Celtic Diary Wednesday June 10: Revelations !

In the news this morning, we hear that former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and former player Roy Keane have been involved in a car crash. We’d just like to take a moment to clarify that it was indeed an autmobile accident, and the report was not referring to the Ireland football team.

I’m here all week, try the veal etc..

Thebig news for Celtic is that finally, after years of trying to desperately come up with a reason not to allow it, the council are allowing safe standing at Celtic Park, after several trials in the pubs near the ground showed that people can stand patiently waiting for something to happen.

A bit like this fellow did at Hampden during a cup game last season against Second Rangers.

There’ll be one space next season , and there are hopes to increase that if the supporter behaves himself.

And we hear it will also be used to assess the possibility of introducing a singing section.

Peter Lawwell, still trying to work out if he can get away with charging a premium for the new spaces, said;

“Celtic has worked tirelessly on this issue and we are delighted this permission has finally been granted. The introduction of rail seating at Celtic Park represents an investment in spectator safety.

“Across football globally, the reality is that some supporters are choosing to stand at matches. This is something we must accept and manage and also understand the positive effect which these areas have on atmosphere at matches.

“Celtic’s primary objective will always be the safety and comfort of its supporters — this new system will now allow fans to stand safely at matches.

“Rail seating has been in place in European football for some time and there has been considerable demand for some form of ‘safe standing’ within the UK, and particularly from our supporters.

“We are sure the rail seating section will prove very popular with supporters and we look forward to its introduction.

“I would like to thank Glasgow City Council for their support in delivering this measure and for the backing they have given to Celtic’s focus on safety at matches.” 

 The Lennon CSC ( North Staffs ,  Cheshire And A Couple of Lads From Wrexham )  have lodged an official complaint, because none of us knows how to stand up and watch football without a beer in our hands.

Dr. Steve Frosdick, a security and safety expert who has been working with the club on this project, added;

“This is a great day for the club and its fans. This is a pioneering move by Celtic and one which has spectator safety at its core.

“For the first time in the UK, football fans will be able to stand to watch the game from purpose-built accommodation which is demonstrably safe.

“The club and its fans are to be congratulated for the way they have worked together to make the case to the authorities.

“Glasgow City Council and the emergency services are also to be commended, firstly for their rigorous scrutiny of the proposal and secondly for having the courage to grant the first approval.”

Special thanks have to go to Queen of the South FC. whose Palmerston ground still has terraces, and they received permission to use them had they been promoted via the play offs this season.

 Which made another refusal by the council virtually impossible.

Forgotten Celt Mark wilson, currently without a club, has thrust his name back into the spotlight by revealing what goes on behind closed doors at clubs, as he tries to find himself football related employment.

 Hasn’t properly thought this through, has he ?

 Anyway, he tells of battles between Aiden Mcgeady and Gordon Strachan, Aiden McGeady and Artur boruc, Aiden McGeady in nightclubs, but doesn’t tell us who he thinks nicked his dinner money one day.

 “It is fair to say Gordon and Aiden didn’t get on too well. It was a clash of personalities.

“I think Aiden was probably like Gordon was when he was younger. Aiden’s a good guy but he’s such a cheeky guy he would cause a fight anywhere.

“He’s a likeable guy but after a game against Hearts it all kicked off.

“Aiden got out his seat and there was a coming together. To be fair to Gordon he handled it perfectly – the way any top manager would.

“He suspended him for two weeks and we ended up winning at Ibrox – which didn’t please Aiden. He was probably hoping we were going to lose.” 

“There was also the Artur Boruc incident with Aiden.

“I was there, I was inside when it all kicked off. To be fair to Aiden that wasn’t his fault that time – it was the other psychopath’s fault!

“Something happened outside. Artur ran at him and tried to punch Aiden but he ducked out of the way. The pair were split up and headed for the changing room.

“Aiden was sitting at his locker and Artur came over to say sorry. He held out his hand, Aiden went to shake it, and then Artur whacked him!

“It was completely out of order, terrible, but that was the kind of fella Artur was. You never knew what to say to him. He was always on the edge.” 

 “We went on a night out in Denver during a pre-season tour in the USA but we were told to stay together.

“For the most part we did but Aiden was one of three lads who didn’t remain with the group. He stayed out and ended up getting involved with guys at a hotdog stand believe it or not.

“He woke up the next day with a black eye and obviously Gordon wasn’t happy. We flew to Chicago and Aiden was told to wear dark sunglasses and wasn’t allowed to train. He had a few run-ins, that’s for sure.” 

The quotes were taken from the Daily Record, who gleefully dug out a picture of another Celtic player involved in a rammy with McGeady, taken shortly after McGeady cut off his team mates hand with a meat cleaver during a match.

 These days , of course, Celtic Park is a much quieter place, and people just get on with the job of being twenty four hour athletes, and Nir Biton explained why it’s a great place to work.

