Celtic Diary Friday January24

Theres trouble brewing-well, its sort of ready to drink-over at Barcelona, which might, for the more optimistic of us, have a bearing on the rest of our season.

Off the Wire explains;

FC Barcelona President Sandro Rosell has resigned from his position at the head of the Catalan club as a result of his implication in a corruption scandal according to reports in the Spanish press.

Rosell was imputed on Wednesday by the Judge Pablo Ruiz over the transfer of Brazilian striker Neymar to Barcelona last summer following investigations made over a complaint made over the deal by Barcelona club member, Jordi Cases, a lifelong Barca fan.

The official price Barcelona paid for Neymar is cited by 57 million Euros, a figure that Rosell repeated this week, but information published in the El Mundo Newspaper in Spain states that extra commission to the true cost of the deal a good deal higher, with figures of 96 million euros being mentioned.

Meanwhile Santos saw only 17 million of the stated 57 million Euro fee in what is a complicated contract, with the other 40 million euros supposedly paid to third parties, although it appears this was paid to the company N&N owned jointly by the player and his father.

Rosell stated on Monday that the club had “nothing to hide,” adding that he would welcome being accused, saying: “I would ask the judge to accept the complaint and to call me to testify.”

Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu is expected to be confirmed as Rosell’s successor in an emergency meeting of the Barcelona board of directors, which is scheduled for 6:00 pm local time, although there could also be calls for elections for a new president to be held at the end of the season.

Rosell took over as Barcelona president on July 1, 2010, replacing Joan Laporta in the office. Rosell had been Laporta’s close confident and Vice-president, but relations between the pair deteriorated and he resigned in 2005. Endite.

Whatever he’s  done, and it must be bad because  its led to his resignation, and therefore Barcelona should be chucked out of European football and we should be put in the Europa League.

I’m biased, though, but if Neymar should be found ineligible, as it looks, then they lose three points for every game he played in..

Channel 4 journalist Alex Thomson has obviously had the reaction he wanted when he compared Celtic fans to Millwall fans, and has moved to put the matter to bed with an apology in his latest blog. Well, sort of an apology. A bit like when you’ve been given two years for shoplifting, and blaming the shop for leaving things lying around;

He writes;

” Some time back I wrote a blog which was an opinion piece designed to do three things. First to highlight the way too much criminal, abusive and threatening material is tolerated on some football websites. And second, in the wake of the Limond conviction at Ayr Sheriff Court, that these sites should consider their internal monitoring procedures or the police may end up doing it for them.

( Its actually four things if you include the blatant attention seeking. )

It is apparent that the site in question – The Huddleboard, a messageboard for Celtic fans – says they have taken action against such material appearing and they are to be commended for that. Hopefully all other sites are taking note. I’m sure this had nothing to do with the blog I wrote but it certainly shows the issue is concerning people as it should post-Limond.

What’s depressing is that the site moderators have not yet apologised to Angela Haggertyfor the revolting abuse of her they allowed on their site. They should do so. When you make a mistake you man up, say sorry and move on – see below.

The second point of the blog was to gently suggest there has been a tendency to sweep this kind of thing under the carpet and for the MSM (mainstream media) in Scotland to ignore therefore the Limond case as unworthy of comment. I note that at least one Scottish tabloid ran the Limond story front-page. Once again that is to be commended and rather underlines the point that the blog was making. This is the way things should be moving.

The third point was that a club which has suffered reputational damage – because of seat-vandalism episodes at other grounds, the fireworks at home, the UEFA sanctions and the Green Brigade issues and section closures – is a club with a problem.

Some might add Holland to all the above but the question of the police action there arises and the jury’s out, so to speak

( Some might not add Holland to all the above for exactly the same reason. )

Leaving Holland aside ( which he hasn’t ) the overwhelming majority of decent fans need to discuss these issues. And I know they are. Yes, a small minority of troublemakers, and so on – but yes, it is being noticed outside the west of Scotland and outside Scotland altogether. Noticed by UEFA and denial and what-aboutery in response to unpalatable facts is pointless.

