ST MIRREN Chief Executive Tony Fitzpatrick has issued an official statement on his club’s website after the decision was taken to postpone tomorrow evening’s scheduled visit from Celtic as the fall-out from the Bolingoli Spanish sleepover swept through Scottish football.
Fitzpatrick said: “We’ve learned at first hand within our club the importance of the testing regimen and 100% adherence to all social distancing and hygiene protocols.
“It is bitterly disappointing that our game tomorrow has been postponed, but it underlines the hugely damaging consequences of even one player disregarding the new rules. We absolutely support the stance of the SFA and the SPFL in this matter.
“These necessary steps are there to protect our game, our players and the very future of every single club in the country.
“The stakes could not be higher and that is why as a club we will be constantly reinforcing the need for personal responsibility and vigilance. The Scottish game simply cannot afford to shoot itself in the foot.”
Celtic’s next game – we hope – will be on Tuesday evening next week at Celtic Park against KR Reykjavík in the Champions League first round qualifier. It is still uncertain whether that game will be able to proceed, either at Celtic Park or at all, and as a consequence Celtic stand today at risk of forfeiting the tie to the Icelandic minnows and thus dropping out of the Champions League without kicking a ball.
More from Neil Lennon’ Media Conference at Lennoxtown today.
“We have been bitterly and sorely let down by the actions of one individual. He didn’t have a rationale for what he did. He’s blatantly disregarded my instructions and has put everything in jeopardy.”
ALSO READ THIS…SFA Confirm both Celtic matches against St Mirren and Aberdeen games are postponed.
Neil Lennon held a news conference at Lennoxtown today.
(On Bolingoli) “We have been bitterly and sorely let down by the actions of one individual. He didn’t have a rationale for what he did. He’s blatantly disregarded my instructions and has put everything in jeopardy.” pic.twitter.com/BrtUSbbuYy
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 11, 2020
A livid Celtic manager Neil Lennon detailed what had happened with Bolingoli as we covered earlier and has also issued a full apology to the rest of the game in Scotland. “We have apologised to all of the other clubs in the division and the footballing support as a whole. Discipline will be a club decision and we’ll deal with that in the strongest possible terms,” he said.
🗣️ NL: “We have apologised to all of the other clubs in the division and the footballing support as a whole. Discipline will be a club decision and we’ll deal with that in the strongest possible terms.”
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 11, 2020
“The feeling from the rest of the squad is anger, frustration and disappointment. They’ve waited a long time to play competitive football and it’s simply not good enough. It’s totally disrupted our preparations.
“As far as I’m concerned the club has been exemplary in the way they’ve handled things at training, at the stadium, the amount of testing they’ve done. Thankfully everyone is negative. We couldn’t have done more as a club.”
Neil Lennon on Boli 💬 pic.twitter.com/SWVr6YtEom
— CeltsAreHere (@HereCelts) August 11, 2020
“I’m relieved that football is continuing. Unfortunately for us and Aberdeen we need to miss out on the next two games. We’re not looking for sympathy, but it’s obviously been totally disruptive for our preparations. We have to hold our hands up as a club and say sorry.”
“We can only apologise to the supporters who are going to miss out on seeing us play over the next week or so, but we’ll be more determined than ever when we come back,” the Celtic manager said.
ALSO READ THIS…“I’m absolutely livid, it’s a total betrayal of trust,” Lennon blasts Celtic outcast Bolingoli.
AND THIS…First Minister’s Yellow Card, Celtic’s games against St Mirren and Aberdeen postponed as 11 point gap beckons.
