On January 14th 2013, with Celtic having a wonderful season, top of the league and having beaten Barcelona on the way to a last 16 place in Europe, Neil Lennon took a standard Press Conference and was then asked for his response to Charles Greens expressed views on League reconstruction. The Press recieved a reply that they didnt quite expect when Lenny said
“Rangers are in the Third Division, we are in the SPL, and it’s not really our problem. We are six months down the line from Rangers playing in the Third Division and six months down the line, I am still answering questions on them. To tell you the truth, I don’t want to answer any more questions no them because I have enough on my plate.”
With the Pressmens chin hitting the floor, Lenny continued
“From here on in I am not going to answer any more questions on Rangers because they are not on our radar. If we play them in a cup competition then I will be quite happy to answer any questions on the football aspect of things.As regards all this stuff off the field, I have no comment to make whatsoever.”
The Press had been Served. Enough was enough and job done!
If only!
With a new campaign mounting to get The Rangers promoted (and formally recognised) as quickly as possible, we have had 2 encounters this week between Celtic personnel and Press which confirm the Presses attentions. First of all we had Charlie Mulgrew getting himself into a right tight corner and this time that mightly left peg couldnt help him out.
Mulgrew attended a Press conference in relation to the SFPA Player of the year awards and somehow found himself asked if he would have Ally McCoist’s side back in the top division. Mulgrew replied “If it was my choice? Probably, aye.”.
Now, Celtic fans might recognise that the chances are Mulgrew was thinking the current Celtic side would gub an Ally McCoist The Rangers about 10-0 so no wonder he would welcome them but the Press werent interested in that angle. Sensing immediately that he had slipped up, the Celtic player tried to save his gaffe by adding “I don’t want to get too involved in what’s going on – I’m just concentrating on Celtic and hopefully things will work out for the best.” , Of course by then the damage was done and the Press and Media ran with the “Celt want Rangers in SPL” angle all day long.
It all culminated with an exasperated Mulgrew having to take to Twitter to excuse himself to Celtic fan followers by saying ‘In my opinion the league is more exciting with old firm games any player in Scotland would agree. I didn’t say they should be let back in.”. While Celtic fans knew he meant his apology, many also felt disappointed in seeing another Celt fall to some Press shenanigans.
Then we had Neil Lennon back in front of the recording devices again. Lenny was looking forward to discussing Celtics game with Aberdeen this weekend but suddenly found himself giving positive soundbites to the current sinister reconstruction plans that many believe imvolve Charles Greens influence. The current David Longmuir “leaked email( hmmm – Ed)” argues for reconstruction and Celtic and The Rangers Colt sides playing in lower divisions should the First teams move away to play elsewhere. The Press asked Lenny if he would welcome the Celtic reserves playing in lower league competitive games and being a football man Lenny sadly replied a little too enthusiastically:
“I think it is a good idea, in essence. A couple of the bigger clubs in Europe do it. From what I gather there is a lot of protest to it. It is not my jurisdiction, nor is the reconstruction. I know we are all trying to improve the game and these are just ideas that have been mooted and it will be up to the chairmen to decide. I think [young Celtic players] would benefit and I think other clubs would as well. You cannot win the league, you cannot get promoted. It may bring extra revenue in for other clubs and it may give players the chance to play a decent level of football week in, week out, which is what we do not get at development.”
Not stopping there Lennon then added that it was “..a bone of contention” within the managerial fraternity that this group had not been asked their opinion on these latest hot topics, or indeed any others. Regardless of whether it is reconstruction or whether it be the way the game is going forward – under 21 rules, under 20 league, anything like that – managers are left out of the discussions.”
Lenny to his credit wasn’t totally oblivious and tried to counter the Press games with the retort that “I told you before, I am not going to answer any more questions about Rangers and the fact that you asked Charlie the question the other day- that disappointed me as well. Charlie was there to promote PFA Scotland player of the year and he ends up answering questions on Rangers. Now I’ve told you before, if you want to pursue that line of questioning the press conference is over.”
The Press though didnt care much about his retort or his Management Group misgivings, it was job done as far as the Press and Media were concerened. Lenny had delivered everything they wanted and more.
After the conference we had TV Media coverage cut to show Lennys openly approving Longmuirs plans and Fridays papers included The Scotsman reporting that ‘ Celtic manager Neil Lennon has given a cautious welcome to Scottish Football League chief executive David Longmuir’s proposal that colt teams of the two big Glasgow clubs be admitted to the bottom tier of the senior game.’.
