So the officers at Celtic Football Club are soon to complete their top secret review and brief the troops. I reckon that the Board have been watching some of the old Carry On films during lockdown, how else would they fill their time? A particular favourite of theirs could well be “Carry On up the Khyber” so I guess the conversation is likely to go something like this, adapted of course to become “Carry On up the Celtic”…
Fan 1. “What do you intend to do, sir?”
Peter. “Do? Do? We’re Celtic. We won’t do anything –“
Fan 2. “– until it’s too late”
Peter. “Exactly. That’s the first sensible thing you’ve said all day.”
I have only changed one word from the original but it kind of sums up where we are.
The manager has told us the players have gone, but hasn’t told us why. By inference, he has absolved himself and the coaches from all responsibility for this. There have been excuses given for previous poor performances but this time, nothing.
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He now says that he does not understand the fans. Any manager’s position would become untenable when he admits that his connections with the players and fans have gone. Not so, as late as yesterday he thanked the Board for their support. By my reckoning, that is the third time this season the Board has allowed Neil to give a vote of confidence in himself, whilst they refuse to say anything in public.
So, the current position can be summarised as …. the players have gone, the coaching staff don’t know why, the manager bears no responsibility, the fans are being unreasonable and the Board prepares to carry on, regardless of the performances on and off the park.
It is self evident that a line was crossed some time ago. You cannot unsay what has been said, you cannot erase what has been written, you cannot turn the clock back to happier times and you cannot give unconditional support to a club that doesn’t understand you or a to a club that you no longer understand.
That’s where we are and it’s not pretty. We need to make changes to allow us all to move on and reset relationships.
Personally, I would like to remember Neil Lennon for his great contributions as a player and manager under unimaginable pressure, as opposed to his stubbornness to accept the inevitable, albeit under very different pressures.
Until the Board eventually comes to it senses, I have only one thing to say to Peter Lawwell and again that classic film provides the inspiration: –
Peter. “May the benevolence of the god Shivoo bring blessings on your house.”
Me. “And on yours.”
Peter. “And may his wisdom bring success in all your undertakings.”
Me. “And in yours.”
Peter. “And may his radiance light up your life.”
Me. “And up yours.”
Chris Wotherspoon
How much more of this guff do we have to take? @CelticFC pic.twitter.com/eL86B6QXkm
— Paul Larkin* (@paullarkin74) January 27, 2021
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Incredible isn’t it? At any business, you would review and act accordingly. Not us. I know why Neil’s not leaving. If he quits, he doesn’t get a big payoff. If he’s sacked, he does. So he’s waiting to receive his marching orders? Or is he, judging by his comments about board support. No January review – is this because it’s tied into Desmond’s ‘audit’ or was Peter just plain out lying to create some wiggle room for himself and hope we’d forget he promised the January review? But above that, how can we sign anyone if there is going to be a change of manager? Surely you would sign players with a manager who is going to be there long term??? It’s tough to say but I think as fans (en masse), we have one choice, hold off on the season tickets and subscriptions. Money talks, about the only thing that does. That would force Desmond to make the changes necessary or he will wonder how the bills are going to be paid.
I do feel that Lawwell, Lennon and others love Celtic in their own blinkered way but why is it that all of us can see (as plain as day) what needs to happen and how to start the changes? I mean, you would have to be utterly delusional to assume thousands of fans would buy into next season before seeing the changes we desperately need? No-one would be dumb enough to risk that main source of investment?
So I think the only option is – money talks. Investors do this all the time; the board puts up a motion, the investors disagree and vote with their feet. The board withdraw motion or amend it as otherwise they’re stuck. That’s us, the investors. So do we use our ‘vote’ via money to ask for change or hope for the best….or will our board act sensibly without being forced to do so