The talk of the steamie intensified yesterday as Eddie Howe’s agent decided to earn his crust and attract a bit of attention to his client. He wouldn;t be doing his job if he didn’t, and it may even be that there is a sticking point in negotiations which means that he’s still on the look out for a job for his client.
“Talks of any deal being close are extremely premature,”
“His plan remains to not return to management until the summer at the earliest.”
If, as is thought, Howe wants Richard Hughes as his director of football, and the club would prefer Fergal Harkin, then it could simply be gamesmanship, though quite why the club wouldn’t let a manager choose someone he trusts is baffling.
Then again, a lot about Celtic and how they operate is baffling on a world class level.
The only argument against this seems to be that if he has his own man in then they will leave together and that means we’ll have to start all over, which is sort of ridiculous because it’s a little premature to worry about someone leaving when he hasn’t even got the job yet.
A manager needs people around him he knows and trusts, its that simple. We’ve seen what happens when the board tries to keep their eye on management by placing their own people in there, and thats one of the things that has to change.
The media, of course, will jump on anything that casts doubt on the brave new world being assembled at Celtic. Thats what they do.
The simple reason for that is fear.
Dominic McKay starts work in just eleven days time, having left the SRU to begin his new job a bit earlier than planned, and he comes with a record of taking on the establishment and winning. In his time at the helm of Scottish Rugby, the game went from a middle class ( at least ) sport with clubs that had FP at the end of their name to a sport which was accessible to all in the country.
Ticket prices for matches were out of reach for the average punter, for instance, until he introduced a scheme which kept the corporates highly priced, but the man in the street could also attend, with lower priced entry available, and it changed rugby, and now Glasgow and Edinburgh both have thriving teams, supports and the result has even impacted on the national team.
Now he will be taking on an establishment that has FTP somewhere in its description if not name, and the change could be just as earth shattering.
The cosy little arrangement between our compliant media and corrupt authorities is about to undergo a serious challenge from someone who is used to getting his way.
Should Celtic get one of the better coaches available in Howe, the current narrative to ignore the novel and refreshing reportage on liquidation and financial misconduct is under threat, and the Ibrox gravy train will come shuddering to a halt.
Should McKay promote change that benefits all clubs, and reduces their need for the blue pound in the way that he changed rugby’s dependence on the elitist pound then we may yet see football dragged into the 21st century, and it’s perhaps the most exciting prospect for a long time.
But does it all depend on whether or not Howe is appointed ?
And is Howe right to demand his own people around him ?
One of the problems with previous CEO Peter Lawwell was that he tended to tolerate new ideas of he agreed with them, which meant that no manager really had full control of the playing side of things, and that is always going to lead to problems.
Of course, there will always be financial constraints, but if a manager is to work within them, he needs to have those around him he feels can maximise those constraints.
There may be a little worry that the Cup game against “rangers ” is season defining, and the pressure to salvage something from the clusterfuck that was 2020-21, but looking at the big picture , perhaps it is wise to take a step back from the urgency and take two steps forward to make sure we never have a season like this again.
The same goes for the UCL qualifiers. The current squad isn;t good enough to make any impression on the more difficult non champions route, but the introduction of a third European tournament means that it is almost unthinkable that group stage football of some kind is beyond the club.
Putting in foundations for the next few years is more important than a couple of hollow wins this season.
If it takes a while to make everyone happy then we should allow that.
The new manager must be in control of his own environment, and McKay should be free to take on the SFA/SPFL.
Thats the priority right now, to get everyone into position and make sure they’re comfortable with it.
There is one thing that is bugging me a little though, and thats that I can;t seem to find clarification that Peter Lawwell is retiring from Celtic altogether, and not just the CEO position.
He will still be involved with his other posts, both at home and in Europe, and I’m not entirely certain that he can do that if he’s not involved with a club.
His influence elsewhere will be valuable, but only if he is toeing company line, and that may be a little difficult for him after so long as top dog…..
Caption competition from Tuesday….
