Most Celtic fans were rightly critical of the Board last season. The protests have continued this season with the possible appointment of Bernard Higgins and the Chairman’s salary coming in for a lot of flac from individual supporters and various fan groups. For the last two games, we have had “no sing” protests to highlight the strength of feeling against Mr. Higgins.
The fans are entitled to their opinions, particularly those who pay to attend matches. Regardless of whether we agree with what they say, we should defend their right to say it.
However, the timing of such protests is not great. We are beginning to see unity on the footballing front…the players are definitely playing for the manager and he has won over entire support. At the moment we are in the midst of a tough run of games, with some key players absent, and I believe that all the supporters need to do their bit.
With further COVID restrictions looking likely, we should generate an atmosphere in the stadium whilst we still can!
Bill Shankly summed it up as follows:
“At a football club, there’s a holy trinity – the players, the manager and the supporters. Directors don’t come into it. They are only there to sign the cheques.”
I appreciate that is an over simplification and times have changed. The Directors do more than look after the money and in our case the Board’s ability to run a modern football club has been rightly questioned. However, the sentiment behind Shankly’s statement is still true today; to succeed on the pitch, those three elements must be aligned.
The manager has come out and said that times are challenging and the silent or “no sing” protests are not helpful. Juranovic has said the players have been talking about it. Such protests are fast becoming the problem. Hold the Board to account but don’t do it in a way that jeopardises footballing matters.
Juranovic confirmed the players were a bit thrown by the silent protest. There was chat about it in the dressing room after the game. pic.twitter.com/A3GG4upOkt
— Craig (@CraigCelt) December 12, 2021
Logically, there are only two possible outcomes with regard to the appointment of Higgins, either he gets the job or he doesn’t. If he does get the gig after all the protests, it means the Board are truly tone deaf and willing to fracture the club. Considering all that has been said, sung and not sung to date, if the Board are still minded to make the appointment, further protests will not sway them. Also, regardless of the Board’s intentions, I doubt Mr. Higgins would now wish to take up the appointment and harm the club he presumably supports, knowing the hassle he’s bound to get too.
If he is not getting the gig, the Board will never come out and say they were wrong and have listened to the mood music. In that case, how long do the protests go on for?
Any further “no sing” protests should wait until, and if, they make the appointment. The protests have had the desired effect and it’s now over to Mr. Bankier and Michael Nicholson to earn their salaries. And for Bernard Higgins to decide if it’s worth the hassle. There is no more to be gained and all to lose.
On another matter, how bad was that referee yesterday? I fully expect Crawford Allan to hit the airwaves to say that it probably wasn’t a foul in the lead up to our goal and the referee was “really good”, which is what Graham Alexander said after the game. Anyway, let’s not dwell on that. Great saves from Hart, great set piece, great strike from Rogic, and 3 points. HH.
Chris Wotherspoon
Here’s an interesting conversation on social media after Jeanette Findlay from The Celtic Trust posted about yesterday’s protest.
Still not a word from the Celtic Board…. pic.twitter.com/xumwj9IiHA
— Jeanette Findlay (@JeanFind) December 12, 2021
“Sorry Jeanette, ‘silent protest’ is falling on deaf ears in the Celtic Boardroom. Vast majority support the reason for protest, but the silence is counterproductive for Ange and the team. Manager wants 100% backing, can another form of protest not be introduced?” Celtic Symphony.
“I am afraid we have to use every means to get this message across but nobody wants to have to do this. All the Board had to do was agree to meet us and today’s action would have been called off. Tell the Board how you feel – seriously – the ball is in their court,” Jeanette Findlay.
“Okay. My point is ‘silent protest’ has failed. The message is not getting across? Why not stay away, and vocally protest on the Celtic Way for the duration of the game? This would get maximum publicity ‘re media coverage, and bring matters to a head?”
“Listen we all have different ideas about this but the trick is to bring attention but still allow us to follow the team,” Jeanette Findlay.
“The team are now suffering. That might not have been the plan when you came up with this idea. You just had to listen to the manager. The problem is now other fans are turning against the green brigade and we are heading for a huge split,” Jim Forrest.
“What have Ange and the team done wrong here because they’re the only ones suffering through this?” sureitsagrandold.
“Correct, pal. Which begs the question, what was silent protest designed to do? 1) Bring Nicholson to the table, it hasn’t. 2) Show the singing groups are the only ones that create atmosphere. In the main they do. However, consequence of their actions has the Manager concerned,” Celtic Symphony.
“You have no say in who the club employs. Why do you think you have?” free the people.
This article is an opinion piece from one of our writers Chris Wotherspoon and as always each writer on The Celtic Star is free to share his or her own opinion regardless of whether this site agrees or disagrees. You can see from the sample snippets from the debate on this silent protest that follow that there are different views out there and that supporters are now starting to argue amongst ourselves. This is a concern.
Yesterday the Green Brigade were also collecting toys and donations to buy toys for various charities ahead of the game against Motherwell.
Thank you to all of our members who helped facilitate this and to all fans who contributed.
We hope to have the total cash donations counted today and sent to our three chosen charities. https://t.co/mosoi6uwAi
— North Curve Celtic (@NCCeltic) December 13, 2021
It doesn’t seem unreasonable for Michael Nicholson to bring this entire sorry situation to a conclusion by picking up the phone to invite Jeanette Findlay in for a chat about the situation and to hopefully bring the protest to an end.
The next home game is against Hibs on 29 December, let’s hope by then the protest will be over, the matter settled and the Holy Trinity will be restored to its full working order…HH
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Time to take the emotion out of the situation. Solution lies with the board. I am absolutely astounded that any Football fan cannot see what the Celtic fan groups are trying to do re “BH”.
To suggest the protest will be responsible for results due to player motivation, mindset etc is creating a narrative that the board would be proud of.
Fans being taken for granted and bled by the board as usual.
The board are responsible for communicating the strategy and vision!
Re
The green brigade protest
We all have worked in jobs where we have had to do something WERENT comfortable with
That’s life
Higgins is the same
He’s a Celtic man
But first and foremost this quiet stuff is DOIN more harm where it really matters
Not to the board or Bernard Higgins
But to what matters most our team
In an extremely important year
To the green brigade
Do what you do best support the team to the hilt
Regards
Fred