Last word on the current crisis-if thats the right word-surrounding the board and it’s ever increasing rt. Promise, and then we’ll get back to talking about football and finding someone less fortunate than ourselves.

They never disappoint.

The recent statement from Lord Livingstone at least clarifies what he is thinking, and explains his actions. There’s been no such statement from Iain Bankier. after his bizarre performance at the AGm, he’s noticed the touch paper is burning merrily, and he’s withdrawn to a safe distance.

Maybe now we can see why he was allowed to say what he said.

Peter Lawwell is in charge of day to day affairs at Celtic. The board are there to come up with ideas, be it on how to raise money, how to make money or how to spend money. You can probably see the theme there, and ultimately whoever comes up with the best and most workable thesis, Lawwell will give them the nod.

Over on Celtic Underground, there’s a piece which suggests that maybe the board have gone a little stale. He’s got a point. It may, if you expand it a little, explain Bankiers sudden urge to stand in the spotlight as well.

Memebership of the board of a football club is uaully a bit of an ego trip. Something that you cab tell your pals down at the golf club. If you suddenly feel you aren’t pulling your weight, perhaps because there are rumours that there might be a bit of a change in the air, then you may suddenly feel that you have to do something, as in I need to do something, this is something, I’m going to do it.

Frankly, I cannot see how Lawwell, who is very much aware of the way the media works, and the way the support feels-you’ll have to trust me on this one-would have allowed Bankier to make the speech he did without at least warning him of the reaction from the support.

You’ll notice that the CEO has stayed well away from the aftermath.

And there’s one person that Desmond listens to when it comes to his little toy…

Bankier, and Livingstone, have gone down the “open to all ” route, claiming that Celtic are unique in that anyone can be a memeber, or a fan, and they will all be welcomed, and treated, exactly the same.

Er, thats kind of the law.

Everyone has to be treated equally, and no exclusions can be made on race, gender, sexuality or colour.

Why make such a big thing about something that is not unique, and is in fact, the same for every club, every workplace and every other walk of life ?

Remember, Celtic fans didn’t turn on Livingstone because he was a Jew, with one or two notable exceptions, from people who would be refused entry to any club probably because they would struggle to fill in the application form, they turned on him not because of his political beliefs, but because of what he did.

It was his action in the Lords that prompted the debate, and not the fact that he was in the Lords.

So, maybe it’s time for a change in the boardroom.

Not only because of whats happened recently, but simply because, well, it’s all gone a bit stale. There are no fresh ideas, there is no wave of innovative thinking, in fact, there’s pretty much nothing.

Just as the team occasionally needs new blood to liven things up, it appears the boardroom does as well.

And I think that the events of the last couple of weeks will have perhaps moved forward some plans that were probably already in the pipeline.

We’ll wait and see. But for the moment, there’s probably no need to get the banners out and head to the car park. i’ve a feeling when we get there we might be too late.

And on to the football.

When i mentioned fresh ideas previously, they are mostly about making money. We all know the problems of raising finance for the Scottish game, and it’s great to see that clubs have adjusted, and are beginning to make money. Amazing what you can do when you have to, and there isn’t a friendly bank manager or helpful tax adviser on speed dial.

Though the idea of playing a league game in the United States, however exciting and appealing it may seem, is a bit of a non starter.

The idea has come from Dundee, and not Celtic, presumably because even our board don’t think we’re stupid enough to fall for such an obvious non story, and talks are described as being at a tentative stage.

Adter all, little things such as who gets to keep the gate receipts, the tv money and the merchandising would take months to iron out alone, and as for policing and transport costs, it’s quite clear that no-one has really thought this through.

There are too many obstacles to overcome, and the risks involved probably outweigh the advantages, but don’t be surprised if there’s another American tour soon, maybe in a winter shutdown…

So, on to the football, and another season defining game takes place on Thursday, as we welcome our old friends Ajax of amsterdam to Glasgow.

Who needs a strong Rangers when you can play this lot every year ?

A win is needed if Celtic are to have any hopes of competing in Europe after santa’s been, and frankly, it’s going to be difficult.

Scott Brown thinks he knows how to hurt Ajax. Even though it looks like he’ll have to do it from the bench.

Ajax have always produced good players and they have some in the current team, We’ve played them quite often in recent years and I enjoyed that. Hopefully, I’ll be able to enjoy this one as well. We did well in Amsterdam and we need to take the positives from that game. It was just a pity that Emilio Izaguirre was sent off over there and they came back to equalise, but these things happen in football and we need to bounce back. I think we showed that we could hurt them. We have some good young Scottish players coming through and I hope they can help to bolster the Scotland squad soon as well. A clean sheet would be good, but, as long as we score more goals than they do, I don’t really mind.”

