Did the Scottish Government move the Covid protocol goalposts on Celtic?
That is certainly the gist of what Neil Lennon said at the presser yesterday.
If that is what the Celtic FC thinks then it is worthy of a formal club statement.
For me, the key question and answer yesterday was this:
“You feel as if the goalposts are moved?
“100 per cent!”
That is typical Neil Lennon.
A straight answer to a straight question.
I’ve been in pressers with the Armagh man over the years and that is his style.
He does refreshing candour very well.
However, the question I’m left with is this:
Is that the opinion of the club as a whole or just the manager?
That isn’t a slight minor distinction, but a matter of significant importance.
If it is true then this chap comes to mind.
Fergus McCann didn’t hesitate to take on the authorities when he thought that Celtic were being unfairly treated.
I’m struck by the fact that the CEO did not mention the possibility of goalpost movement when he spoke to the club media about the Dubai trip and the aftermath.
This is just another episode on an utterly shambolic season.
Anyone who thinks that the status quo is an option a Parkhead hasn’t been paying attention.
My mind is taken back to the start of 1994.
It was the time when the club was stumbling towards the abyss.
Celtic were playing home matches and I was standing in the car park with many others.
We were letting anyone who cared to know that the board wouldn’t get another penny of our money until they had gone.
Thankfully, the Bunnet was waiting in the wings and the rest is unbroken history.
I’m not sure how you “sack the board” in the 21st century or even if that is possible.
Season ticket renewal is coming up soon and I’m certain that many Celtic supporters are considering their options.
Now, any decrease in ST sales will impact the bottom line and that, quite definitely, is something that Mr Desmond cares about.
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When I criticised Neil Lennon for his ” tirade ” the other day…I think I need to clarify…
My point was…he should never have been asked to do the gig…and indeed, he should have refused to do it.
Our PR department, once again, called it seriously wrong…and we are now reaping the rewards.
When will our Club realise that our country is full of vultures who sit in the trees…just waiting for us to feed them ?
Lenny was NEVER going to get away with this…It was a PR disaster.
Did it need to be said..?…Of course it did.
Was this the way to do it…?…Of course it wasn’t.
So when people like me question these decisions…we are not anti Neil Lennon…we despair about our PR.
Finally I leave you with this question…
Had this happened on Fergus McCann’s watch….would Tommy Burns have been sent out ??…Not a chance.
Mr. McCann…as he did with Farry….would have worked away in the background…then presented the case in a strong and dignified way…and nailed them to the wall.
Hail hail
Spot on Terencenova
No matter the timing, why would you take an injured player to a training camp? This was a jolly that should never have been allowed, but Celtic threw their weight about and the compliant GFA bowed down and moved the game against Hibs. Even though Hibs objected.
Strange that the day Celtic are to play Livingston the GFA announce they are to investigate Martindale.
I thought the days of the media trying to unsettle players before an OF game had long gone. Now Celtic have the GFA doing their dirty work.
Lockdown started on Boxing Day for all but essential travel so his excuse rings hollow. Flying abroad to conduct training which could have been done here is hardly essential.
You do have to wonder if the club are allowing him to be hoist by his own petard to scapegoat him rather than face the real problems.
Why didn’t Lennon just point out that “We were confused about the rules and anyway, we are the people.”? This defence worked for others in the not too distant past . . .
It shouldn’t surprise me but it still does. Neil Lennon having to go out there and defend the club while those in the club who should be in charge of this sort of thing (PR – Press officers etc, you’ll know better than me) do nothing.
You mention that any decrease in sales of STs would be of major concern to our largest shareholder. Well in public relations, they say never waste a crisis. Might be time for the fans to organise ourselves and put forth our demands to our weakened board and corporate investors (the ones who arrogantly dismissed us at every AGM in the last decade). Could we form a list..
1) Res 12 – No, IT IS GOING TO CAS and the club WILL be undertaking that.
2) Financial Fair Play
3) Refereeing overhaul…
4) The removal of Peter Lawell
5) Clarify the clubs official position on a certain new club? When I mean clairfy, I mean confirm that they agree with those who as of yet, don’t know whether or not they will be parting with the hard earned cash around ST renewal time.
6) Certain titles and journalists being banned for their direct hostility to the club and their undoubted attempts to destabilise the club over the years.
I’m sure that list of demands can be added to. As you can imagine, its entirely within our prerogatives (collectively and individually) of the fans to hold our cash to ransom if we chose to do so.
There was a line in a song about the ‘night being darkest just before the dawn’…. Cant remember the name of it now?
Mamma’s and papas
Does it really matter who juggled the goalkeepers …personel employed within the cfc mega salaried payroll are hired to assess the pros n cons of moving out of the country during positive situations or negative ones …
There’s another question coming at the end of the season when sevco and media claim 55.
Are the Celtic board going to let this happen or at least protest against this lie and make an argument against it.
This is going to be the last chance or it will become the norm and we would all be as well receding to calling them rangers and eventually liquidation will be forgot.
It’s about time Celtic fans made it crystal clear and demand the club defend the supporters view on this .
More chance of seeing a unicorn do the fandango at the Barrowland, Colin. 😤
Santa Clause. “What would you like for Christmas?”
Small boy. “A unicorn!”
SC. “Be serious sonny.”
SB. “Okay. I want the Celtic Board to represent the wishes of the fans and call out the lying cheating scumbags of the SFA, SPFL and Sevco.”
SC. “Sigh…. Ach all right then. What colour of unicorn?”