The Scotsman piece also contained the further affirmation that ‘Lennon did not appear vexed about any possible outcome to the number crunching to create the divisions within the league structure, but did see a value to other than the Glasgow clubs themselves in the campaign for colt teams.’
So there we have a few examples where Celtic have been drawn in and sucker-punched. Despite a prior warning, the press continue to lure our guys with The Rangers led bait and we continue to bite and find ourself caught hook, line and sinker. Thats the way its been and thats the game. We all know it, the fans, the celtic players and management and the Club. My question is When is it going to stop? In this Media savvy day and age, Where is the Celtic guy in the shirt and tie directing the press conference. Where is the Celtic press liaison giving a firm directive that “We shall accept No question on The Rangers and no Reconstruction questions today” prior to any Press Conference starting? Where is the Press Officer butting in to stop any naive replies to a loaded question with a a simple “You have been told such questions are to be directed through the press office, next question please”. Take control Celtic. They need us more than we need them.
We owe the Scottish press absolutely nothing and while the Press and Media claims that “the fans deserve to know” are true, we will happily read it at the Club website or await an official Club Statement thank you very much.
I dont know anyone in the Celtic Press Office and Im not having a go at anyone failing in their duty. All I’m asking is we start taking the offensive. If we continue to let the press get away with such activities then its no-ones fault but our own. “If you want Peace, prepare for War” and all that. Lets cut off the Press before they even try to attack. Let them ask as many questions as they like about our team and our performances but dont let our Players or Management be dragged into any “cute” discussions where any answers can be used as the Media need and then leaves Celtic looking complicit or complacent. We may have banned Hugh Keevins, but theres still an annoying Press presence within Paradise and its time to deal with it.
HH
Desimond
P.S
If Lenny and Co need guidance on what to say at Press Conferences when asked about league reconstruction, perhaps they should follow Raith Rovers Chairman Turnbull Hutton who when asked his opinion on Colt sides said ” “Who wants a league with colt teams in it? We’ve already got a colt team league. All the talk about Rangers and Celtic leaving Scottish football has been going on for the last decade and they are still here. This is all about Longmuir getting into bed with Rangers, and we will be rebelling against it.”
When asked any questions on Sevco at a press conference,just look ahead & say nothing,absolutely silent,see who blinks first….
just tell the press this is the Celtic press conference, if they want to talk about Sevco they are in the wrong place
You can just imaging the frenzy if any Celtic player used the phrase “we will be rebelling” during a press conference.
Might as well shout “up the ‘Ra”
Come to think of it………
100% Desi. Where is our Savvy? This sort of underhand “reporting” is so easy to dismiss. This is our press conference, we should be in control. They were invited, and will play by our rules. These “quotation traps” are fuelling their pro-sevco agenda. For every Goram or Hateley they wheel out spouting their il-informed nonsense they will back it up with a “quote” from one of our guys.
This shameful manipulation is what is selling their papers. If we stop commenting, it will lose it’s impact. Without a Celtic slant, Celtic supporters, will, please God, stop buying their lies.
The sooner all Celts refuse to be insulted by their shite the better. New media, it’s the big idea.
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. No matter what NL or any representative of Celtic may say, or not say, in these circumstances the story will be twisted into whatever agenda the sports chief wishes to pursue. In this instance the “ho hum” ignorance of the continuation and “nothing to see here” party line of the dead dinosaur from Govan propaganda machine.
Even saying nothing would somehow get twisted in the rags/web – “Lenny’s silence speaks volumes about the absence from the SPL of Sevco”!
you should have a go at the press office because they need to get the finger out and prevent these ambushes. I have just finished reading I am the secret footballer and he states quite clearly in the book that the questions before an interview are agreed before in order to prevent any of this carry on.The press officer needs to step up to the mark on this one, and Lenny should ban all player interviews unless there is an official from the club in attendance otherwise no comment
Agree whole-heartedly with Turnbull Hutton. Longmuir is deliberately delaying reconstruction to accommodate one team. This team is an “associate” member…name another…Longmuir has already stated that he knows the rangers fans hurt as he has a house full of them. (bit like dallas)…Is this man aligning himself with them with the promise of future employment? (a la traynor)…Colts is one big smokescreen to m uddy the waters and delay real decisions.
A la Jabba? what about Smudger? Nosurname? they’ve all deserted Scotland to serve the darkside, ignore the Scots’ MSM, it’ll only give you indigestion.
How come our players/manager fall into the trap every time.
The fans know what the press are up to,it should be quite clear any mention of Sevco and press conference over.
re the questions about sevco,just give them the stock answer.ask somebody who gives a fuck.nuff sed.