be doing well in some respects, could they be letting us down in regards protecting fans, and ending all links with former and new clubs.
In regards to Green Brigade, its a good question,Just what could they do to get their point across? I was actually wondering if a show of solidarity from ALL Celtic fans would be better then Green Brigade once again having to be leaders. I imagined a full Parkhead wearing V for Vendetta ( the ultimate Mikel Lustig tribute) masks but sadly I fear masks arent allowed in such places these days.
its great to see the Board getting such support and all im doing is asking questions not calling for schisms…better to debate the issues and get talking than sit in silence and suffer any consequence
I’m with Pensionerbhoy. That opening salvo from Brianbhoy was worthy of a follow follow post and undermined any points made.
Since we live in a so called democracy, then we are all entitled to question decisions that are made by the Celtic Board and not simply accept everything that they do.
There were those that tried this with the old board and where did it get us. Only protest and diaspproval managed to thankfully get rid of them.
We might not have much power on the Celtic Board (i.e. no fans representative) but we still have the democratic right to express our views and let the Board know our feelings.
After all, Rangers would still be playing in the SPL if football fans of all Scottish clubs hadn’t protested.
If we simply accept that the Board knows best and that we should just shut up, then we are no more than mindless drones.
Love of Celtic means that we want the best for it and history teaches us that all too often, when in a position of strength, Celtic Boards have sat back, done nothing and we have lost any superiority we have had.
Willow Flood (I rest my case).
dearie me, was it really only a fortnight ago when viewers from across the world looked at the pre game display against Barca and marvelled at our wonderful fans? Massive thanks to the Green Brigade for organising the display and I think that the Board themselves acknowledge the role the Green Brigade have played in bringing the thunder back to Paradise.
I agree with other comments though that urge the Green Brigade to abondon their protest plans. The Board’s statement seems pretty unequivocal to me – “we don t support harassment of our supporters, have played no part in it and want to help investigate instances of heavy handed policing and stewarding.” I would expect a good Board to react in this way and they have.
To boycott a game is surely what the police would be happy to see- dare I say it it could even be seen as a cowardly response? Better to come in force, be as loud and proud as always and have the whole stadium at some point show unity with the Green Brigade and let the police know that EVERYONE is being vigilant about how fellow supporters are being treated and will stand together if the situation continues? By staying away the police and stewards pick up their money for nothing and feel that they might just be breaking the will of these “tattie munchers” or whatever unpleasant terms they may use between themselves. Stay together, be proud, show no fear of intimidation or recrimination for following your team and get badge numbers etc of any police showing “over enthusiasm” in their work.
As for SPL 2, 3,4 or whatever freakish incarnation they are labelling it, please, go away. Rules applied “without fear or favour”? Aye right. So Chuckles needs to get more signing up for the great pocket fleecing, sorry sahre issue? Well good on him he seems a perfectly able fantasist as it is, he can take The Rangers to play Real Madrid and Mun United (you have to laugh) and leave the rest of us to get on with following real teams with real history in a real league structure. How is Doncaster still in a job? Or Regan? The handling of Rangers /The St/rangers since February has been an almighty mess that makes his postion untenable, but no, there he is with his hair style of a career US marine spraffing away like he has some kind of authority and knows what is best for us. You haven’t, you don’t, go away.
And come on the Hoops, another good showing tonight and we could give the kids some experience in the last game!
Hail Hail
Desi
Can you draw a distinction between the board and DD on the big matters of strategy like reconstruction, or are they one and the same in your view.
I thinkit’s DD’s ba’ when it comes to the big calls.
Your right regarding my first post pensionerbhoy!
That’s why I reported and apologise for my prior comment!
You miss the point re globalisation. It’s about society and our place in it, rather than parochial and diminutive issues!
My point is that the world is moving on while many Celric fans, possibly including yourself, remain in this time warp; caught up in their melancholic republican rhetoric and still of the belief that Rangers are the enemy!
We are past that now!
Move on and forward old bhoy, and join us as we promote all things Celtic, rather than wallowing in a past which has no relevance!
Hail hail
On rumours circulating regarding Celtic and the Police. I was absolutely disgusted when I read that someone from the club had been “outed” by Celtic fans over the police visits. That is the wrong way to go about things, especially when the evidence is anecdotal and circumstantial. The club had no choice but to protect its employee with a firm statement.
Supporting the Green Brigade is the same as supporting Celtic. Celtic has always been about freedom and not being scared to support the people who are your fellow supporters. Why should they get targeted by the police and have 50% of their membership on a charge or visited by the police. There never has been even-handed policing of the 2 main Glasgow teams. People should not need a reason to stand up for fellow supporters if they do nothing wrong. If the members of the Green Brigade did have reason to be arrested I am sure no one would claim they should not be. If you need a reason to support their grievance other than the injustice of it then remember it could be you that is victimised at the next game by poor policing not them.