But to galvanize that important debate I went well over the top and I apologise. No ifs, no buts. The Millwall analogy and comments about the level of violence were crass and wrong, taken literally. And clearly the way I wrote them it certainly looked as if I meant it to be taken that way, rather than a metaphor for how easily a reputation is acquired because of a tiny minority and how hard it is to shake off.

But life isn’t fair. As a life-long Newcastle United fan I have yet to hit a horse in anger. Really. Even a nag. ( He’s never nagged a horse in anger ? ) Even a Sunderland-supporting Shetland pony (more common than many suppose). But because of the actions of one, the many are tarred. You just have to take it. And yes, I fully realise whilst we are at it that the team I support topped the league for football arrests the last time I looked.

( Thankfully, he hasn’t compared us to Newcastle fans, which would be the thin end of the wedge. )

Cue banter about it being the only league we’ll ever top…

( Ok. Its the only league you’ll ever top ! I’m Ralph Malph and I’m here all week. )

Anyhow – my apology was due. And duly delivered. Now, Huddleboard moderators, do the gentlemanly thing and make yours please. ”

So, he’s used the word apology, kind of in the right context, but not sounding sorry, which is what an apology should be.  With no ifs and buts, and now wants someone else to say sorry as well. Which presumably doesn’t count as an “if” or a “but “.

Shame, he was doing so well when he first came up here.

The abuse of Angela Haggerty was out of order, theres no doubt about that. If the moderators haven’t already apologised, then its up to them to decide whether its needed. And not because someone else says they should.

Theres no need for any abuse at all, but I’m of the opinion that by speaking -or writing-publicly in these tones does more damage to the abusers reputation than to that of the abusee. (Which I think we can safely say probably isn’t even a word.)

Something one or two contributors on here should be aware of.

Theres a good article in the Herald ( we are using a lot of new words and phrases today ) regarding the issue of safe standing. This is the full piece, safe standing and its certainly worth a read.

This is the bit thats relevant to  us, though;

” Having taken the Safe Standing Roadshow (SSR) to Celtic Park three times since 2011 for meetings with a variety of stakeholders including the police and safety authorities, I am pleased to see that there is growing support for the concept of enhancing the safety and matchday experience of those fans who like to stand while at the same time ensuring those who prefer to sit are not inconvenienced” Jon Darch of SSR told Herald Sport.

” I hope that any lingering concerns that some parties may have had have now been allayed and that we will soon see Celtic blazing a pioneering trail in the use of rail seats in the UK ”

We’ll need a safety certificate from Glasgow City council, which will give Private Eye something else to write about, but the signs are promising.

Note the reply from the St. Mirren director, who seems to be worried that he might have to charge less for admission… They certainly have their fans concerns high up on the agenda.

And we thought we were treated harshly by our club!

Speaking of club finances, Celtic are up there with the rest of the richest clubs in the world, having made the top 40 despite playing in a league that hasn’t got Rangers in it. Oddly enough, none of the other teams in the list have Rangers in their league either, which does point to a rather simple conclusion.

Anyway, turnover is up a massive 48% to £75.8m, and thats with virtually no domestic tv income, as thats largely in the hands of idiots at the top of the game to negotiate the contracts. Which they did by telling everyone the game up here is shite and not worth having.

Which might explain the lack of sponsor as well, but they probably don’t need reminding of that. Well, maybe they do.

Champions League money makes up a large portion of the revenue, and its worth noting it does not include any transfer monies collected, something the Record surprisingly fails to mention.

In fact , its largely gate money, and that shows the potential from a business point of view that is within Celtics massive fanbase. Instead of wishing for a bigger league to play in, we should concentrate on marketing and developing the one we’re in. Because , put simply, the prospect of such a massive club entering any other league would frighten the life out of those already in it.