Caption…
Glasgow’s finest in preparation for the next Glesga derby.
Chief InspectorT Kettle, the Match Coordinator,stated that despite fans still to be admitted to games, a provisional list of Celtic supporters to be charged with breach of the peace has already been drawn up.
Today…
I will freely admit I am not up to speed on the inner workings of European football clubs but I thought the process worked a little like this. The CEO appoints a director of football, who then appoints a coach/manager.
If this is the model we are following then McKay will come in and appoint a DOF who he can work with. The director of football will then appoint a coach who he can work with. Seems straightforward to me.
So we should expect McKay to appoint a DOF next then the coach will follow, no?
If it’s to be Eddie Howe great he’ll get my 100% backing and if not then I won’t be shedding no tears.
And here is a question. Appointing a coach before the glasgow derby cup game? Would that have a positive impact on the team or a negative one? Answers on a postcard.
COYBIG.
Caption “Following the sale of Ibrox Sevco’s new ground starts to take shape, a bit retro.”
Yes Mcklintop, agreed, even Ralph nailed it. The foundations for the next five years are what is important. If it’s to be Howe great but there are other coaches just as there are other players, a good team gets what, 3 maybe four years, then the cracks appear. Ferguson understood that.
Caption: “And now madam before we begin the test proper I would like you to read the number plate on that car over there.”
Eh whit? Is that wan eh them kafflik driving tests, can I no’ jist footer wi yer knuckles and we call it a pass?
That’s the winner! Brilliant!
The whole “reluctant to let him have his own DOF in case he leaves at the same time” thing with Richard Hughes is the same can happen with Fergal Harkin. I may be wrong but I don’t think Howe and Hughes worked together before Bournemouth. If Howe was to end up enjoying a good working relationship with Harkin who’s to say he won’t want to take Harkin when he goes? Anyway, didn’t Hughes grow up a mad Tim? Who’s to say he’d want to go when Howe does?
Just hurry up and get this sorted one way or the other Celtic FFS! The clock is ticking on those CL quals…
CL qualifiers? Lol lol forget it man, Squinty eyes was right about the house of cards.
We are a complete shambles!
We still have to play them though Monti, I want us to at least not be humiliated in the first round so we need someone in sharpish to get us moving. Unfortunately I still have a nagging suspicion this is all smoke and mirrors from the club and we will eventually be left with Kennedy.
Caption: Fred & Rose West Uber services
One of Banksy’s early works is discovered on a wall in Possil and is estimated to achieve £3 when it goes to auction.
Caption:
Whistler and Blade offer Auld Dear a lift home in vampire infested Maryhill.
Caption – Hold on there don’t be doing anything with her, she’s a skank and I’ll do whatever you want for a shilling! Come on you canny say fairer than that!
Since when did the head coach start choosing who gets to sit in the comfy seats? If stories are to be believed, Celtic have invested a lot of time and effort into identifying a DoF. I doubt they are then going to just roll over and appoint someone they hadn’t considered because the new manager insists on his guy. That isn’t Howe it works. Howe gets his own dug out but Desmond gets his own DoF. That’s Howe it should work.
I hope they sort out their differences and he gets to work with the players when he’s ready.
Am I reading this right Ralph?
Perplexity Lawwell is the stumbling block for Howe
s managerial decision?s roll has been brought forward?Therefore The Dom
Our PLC do not gamble responsibly.
I know most of what you post is pish but all that stuff about McKay is complete and utter crap
he was second in command at Murrayfield. The guy who was “at the helm” was the CEO.
this really takes the biscuit though “he comes with a record of taking on the establishment and winning. In his time at the helm of Scottish Rugby, the game went from a middle class ( at least ) sport with clubs that had FP at the end of their name to a sport which was accessible to all in the country.”
utter utter nonsense. Rugby in scotland has been a game for all since the 60s. Yes there are lots of FPs but many more regular clubs in all parts of the country. And McKay had f all to do with any of it.
if you think McKay widened access to games I have a bridge to sell you. Prices to go to a Scotland game are eye watering. The last tickets I bought were £70 each.
sure he has some good marketing ideas but as someone involved in club rugby I can assure you That the picture you have painted of Dom is completely wrong.
apart from that keep up the good work
I spat out my tea reading that guff as well. It’s usually pish but today is Olympic standard pish. Must be something they put in the water in Stoke.
