Celtic Diary Wednesday March 13

Seven years ago today, Celtic lost its own greatest number seven when Jimmy Johnstone passed away after battling illness. May he continue to rest in peace.

New boy Thomas Rogic admits that the weather is taking a bit of getting used to in Scotland. Speaking to Fox News of Australia, the young midfielder was speaking about his whirlwind move to Glasgow;

“I’m settling in quite well, getting used to the weather-thats probably the biggest challenge for me. Just being around the players has been the biggest change for me-the quality is a step up and the tempo is something I wasn’t quite used to”

He went on;

“I only wish they would fastrack Rangers into the SPL because they’ve suffered enough and playing them was the main reason for my move. ” was something that he did not say, and oddly enough he wasn’t even asked, which is what happens when non-Scottish media ask the questions. It appears they are only interested in the player and the club he’s with.

Wonder if that’ll catch on over here?

With the league reconstruction vote due to take place in around a months ime, headlines have been made by the proposal to include Celtic and Rangers colts teams in the lowest division, i.e. where the Rangers first team is now, and not surprisingly, one or two SFL managers have come out against it.

Falkirks Martin Ritchie has described it as a “total distraction from the key issue that everyone is discussing”

On the face of it, there is room for not only colt- or reserve – teams from Celtic and Rangers (if  they can muster up enough players for two teams) but there are other sides in the country who could enter their teams as well-maybe even a couple of “regional ” teams, made up of  fringe players from provincial smaller clubs.

In fact, why not just chuck all these teams into their own league? We could call it the “Reserve League” ?

If any clubs can add second teams to the structure, then fine, but it should not be limited to just two sides. As long as a pyramid system is included, anyone can enter as many teams as they want.

However, one thing that we can be certain of is that those who make the decision will largely ignore the views of those who pay for it. Unless fans get together and make their opinions count, as opposed to moaning afterwards, then it could be a long and rocky road ahead, when really, with the correct leadership and by listening to fans, a new bright future for Scottish football is there for the making. Correct leadership , such as men like Turnbull Hutton, who is giving a portion of his gate receipts to help stricken neighbours Dunfermline during their hour of need, instead of these idiots who run our game, and would rather we all just kept quiet.

The decision that Rangers gained no unfair advantage-largely because no evidence was presented of this to the Nimmo Smith enquiry, shows just how bad the games authorities truly are, and you can do your bit by signing the e-petition at the following link to register your disapproval.

SPL fans for Justice

The Holy Poet-remember him, from previous diaries , has sent us a couple of things to think about,

First of all : 
Please read this  BBC report about missing Strabane man and West London Celtic Supporters Club founding member Pat Duffy who hasnt been since watching a recent game. Please read and if you can can offer any info, get in touch.

2nd of all : 

A note about a 500 mile charity walk by his friend in Celtic Pat  Brusnahan, Pat says

Two things came together for me last summer.
Firstly, for several years I had toyed with the idea of walking “El Camino” (The Way) to Santiago de Compostela, in North-West Spain, the resting place of St. James.
Secondly, I worked as a volunteer at the Olympic and, more importantly, the Paralympic Games, as an assistant to the Norwegian and then the Brazilian teams. Working with the para-athletes was an inspiration and helped make up my mind to face El Camino.
So, here we are at the beginning.
The more traditional route of El Camino begins in Saint-Jean-Pied-de Port at the foot of the Pyrenees in France and wends its way for 800km (500 miles) through northern Spain to Santiago. I hope to achieve this in around 3 weeks, ending on 25 July, St. James’ day.
To make walking all this way easier, hopefully you will be donating some money which will be split 50/50 between the British Paralympic Association and Get Kids Going, a charity which helps disabled children and young people to participate in sport by providing them with specially built sports’ wheelchairs.
My Virgin Money Giving page is: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/PatBrus.
Please remember to sign up for Gift Aid, if eligible.
I will also collect cash through the traditional form if that is better for you.
Thank you all in advance for your time and your donations.
Patrick Brusnahan

Graeme Spiers has questioned the possibilty that Rangers could soon have a £100m turnover. However , he falls short of pouring scorn on the statement , opting instead to say that visionary finance director-visions induced by mind altering substances, one can only presume-Brian Stockbridge will have worked a miracle.

Miracle indeed. Only a half dozen clubs in the cash rich EPL can boast of such figures, and they, of course have a huge television income as well as European money. Rangers highest ever turnover was £64m, after a champions league campaign and a run to the UEFA Cup final. Well, run is the wrong word, as they just stood in front of the other teams until they got bored and gave up.

But obviously a run through the lower divisions of Scottish football will see them match that. And still no-one directly asks them exactly how they intend  to go about this. Especially with McCoist in charge.

Another good example of  the press refusing to acknowledge facts is the somewhat critical article by Richard Wilson, who points out that Rangers have no scouting policy of note in place. He compares that with other European clubs, such as Dortmund, Lyon and Feyenoord who buy in cheaply, develop, and sell on at a profit.

By Wilsons own standards its a very good read, but he cannot bring himself to praise or mention the club nearer to home which also had a wee bit financial trouble, before restructuring and doing exactly the same thing. We can help him if he’s unsure. It was Celtic.

You can almost feel his pain.

Alec MacNair, the Iceman, played his last game for Celtic on 18 April 1925, at the age of 41, making him the oldest player to don the hoops.

One to think about here, who is the odd one out and why? Ronnie Simpson, Tom MacAdam or Kenny Miller?