Bhoys Celtic made their feelings clear during Saturday’s meeting with Motherwell, directing their frustration towards the club’s Head of Safety, Security and Operations, Mark Hargreaves…
Mark Hargreaves has increasingly become a central figure in the growing tensions between the Celtic board and the Green Brigade throughout the season…
Relations between the club and the ultras group have deteriorated significantly, with several disputes arising over matchday operations and supporter conduct.
Following the disorder that occurred at Ibrox last weekend, the Celtic Fans Collective released a statement claiming Hargreaves’ role had become “untenable”, highlighting that he was “inexplicably absent” from the fixture.
Despite attending a number of recent meetings between club officials, the Collective and representatives of the Green Brigade, there has so far been little indication that the ongoing disagreements are close to being resolved.
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During Celtic’s 3–1 victory over Motherwell, a banner reading “Hargreaves Out” was displayed prominently inside the stadium. It appeared in the corner section linking the Main Stand with the Jock Stein Stand, an area typically occupied by the Bhoys supporter group.
Earlier this week the club issued an update regarding the situation involving the Green Brigade, maintaining that the next move lies with the supporters’ group.
Interim chairman Brian Wilson told Celtic TV: “We met with the Green Brigade and it was clear that the purpose of that meeting was to have a shared approach which would allow us to go to Glasgow City Council safety advisory group and to advocate for the group’s return. That meeting took place about three weeks ago.”
“Celtic made that case and Police Scotland said they were not really prepared to go along with it. The two grounds for that included that the members of the Green Brigade had continued to attend most games in defiance of the suspensions.”
“In that respect nothing had really changed but also that behaviours had not changed. And particularly behaviours towards police and stewards.”
“We met again this week with the Green Brigade to explain this position to them and that the conclusion of that meeting of a safety advisory group was that conditions were set which would create the pathway for the return.”
“We’ve communicated these to them and I think that they should accept them. If they accept them then they get into a dialogue into the policing and stewarding of the section and that creates a pathway to resolving this. We now await a response.”
Conor Spence
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Are we being told the whole truth? Brian Wilson’s remarks imply that in addition to the police objecting to the Green Brigade’s return the City Council has threatened to restrict or remove the club’s safety certificate. Is that really the case? Does any documentation exist to show that? If so, why haven’t Celtic made it public?
Also, in regard to Mr Hargreaves, was his post ever advertised, or was it a case of the old pals’ act? We would deplore behaviour like that when the masons engage in it; is it ok when Celtic act to the same standard as them?
Do you think members of our board aren’t masons? 100% some are
It only takes the Green Brigade to give guarantees to their future conduct to get them back to the matches with the penalty clause being the ban is reimposed.
They are not bigger than the club but they think they are something special. NO they are not. Grow up and support the club properly instead of costing it thousands in fines with pyrotechnics and general childish behaviour.
Every fan should be allowed to go on the pitch when they want.
Sure why not let them join in with the match too.
It would be great craic,so it would.
Great craic,just a bit of friendly fun.
Sure tims are the best fans in the world you know.
Everyone knows that except hargreaves.
I love the craic.
Good luck to whoever replaces him.
They need to love the craic.
My comments were aimed at the Board; whilst Michael Nicholson may be a good lawyer I don’t think he has the ability to run a bath and he has no nous. Also I was pointing to the fact that we don’t have all the information available: if the City Council is imposing conditions, they will affect ALL fans, and we should be told what the situation is – why should the board keep the information secret? I have regularly criticised the Green Brigade in the past and they have reneged on their promises; their main aim is to further their political agenda, and they have been using Celtic for years. There is fault on both sides: but to make things clear, I would ban the Green Brigade from Celtic Park forever. Sorry I wasn’t clear enough earlier.
Masons or not, the Celtic politburo just fuckin make it up as they go along. If there was no green brigade Celtic park would be a Eutopia. Me bollix. Also I’m anti royal. Happy st pat’s day true Celts.