“As long as we score more goals than they do ”

Well, he’s thinking of going into management, and it appears he’s already grasped the basics…

There is one thing that might give us a little more hope than perhaps we deserve.

Jozo simunovic looks like a player, and he hasn’t been injured all week.

Brown said;

“Jozo’s looking good He’s looking sharp, he’s aggressive in the air and good on the ball so he definitely has good qualities. Hopefully, he’ll help us through to the next round.

“It was a big miss for us when he was out through injury. He’s a leader at the back and having one of them really helps.

“The big man has been brand new. Everyone has done their bit to make him feel welcome and he enjoys being at the club.

“He just wants to get a number of games under his belt now. He speaks well, which is good for the dressing room.” 

There are a few players missing for this game, and maybe the rest will gain a bit of strength in adversity.

Brown and Commons are doubtful, Lustig, Biton and Johansen are suspended.

And no doubt someone will fall over his laces during the warm up, so it’s difficult to pick a team at the moment.

But you know what, we need some Tims in that line up.

Know what i’d do, which is probably why i’m not the manager, I’d throw caution to the wind.

Lunchtime, and they can help out at a foodbank

On Thursday morning I’d take the players to St. Mary’s, in Calton.

Lunchtime, and they can help out at a foodbank

In the afternoon, they’d do the stadium tour, and then head to Lennoxtown for a bit of pasta and a wee warm up.

Then, they could arrive at the ground, speak to a few fans as they go in, and leave the dressing room window open, so they can hear whats going on.

And they could have a look at the poster on the wall, placed there while they were at Lennoxtown.

And they could absorb the meaning behind these words.

If that doesn’t make them Tims, then they are at the wrong club. 

And now it’s time to laugh at those less fortunate than ourselves.

Is it true that Jim Traynors middle names are “needs a personal ” ?

Health, of course, is very important, especially now statistics show that one in two and a half men are HIV positive.

See, I feel better already.

The world isn’t such a bad place when you cab raise a chuckle, in fact, even the Russians are laughing, looking ahead to the prospect of having Turkey for Christmas.

But when it comes to laughter, theres only one place to head for, and that, of course, is Ibrox stadium, home of the cash strapped new club that evryone has taken to their hearts after their gallant struggle against all those people who hate them, or are obsessed by them, or are  trying to point out the simple fact that Dave King, their latest financial fairy godfather, may not, in actual fact, be about to ride into town on a sleigh throwing pound notes into the air.

But not to worry, Chris Jack, the intrepid investigative reporter over at the Ibrox Evening Times, has the answer;

Ibrox fan ownership group hope they can be the loan

Rangers to help Light Blues board with Gers rebuild

Jack has gained a reputation for being a bit of a cheerleader where the Ibrox clubs are concerned, and it doesn’t appear to have crossed his mind that maybe one or two of their support will hold him accountable -and others, of course-when it all goes wrong again.

He boasts that;

No matter the millions that are pledged or delivered by those now in control at Ibrox, the financial backing of fans will help shape Rangers’ future on and off the park.

Admittedly , he acknowledges that questions will be asked regarding the colour of Dave Kings money-presumably the hordes are worried it might be green, or white, two colours they are probably a little sick of just now, but to finish on that paragraph above, and use the word “millions ” alongside “pledged”  and “delivered ” shows either a complete lack of understinding about whats going on over there, a complete lack of willing to try to.

Jack should take a leaf out of fellow cheerleader Chris Grahams book, and adopt a similar policy….

Still, its christmas , and we love a good panto, and this one has been running for years, and somehow it never gets old…

And Dave King et al will not be travelling in a slegih over Christmas, regardless of whether or not he throws any money into his basket of assets. Thats just silly.

There’s alternative transport being arranged for him, according to a couple of people who really should have more respect for the great man;

Speaking of Christmas, have you seen Scott Browns acting debut in the Celtic merchandising advert ?

It’s actually very good, and very well thought out.

Wish Upon a Star

Not to be outdone, internet bampot Arsene Parcelie has done his own little festive nugget..

You see, we haven’t forgotten how to laugh…

Life isn’t so bad after all..

Even my old pal, who has never been much of a hit with the ladies has improved his chat up technique, now comparing any lady who catches his eye to a work of art.

Although he could probably omit to add that he’d like to nail them up against a wall if he wants to stop getting punched.

Oh, that reminds me, Bobby Madden didn’t have a good game on Saturday, did he ?

But don’t worry, we hear he’s been down to see the referee sponsors about his, er , optical issues…

Oh go on, let’s have a caption competition, they’re always good for a laugh.

Here’s the former owner of a now missing  magic hat, presumably telling his PA that he wanted to sort something out with a milliner, and not extend the contract of a permatanned  forward, and could she listen more carefully in future.

Unless, of course , you know different.