You are correct that McKay was second in command, so this is in effect a promotion.
This is fine and similar to players/managers, I would much prefer upcoming ambitious types to over-the-hill ‘seen it all’ types who have little else to give.
With regard to rugby being a game for all, you’ve been drinking the same pish as Ralph.
Glasgow have had a bounce from the debenture holders that didn’t TUPE over to Sevco and Edinburgh are just Edinburgh.
However, in case I’m wrong, next season on my way to Celtic Park I’ll check out the Calton, Gallowgate and Parkhead for odd-shaped ballers.
Cheers Cha
maybe as a member of a rugby club I might have some insight to the game? Not denying we have our share of posh blokes though not at my club
you do make a great point about attendance at Glasgow rugby games and the added Huns who weren’t liking losing all the time. Several examples of sectarian behaviour from Glasgow fans. Will be interesting to see if there is a dip in Glasgow crowds as they all scurry back to Ibrox
Are you sure you put the right photo up?
Caption: Parking around CP Once GCC implement their “stop the fenians parking within a mile of the ground” legislation
Caption…’Watch your motor Mister ?’
Where has everybody gawn?
Oh, they’re off to Lisbon in the sun, in the sun,
Where Jinky has Inter on the run, on the run,
It’s times like this, it’s magic, pure bliss,
And we’ve never had so much fun, fun, fun.
If Lawwell Is to take over from Bankier as Chairman then Howe might worry about his ‘ history’ of interfering. Then again a competent person is needed to drive on that Board.
I read that McAvennie said Hughes doesn’t want to move to Glasgow so there’s a 50/50 chance Howe won’t either. Either that’s rubbish or it’s true. I can’t imagine another job where the incoming manager chooses the director he’s going to work with. And I can’t imagine his new boss McKay letting his manager pick the man who will work between them. It would also undermine the DoF if he was there at the pleasure of the manager. What would make more sense would be if Howe insisted on a wider team of coaches and his own staff, that is something he’d be entitled to have. And he could insist on having a big say in names coming in or he walks. And he would be entitled to have that assurance, maybe even a contract clause stating as such. But he cannot pick who he works for. So Hughes would have to take another role. Or Howe accepts the club’s choice of DoF. Or McAvennie is right and its less likely Howe is coming now. But keeping on the idea that he’s still on his way, then McKay’s first challenge will be to overcome whatever demand or hurdle is in place and find a solution or swiftly move on
Total bollocks to say we need a manager right now. Kennedy is right, we don’t need whoever will take the job now. We need someone who wants it and who thinks through the commitment they and maybe their family will have to make. Managing Celtic is not a job, it requires much more than that and, as Ralph says above, it is the next five years not the next five matches that count.
What we need is a manager and others, including players, in place in time so that we can hit the ground running next season especially Euro qualifiers.
That won’t happen by leaving manager and DoF appointments until the summer.
Yep – and with a guaranteed bumper CL cashfall next summer (if we win the league), then hitting the ground running makes enormous financial sense too, it would allow us to build for the next 2 or 3 seasons after that.
I’ll stick my neck out and say with McKay coming in, we’ll have a DoF in place not long after that and Howe will either be confirmed or we will put our own pr spin out that we’re looking at other people. And in the interim, we’ll already be talking to these other people. Or we have something more concrete in private from Howe and are calmly waiting on him signing……
Agreed that we need to get this right and sooner rather than later.
I would be a bit concerned if we simply rely on a verbal agreement to be ratified in the summer.
We’ve been here before and it usually doesn’t end well.
PL must have some official capacity at the club to continue his climb up the ladder at UEFA. Mind you, UEFA have already said as much to Celtic. It would be foolish in the extreme if we didn’t allow that to happen.
