“An Absolute Farce” BBC Alba’s Player of the Match – Twice – is omitted from SWPL Player of the Month Poll

Celtic right back Jodie Bartle has called out the SWPL for failing to name a Celtic player in their Player of the Month poll, in a period where Celtic have won four matches on the bounce and have beaten title rivals theRangers. And the articulate English defender – a former PE teacher – reckons that her defensive teammate Caitlin Hayes merited a place in the Poll.

“Wow! So what, you can only get nominated if you put the ball in the net? The fact that Caitlin Hayes hasn’t been included for POTM in April is an absolute farce,” Bartle tweeted, now that the rather pointless social media boycott has come to an end.

“She’s been an absolute rock at the back, she’d head a bag of cement if you threw it at her,” Bartle continued.

Wow! So what, you can only get nominated if you put the ball in the net?

The fact that @caitlin5hayes hasn’t been included for POTM in April is an absolute farce. She’s been an absolute rock at the back, she’d head a bag of cement if you threw it at her💪🏻👊🏻 https://t.co/FQQCJPpDXA

— Jodie Bartle (@Bartle_5) May 4, 2021

The poll organisers – the Scottish Building Society SWPL responded to the criticism from the Celtic player.

“Hi Jodie, the players are selected via the votes post-match by the Head Coaches of the SWPL 1 clubs,” they explained. “It was a very competitive month, so lots of players will likely be disappointed. We have found this system is the fairest and most robust available.”

The outspoken Celtic Star responded to that reply. “Maybe I’m biased,” she shrugged. “But she got BBC Alba Player of the Match, two games running and has been a stalwart in defence. Let’s hope she gets the recognition she deserves next month.”

Maybe I’m biased 🤷🏼‍♀️. But she got @bbcalba player of the match 2 games running and has been a stalwart in defence. Let’s hope she gets the recognition she deserves next month 💪🏻

— Jodie Bartle (@Bartle_5) May 4, 2021

And while Caitlin Hayes might have been disappointed not to be nominated given the outstanding month she’s had for Celtic FC Women, she was nevertheless enjoying Bartle’s battle with the authorities on her behalf. “Raise hell with them girl,” Hayes stated.