The Green Brigade it appears, intend to continue their opposition to the imminent appointment of Bernard Higgins to a senior security role with the club, with a further protest at this afternoon’s game against Dundee at Dens Park.
Last weekend it was the sound of silence that was utilised to get the message across to the club’s custodians. The man whose tactics were used to attempt to silence football supporters being met with a silent protest invoked nice imagery and symmetry but in truth it is unlikely to have registered with those sitting in the Director’s box at Parkhead last Saturday.
This time around the call has been made to the rest of the away support to once again join the Green Brigade in protest, however at the moment there appear to be no indication as to whether silence or deafening vocal opposition to the Board on this occasion will be used to get the message across. It will be interesting to see what tactics are employed this time around and indeed what future plans the Green Brigade may have to ramp up the pressure on the Celtic Board to backtrack on an appointment that looks antagonistic to say the least.
‘Last weekend, Celtic Park united to unequivocally oppose the rumoured appointment of Bernard Higgins at Celtic.Tomorrow, the away support has the opportunity to reinforce the message to the Celtic board and Higgins.
Last weekend, Celtic Park united to unequivocally oppose the rumoured appointment of Bernard Higgins at Celtic.
Tomorrow, the away support has the opportunity to reinforce the message to the Celtic board and Higgins. pic.twitter.com/kcioMC4Gwu
— North Curve Celtic (@NCCeltic) November 6, 2021
The Celtic support in the main appears to oppose this appointment and back the Green Brigade. It looks a ridiculous decision and it is hard not to view it as anything other than retribution by way of an attack on those in the North Curve, perhaps as a reaction to their attempts to shame the members of the Celtic Board last season, with banners calling for their exits during the pandemic lockdown as well as those public protests outside the ground.
It is another sign of the club and the support living in very different worlds. On one side there is a board very conservative in nature, who appear to believe little structural change is required at Celtic, one slow to react to the fast-changing world of football and one who appear insulated from the criticism that comes their way, mainly by ensuring they are not surrounded by those who will challenge them and instead ensuring sycophantic back slapping is the order of the day.
Whilst on the other side there is a support desperate for modernisation, one acutely aware of the advancements being made by many clubs and a worrying concern Celtic is being left behind. There are also genuine concerns the club itself is moving away from its roots under a rudderless direction from those making the decisions who appear to prefer there is no accountability to a support they’d prefer supply the money and shut their mouths.
As such the Green Brigade, other organisations and individuals are a thorn in the side when they cannot be silenced. On the Higgins appointment the Board on this one appears to have played a dirty game.
The rumoured appointment of the man with responsibility for the decisions to criminalise ordinary supporters, organise dawn raids, scare the living daylights out of the individuals, their partners and their children, as well as impacting on their livelihoods and future prospects can easily be viewed as an antagonistic act. Today the Green Brigade will react and hopefully with something more than silence, that can only impact the team, more than register with those in club blazer’s sitting in the main stand.
Indeed, if those who oppose this appointment also view the Board’s decision to do so as an act of retribution, then perhaps they too need to consider tactics that hit closer to home. The Board removed the gloves with this expected appointment, as such perhaps the rules of engagement have changed.
Every board member has other businesses or key roles within other organisations, every one of those would prefer those business interests not to be impacted, yet details of those interests are easy to find. Highlighting and boycotting those business interests may well have a greater impact than the sound of silence did, or banners discrediting evil eyes. There is room for the latter as part of a concerted campaign, but the former may well have even more of an impact, it may register and it may cause real discomfort and in turn bring change. After all bullies need standing up to and when you do you need to find their weakness.
Niall J
Odd innit. Why the BG don’t want it?? I mean, they’re not planning on any bull sh1t, are they??? I don’t see the rest of the fans up in arms about it@! Almost as if they don’t like someone watching for them breaking rules!!