Yes, the DoF should be the 1st appointment, thereafter all other football dept., heads of follows.
It is obvious Howe doesn’t want the job and is playing the game for a gig in englandshire, Newcastle!!
Looks like we will end up with the ex Scotland manager , once pumped out of Europe.
Then no preparation for the new season, some things never change in the Timland.
Ralph finds out to his cost, that rather than a new source of information about the ongoings at Celtic, this “deep throat” had other ideas about earning her fiver!
When it comes to the Celtic PLC Board, silence is a golden handshake.
They are a haunt of iniquity that should never be forgiven.
The sevconian chest beat is one of those iconic sounds from the brethren kingdom.
The SFA respond to this information as a special calling.
WARNING TO ALL WINGERS:
When given the task to play against Nathan Patterson, expect an early booking from the MIB if you are running rings around him.
Howe many trees were sacraficed to the daily fairy stories coming from the press? Thousands, they have as much idea off the happenings at Celtic FC as we do, it doesn’t stop them making up their own assumptions. Take a step back and admire their creativity. The Celtic support have always been the last to know the happenings at our club and so we end up scratching around and nit picking the stories that suit our own theories and criticising those that don’t. The real truth is that only a few of the Celtic personnel and Howe’s own team will know what the real truth is,Its the not knowing that stretches our patience to the limit. Meanwhile the SFA continue with their one club favouritism, the latest fiasco with the Covid 5, proves that favouritism is still in situ, that will always be the case until someone at Celtic challenge them and begin to fight for our club. For me, the new CEO has the oppertunity to challenge the governing bodies and if that happens then that might be the most significant change that happens at our club of all. Meanwhile back to Celtic news.
What is the meaning of Howe? the Oxford dictionary describes a Howe as a hollow (hole) or a low hill – Like the Howe of Fife. Howe No, meaning you better come or your deid.
Howe now brown Cowe. where do you even start with that one.
Kennedy now critising the covid 5, a bit late for that John!
Celtic board quieter than a dormouse.
I would like to how the next season ticket sales are not going.
They also need players. about 9 I rekon
Sevco have announced a week long ban on social media for the abuse of a few black players but ok to wade about in feniens blood for the last century!!!!!
Yep, they’re masters of the “accuse others of what you yourself are practicing” tactic and seize the moral high ground. How can that tactic fail when you have the Scottish media actively promoting it for you. It’s a disgusting state of affairs in Scotland and will continue indefinitely if the Celtic board individually don’t grow a pair.
I have this recurring dream that we get invited to join the EPL, just us, no “Old Firm” shite…and the hunmentionables are left behind like weans with their noses pressed against the shop window only able to look in as we go from strength to strength with all that extra cash awarded down South. And the SFA can stick their blue pound up their jacksies.
If Celtic are serious about having a Director of Football then he needs to be the manager’s boss, not the other way around. If Howe gets to bring in his guy then he’s not a DoF at all and just another member of the back room staff and we’re going with the traditional British “manager has complete control” model.
I’m OK with that model although I’d prefer us to appoint a proper DoF, the worst thing we could do is have some kind of fudge where someone has the title but not the authority, that would just be storing up problems for the future.
I do not care if those damn Catholics are too smart to get involved with the riots and cross the border to get supplies after Boris totally pished up brexit and protestant shops are out, those at the front, hose down the petrol bombers, left flank, give the loyalists a third ration of soap each, right flank rinse, then remove nose pegs. HH!
Caption – Will you tell us, dear Ralph, why the bitter SMS are always so jealous and trying to wind us up while they still have na learnt from their loyalist (when it suits them) mistakes from 400 years ago and are still trying it that way today? HH!
Some people are easy to wind up.
Pay no attention to their inane rhetoric
Renamed WiseWeered! HH!
Caption : ‘Whit’s that Isa, the Celtic Board standing up for the Club and the supporters? Where did ye hear that? Naw Isa, a think you’ve got that wrong’.
