{"id":2815,"date":"2013-06-05T10:32:47","date_gmt":"2013-06-05T09:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=2815"},"modified":"2013-06-05T10:32:47","modified_gmt":"2013-06-05T09:32:47","slug":"celtic-diary-wednesday-june-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=2815","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Wednesday June 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

Neil Lennon was in Dublin yesterday, promoting the match at the Aviva against Liverpool on August 10. At the same time, the club announced that the friendly against Borussia Moenchengladbach. (Why not Schalke? Much easier to spell. ) and the second round Champions League qualifier, will both be included on the season book.<\/p>\n

Good move by the club, as especially the European game, a big crowd is needed to get the teams attitude right.<\/p>\n

Lennon also took the opportunity to let the support know exactly what was going on with regard to the transfer market. Or , at least, he let us know what he wants us to know. Or possibly even told us what he knows. Do you know something ? I just don’t know.<\/p>\n

Anthony Stokes has knocked back a new contract, but the boss expects him to sign after the club okayed the use of waterboarding in contract negotiations.<\/p>\n

There have been no bids for any Celtic players, although he is expecting some.<\/p>\n

Fraser Forster is going nowhere.<\/p>\n

“He has made his name at Celtic. He went from third choice keeper at Newcastle to third choice for England in a short space of time. ” said Lennon, which is true, and a very good point that maybe the big stopper should take time to think about, instead of telling us he wants to play in Brazil next year. Perhaps its not a bad thing to remind him he needs to be able to walk before he can run. Or catch the ball before he flings it out, to use goalie talk.<\/p>\n

Richard Dunne, released by Aston Villa , is getting on a bit, but Lennon conceded his experience might be valuable. The gaffer compared him to the Daniel Majstorovic, in that its “always good to have one or two experienced players in. ”<\/p>\n

Majstorovic is a good example. He was always injured as well. Dunne hasn’t played for a long time, so there are questions over his fitness. Such as “Is he fit ?”<\/p>\n

Anyway, despite stories from Portugal about offers on the table for Amido Balde, and whispers about Johnny Russell \u00a0hanging around outside Celtic Park with a pen in his hand and some rebel tunes on his i-pod, Lennon summed up the story so far.<\/p>\n

” We have made no formal or informal movements as yet. ”<\/p>\n

He went on to say that he would try to bring some players in before pre-season training starts on June 20- a fortnight tomorrow- and that was pretty much that.<\/p>\n

A fortnight tomorrow. Hardly worth sending them home after the Cup final.<\/p>\n

Which is no bad thing, if only to alleviate boredom and endless reports on rugby, cricket, golf and tennis. \u00a0Some people actually watch or play these games, and you would be well advised to stay away from them if they try to talk to you about it.<\/p>\n

In golf, the object of the game is to hit a small ball as far away as possible and then go trudging after it. Usually in the rain, and yet no-one thinks of not hitting it quite so hard. At least in cricket, someone will run after it when you hit it. Then they chuck it back to you. No wonder the games go on for days.<\/p>\n

Sorry, I forgot Formula One, where loads of adverts drive around in circles , punctuated by shaky camera shots of another cars exhaust.<\/p>\n

Aye, hurry back football.<\/p>\n

Still, theres always the Sevco pantomime to keep us amused. Now entering its second year, this old favourite continues to keep us on the edge of our seats, firmly holding our aching sides , as uncontrolled tears of laughter cascade down our faces.<\/p>\n

Charlotte Fakeover, who has been tweeting various titbits of previously undisclosed information from the Death Star, has had a couple of items removed by lawyers.<\/p>\n

According to the tweets, and they are quite obviously causing some angst amongst those concerned, both Walter Smith and Graeme Souness were the recipients of the discredited EBT scheme.<\/p>\n

Both were lent thousands whilst not actually employees of the club. The old club. not the new one, or the holding one, or whatever they think they are. Or were. Or are going to be.<\/p>\n

That is a shocking revelation, casting doubts on the integrity of some very fine, upstanding men, who we are quite sure would never take any sort of payment that could be seen as underhand. Either those two, or the other sixty or so that were mentioned in a BBC documentary.<\/p>\n

Really, haven’t these journalists got real news stories to chase up?<\/p>\n

(If that doesn’t get me a job in the MSM I give up. )<\/p>\n

Smith has also been told to get rid of Malcolm Murray, the man he swapped jobs with just a couple of weeks ago. The demand comes from Blue Pitch Holdings, who are just one of many companies linked with the new club. Frankly, no-one has any idea how much influence they hold, and the statement is thought just be be a shot in the dark to see if anyone takes any notice.<\/p>\n

Under the radar, however, a wee rule change is about to be voted on, which concerns the amount of over 21 players allowed in the new SPFL. It seems that if approved, the new rules will see no limit on older players in squads, which would explain the rather cavalier signing policy of Sevco Rangers, who were apparently oblivious of this previous rule.<\/p>\n

Either that or, like their previous incarnation, just ignoring the laws.<\/p>\n

But, another change does mean they cannot play any of their “trialist “-that is, all of their new signings-in the first four league games, or the crucial Ramsden Cup qualifiers.<\/p>\n

Still, they always have the Murray Park ( Is it still called that , or has it been knocked down yet ? ) conveyer belt to see them through.<\/p>\n

They did have a wee bit of good news though. The Advertising Standards authority says they are indeed the same club that won fifty four titles, and haven’t been misleading anyone. This statement, in turn, has caused a sharp rebuke from HMRC.<\/p>\n

Apparently, they wanted to be the ones to tell them that.<\/p>\n

One club that isn’t the same club, \u00a0a club who had similar financial problems to Rangers, but actually paid some of the debts after reforming, is Derry City.<\/p>\n

They qualified for Europe next season with a third place finish in the Air Tricity league. Sadly though, rules are rules, and as a new club, UEFA told them that they cannot participate.<\/p>\n

Does Europe need a strong Rangers? Lois van Gaal seems to think so. It was in the Record, so its probably been edited. Van Gaal \u00a0was merely carrying on the Dutch tradition of speaking his mind, even though it appears he has actually lost his.<\/p>\n

Ian Andrews was the goalkeeper in the picture yesterday, which brought back a few memories.<\/p>\n

This guy used to play for Celtic. Who is he?<\/p>\n

\"evan<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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