“In the last six months, I feel I have improved significantly.

“The Scottish Premiership might not be the most attractive but Celtic are a huge club.

“You need to play for this club to know just how amazingly powerful it is.

“At the moment, I am not thinking about a move to the English Premier League.

“All I want to do is stay at Celtic and keep improving myself as a player.

“This club is the best option for me. A huge club with an enormous fan base.

“Of course in life, sometimes you get offers you cannot refuse.

“But right now I am not thinking about moving anywhere.”

A few months ago, Biton revealed that he had a heart to heart with Ronny Deila;

I prefer the conversation between me and the gaffer to stay between me and him but I can say that after the conversation, I began to understand what he wanted from me, what he expected from me.

I tried to change things and I am happy I am showing I deserve to play now. At the beginning of the season there were a couple of things I didn’t understand in terms of what he expected from me.

Sometimes you need a conversation with the gaffer to understand what he expects from you as a player and a professional. Of course I had to look at myself. When you don’t play, the first thing you say to yourself is, ‘It’s the gaffer’s fault.’ That’s what everybody says!

But after you go home, you think honestly and say to yourself, ‘Okay, what am I doing wrong?’ At the end of the day the gaffer wants the success of the team and he puts the best players out there to play because he wants to win.

I understood that I needed to change myself, that I needed to improve. 

I said to myself: ‘If I don’t change I will find myself out of this club’.

This week, John Guidetti told us about his time at Celtic;

“It was very frustrating. The manager said completely different things in the media than he said to me.

“When you are top scorer and have the most assists and still don’t get to play, then it is pretty weird. 

“Maybe his aim was to make me less attractive to other teams.

“I don’t know how many games Celtic played in total. But I only played 23 games and scored more goals and assists than anyone – no one came close to that and some players played in every single match.

“The manager made it clear as soon as the league was won that I wouldn’t be used again. 2 

Those two quotes tell us more about what goes on at Celtic than anything Mark Wilson can say.

The new away kit is now on sale, and hopefully the issues  with the home kit have been sorted.

Don’t forget, any newproblems ket us know, and we’ll forward your complaints.

 The Affiliation are also keeping an eye on this, so you can always let them know as well.

New Balance have now replaced Nike, and the ground has been tarted up do recognise this;

 Look, i’m not complaining, but sidieways on it looks like the baddie from PacMan . If the seats start flashing, run like fuck.

And kids, don’t do drugs.

Speaking of mind altering substances, how about this, from Stewart Regan ?

“As far as the Scottish FA is concerned we respect the laws of the game, we respect the rules that govern UEFA and FIFA 

He was commenting on the Irish Fa’s original and refreshing way of finding finance via FIFA, and may even have been having a dig at those who don’t adhere to the rules…

Speaking of the SFA, they elected a new president yesterday. A chap called Alan McRae, of whom Regan said;

 “Alan has been elected consistently by the members and that’s reached the pinnacle today with his appointment as president of the Scottish FA.

“A position he’s dreamed about for many years. He’s been in football in a variety of capacities for about 23 years, primarily in the Highland league. He brings a lot of passion, energy, enthusiasm and interest in the role.

“I’m sure he’ll relish the chance to take on the position of president.” 

In 2010, STV gave this biography of the man;

Alan McRae
Honorary president of Cove Rangers and SFA’s second vice-president, McRae stepped into the role in 2007 when Ogilvie was promoted.

Yesterday , he stepped into another role vacated by Ogilvie.

Meanwhile, there’s a renewed sense of optimism amongst the support under the Dave King Trio over at Ibrox;

We’ve also heard of a new appeal to help them find a missing DVD. for some reason, copies of part three of this trilogy are proving hard to come by;

They may not be quite so optimistic when they read the latest from Mike Ashley, who is getting ready for his showdown with Dave King;

Though he has heard that Bilel Moshni has been kept on to deal with him;

There were strong words from Ashley to Ibrox, over the short term pay day loan he gave the club;

 “It should not be forgotten that, at the end of the day, Sports Direct is not a bank.” 

Of course it isn’t. No bank would touch that club.

An interesting photograph emerged on the web yesterday, and we wonder if it’s real. well, the cake is plainly real, but who was it made for ?

As the dozy sods forgot that white lettering won’t show up on white icing, we can only presume that the last word is “Dad “, so it’s possibly someones father who has just retired from the police, presumably to avoid an investigation.

 Or it could be “dud “, in which case it could be any of them.

Or “dude “, meaning it’s a US police officer, but as the “victim ” is clearly white and still alive, that’s unlikely.

The picture yesterday showed Dave king and his cohorts about to face a grilling from the press, and from the replies, they should count themselves lucky none of you were in the audience.

Now, Tim buffy sends in this question, We’ll call him tim buffy, because that’s his name.

This piece of grafitti contains something very familiar and is often seen by millions of people. Where is it?