The Peter Lawwell Conundrum.
“We’re not a part of anything”, – Unbroken History since 1888 – Rory Bremner can call himself Tony Blair, – letters in 2018 to Steward Regan, published to, for once to call out SFA injustices, – “We are a stand alone club”. These are the snippets, fed to the Celtic support, that appear to prove that Celtic FC are standing up to the SFA. and its blue hued actions. But that does not stand up to scrutiny. For the real truth is very different. The inaction on LNS, The Resolution 12, cul-de-sac, and most damaging of all, the names of his and Eric Riley on the 5Way Agreement.
Why is it left to the Celtic managers to call out the SFA on all the many issues of Scottish football rule breaking that always goes one way? What is the purpose of the Celtic board, if it cannot stand up for the club, against those that try to bring us down? The Scottish press are selective on what they publish, i.e. Currently BDO are litigating against Duff and Phelps as to why they sold Poundland for £5.5 million in 2012-13. They rightly claim that the basket of assets were worth more if sold separate than as a whole. £5.5 million, for all the assets, including players- stadium (with its sagging roofs) Murray Park (ideal for housing) the car park, all for £5.5 mill. If you think about it, there is at least £2.00 worth of assets. Yet you never read about that, only the squealing Gerrard and the racist hate espoused by Kamara. P.L. for DoF. no thanks.
Of course the players were not sold, some joined ABBA as Souper Tupers, some decided to stay. Just before someone picks me up and the 7000 thousand Debenture seats, who lost their souls and their seats when their club passed away, not to mention the poor souls who lost their cash including the office furniture supplier and many more. But the continuity and the truth deniers still do their “Hans Anderson” act and spout their unbridled fairy tales. Poor wee souls.
When the f_uvck are we getting rid of that tube KannaeDae
Ah open and inclusive to all. Yip you need to say that to grant money. Like the local bowling club getting 50k to tart up the clubhouse ‘to help asylum seekers.’ Aye right. So here’s the link to the international rugby squad. Some Sooth Efrican names, plenty 1950s Rangers squad names. Irish catholic names? Nope. I new a guy who played schoolboy rugby for a private school, not a Catholic one, in a green jersey. They were subject to sectarian abuse up and down this country by players and their teachers. It’s the middle class bigots that hide it best.
https://www.scottishrugby.org/squads/scotland-men/
You are a drain on this site. Fvuck off ya Brit bastard
A 6-0 win when it literally couldn’t mean any less. In the hellish season of hellish seasons.
There is fvuk all to feel good about. Your hero and alky hun fvuk Lennon made sure of that
Now fvuck back off to where ever your crawled to when your man got the sack (for the second time at Celtic)
I hate that mob and I hate you. If that makes me bitter then so be it
Like I’ve said, get to fvuk your queen loving butcher apron wearing cvnt.
Oh please fvck off. Absolute hun fvck that you are
your country includes “the domain of the middle class,centre right voting elitist”
Nothing, along with centre right leaning Capitalists, just pointing out you are serving us. keep up the good work.
FFS give it a rest mate that’s a reasonable response to my post he’s as entitled as anyone to an opinion and you’re entitled to post your disagreement. I like the humour on this site and like to think people don’t take themselves too seriously. There’s loads of places for that.
Caption:
The Peter Lawwell Appreciation Society holds its inaugural meeting.
Caption: Skid Row – and the hunt for a new management team at Celtic widens.
Look, I just want to clarify matters regarding events at Windsor this lunchtime.
IT WIZNAE ME and it wiznae my fault.
When I took the call from ‘Lizzie’ around 10.00 AM this morning, she sounded very worried and stressed. It was all the stuff about Andrew and it not going away.
All I said was “Don’t worry about Andrew, he’s only doing what his Da’ did all those years ago.”
I think that helped settle her a bit. Then I said “Is his Da’ awright after his most recent illness? and reminded her of his age and the cost to the Public Purse of an extended Telegram in about 3 months time.” So nuthin’ wrang there, eh?