Manager Neil Lennon was on Talkshite Radio this morning, talking to Alan Brazil, and he has dismissed speculation of a move to England;

“It’s flattering to be linked with other clubs but I’m at a great club already.

“I’ve got a big job on my hands here, and it’s challenging and exciting. We’ve got a brilliant set-up at Celtic and the club is moving in the right direction.”

The full interview is here, but its got Alan Brazil in it, so I’ll understand if you don’t want to listen.

Lennon on the radio

Something you should listen to is the latest Etims podcast, where those three giants of the internet media, me, Desi and Hector,  discuss matters Celtic, and anything else that crosses our minds.

Its on the site today, and is probably a much better way of spending a couple of hours than say, having a tooth out or a skin graft. Well, maybe not much better, but maybe marginally preferable.

Vital Wolves, a fans site for the midland club, have picked up on something Leigh Griffiths has told the local paper;

‘The manager has said he doesn`t want to sell me, But he said if the right bid came in then he wouldn`t stop me going.

‘I am thinking about my future. This transfer window has opened my eyes a bit.

‘It`s speculation but if Celtic came in with a bid for me then it`s definitely something I would consider.’ said Griffiths to the Express & Star.

They also picked up on something the manager, Kenny Jackett , said in response;

“I try to be as clear and straight with my players as I can, and expect the same back, I`ve talked to him and the nature of the conversation will remain private.

“He`s expressed quite a strong interest in Celtic generally, but there`s been no approach or bid.”

I think we’ve found our striker. And so do Sky Sports, who claim we’ve made an enquiry..

An interesting  story about ex Celt Ki Seung Yeung has reached the web, featuring on the Video Celts site. Ki’s  dad explains the sudden loan move that saw the Korean move from South Wales to Wearside, and no doubt had him wondering who designs the cities in this country;

”The contract made by both Ki and Swansea includes a clause that the player will be guaranteed to play the least 20 games as a starter which Ki himself wanted and included.

“The Chelsea game was his 20th game playing as a starter, and this is the game he resulted in heavy injury on his thigh. Ki told Laudrup that he would like to treat his injury in the Korean National Medical Centre as he precisely judged the facilities there are much better than those at the club.

“However, Laudrup mistakenly believed that Ki was trying to make a lame excuse after his 20th game of him being starter so as to slack off as much as he can. That inconsiderate thought of Laudrup led him to him disliking Ki.

“Laudrup later approved Ki of his suggestion and let him go get treated in Korea, and Ki believed Laudrup fully understood what he told him and took it to his heart with gratitude.

“When Ki came back, Laudrup brought in new players at his position and started ignoring him and excluding him from game to game. and this continued for a while.

“Ki realised something was wrong, and he asked Laudrup why he can’t play as a regular starter. Laudrup said to Ki that he isn’t trustworthy as a professional footballer and avoided Ki in any direct conversations.” 

 It explains a lot, but I’m curious about the twenty game minimum in his contract. Why would any manager agree to that ?

Elsewhere, the world of music has seen a couple of tragedies over the last couple of days. Miley Cyrus has agreed to go on MTV Unplugged, which sadly is a live accoustic set, and not a reference to turning off a life support machine.

Justin Beiber, musics bad boy, has been arrested for Drink Driving, and was even more disappointed when he was refused make up before his mug shot. He could end up going to prison, which, after using a few new words and phrases myself today, is kind of ironic, as another new metaphor could enter the language by teatime.

Passed around like a Beiber.

James Kelly was the man in the picture yesterday. He left Renton to become Celtics first captain, and by signing him as a signal of intent, , there was a bit of an exodus from Hibernian, and  the Glasgow Celtic became the number one Irish club in the country. Then we won the European cup and Rangers died.

Which is an abridged History of Celtic, available in all good book shops.

Speaking of history, who is this ?

( No, its not Joe Ledley )