Anyway, that’s proof positive, IT WIZNAE MA FAULT he slipped on that banana skin and fell doon all them marble stairs…….
Another drain on society gone…..
The no removals will be kissing at the funeral.
Micheal Fagan has the tux looked out!
Caption: On the route of Prince Phillip’s funeral cortège the security services discuss where they will fulfill his dying wish for the Rangerover hearse to plough into the crowd.
Within the Celtic Board, oh well is a standalone statement.
The Celtic system for the past 19 year has been to sell the spine of the side every 18 months.
Caption – Na hen, Keano went round Howe’s crib for a chat and advised him ta keep the heid but if he did na take the palace job the baws on the slates and he’ll leave the crutches ootside. Guess he want’s it bad! HH
Caption: it’s a hybrid, pet – they welded the front half off a motor lifted in Edmiston to the rear end of wan taken fae a heated driveway – it’s called a Lawwell’s Cat FC.
Afternoon Bhoys,
Just wanted to point out how a Mr David Moyes is currently performing.
Some in England say he could be manager of the year.
As many of you know & can’t deny, i have pushed Moyes name for the Celtic job for years now…..yet some laughed & mocked.
He IS a very good manager!
Hi Monti
He has done well twice out of seven attempts ( this is his second spell at West Ham ). There is no denying it’s working well this time and he did good work at Everton. I’d like to see how West Ham finish up and how they do next season. All that said I don’t think he’d take the Celtic job.
I’m not sure where the 5 failures were but he’s been a success at Preston, Everton and now West Ham.
This would be the vast majority of his managerial career.
Of course he’s not coming to us now.
He is and was a seasoned PL manager who happened to be between jobs when our ex-manager, who had none of those credentials, was wretchedly appointed as part of a Lawwell wet dream.
Hopefully, such unprofessionalism is not a facet of our new CE.
Could anyone confirm if the Greek FA are holding a minutes silence before games today?
Haha.
The Greeks kicked out their royalist spongers so doubt there’s any more apart from a small lunatic fringe of Duncanopolous.
These fake Covid crowds, are far to well dressed to be real. The bloke in the red with the checkered coat, yellow scarf and bunnet, speaking to the golden haired child seated next to him. “Turn up the f*cking volume” they’ve just scored ffs. Roooaaar f*ck me they’ve just scored again. Could the fake noise be just like the fake, phoney commentators and use sweary words as well? “Get f*ckin in there, what a f*cking miss. Well who gives one, as long as the goals come from the team wearing the green and white hoops, there’s nothing phoney in them scoring. As the duffle coated, trilbly hat wearing gent shouts to his Mrs. Oh, Susan get us a bagachips, I’m aff tae the pisser.
Parkheids fake Covid Crowd looks more like a SRU crowd, next they will be singing ‘Jerusalem’ and smoking pipes..
Apologies, The game i was watching must have been a historical game, because this Celtic team scored six goals and never conceded a goal – 6-0. They had a new face must have been a trialist, his name was Forrest, anybody heard off him? The opposition all wore black must have been for respect for Zorba. But then.. Effe Ambrose.
I found out recently that Jerusalem was written as a satire about the holier than thou attitude of the English. Then they adopted it as a national anthem type of song.
A song about a mythical Christs visit to England’s green and pleasant land.
Or maybe an alleged mythical visit by Christ to England’s shores? Apparently, linked to Stonehenge- well them English chaps have to have a hand in the greatest story ever told don’t they?
At first I thought, because it was written in 1916, it was a soldiers song written at the front, declaring his love for his country, but its not. It was written by a left leaning person for other reasons and linked to Glastonbury. Apparently there is a link to Palestine because that part of England traded centuries ago with the middle east. I was astonished to read about a strong link with the Suffragettes, apparently the writers wife was a leading light in the movement, later to the WI, there it lay until the 60s, when it was rediscovered and adopted by the oval ballers. OK Hen?
What a difference a dose of team spirit makes.
Well played Bhoys.
Well said port.