It remains to be seen if what Celtic Tweeted out last night was a one-off or a harbinger of a sea change at Parkhead.
This was my initial take.
Perhaps it is because I’m deep into the manuscript of another spy thriller that I’m looking at my club’s behaviour in a certain way.
I was working on a piece of dialogue in Native Shore where one character, an ex-intelligence operative, explains to a civilian the methods of his shady trade.
As I was writing it, the parallels with Celtic were suddenly apparent.
If I didn’t know any better, then I might think that Celtic had been “flipped” at the start of the last decade.
I’m not referring to the lacklustre performance so the field this season.
Rather, I’m thinking of how the man in the boardroom has behaved over, say, the last decade.
Intelligence agencies in the West work to an acronym called “MICE”(Money, Ideology, Compromise, and Ego).
That is a checklist for looking at how you get one of the opposition to work for you secretly.
Ok, the first one is self-explanatory.
We know that Celtic’s CEO was in deep collaboration with Martin Bain of Rangers in early 2011.
They had a plan to pitch the “Old Firm” as a package to the authorities in England.
It was very much a case of “follow follow the money”.
Then there are the personal financial incentives if the bottom line is looking good.
In fairness, everyone has responsibilities (heated driveway to support).
Therefore, if you believe there is no alternative business model to the Old Firm duopoly, then the death of Rangers in the summer of 2012 was an appalling vista for the other partner.
I will give Ideology a pass as I don’t think there was a sleeper cell of brogue wearers in the Parkhead boardroom.
However, any molehunt would look into anyone who had previous commercial contacts at Ibrox.
You know, like having a corporate box there.
Personally, I can’t think of anyone.
Now, what about Compromise?
Well, let’s say, pure speculation, of course, that in late 2011 you had been told that your Old Firm partners were about to disappear into the blockhole of liquidation.
However, there was a cunning plan to have A Rangers, any Rangers, playing in the tip flight with those lucrative sell out matches.
Yes, sell out…
The only problem is that your customer base didn’t see the world the same way that you did.
Moreover, they might be rather dischuffed if they found out about these convivial Old Firm plans.
Secrets, dark secrets, create comprise.
Of course, there was more than enough compromise to go around.
Especially when the top guy was Quick to dish out that seductive soup.
Inevitably, it had an impact on fan-generated News.
Finally, there’s Ego.
Well, I couldn’t possibly comment…
Just a Tweet?
Time will tell.
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All Celtics problems are down to one man namely Desmond
He’s is the man who for his own selfish greed has kept Sevco alive
He calls all the shots which includes personnel,transfers,and media.
Desmond is the man who praised Sevco,as he had the most to gain by their survival.
He alone is responsible for underinvesting in players,and staff
He now wants to install Kennedy as manager,and will do so if season tickets are sold out,so guess who the mugs are.
Celtic are now back to chasing Sevco,what a joke this man is(remember we are the supporters that laughed at Sevco supporters.)
Get this man out as his only interest is making money
A joke of a comment. A pathetic attempt to fool those having second thoughts into renewing their ST’s.
The tweet is an attempt to gain credence with s totally depressed Celtic support
With the lies of Liquidation and the Number 55 flashing above our eyes , the lack of Celtic statements refuting the Sevco titles claim is deafening and sickening to the Faithful Celtic support who have paid up their season book money and suffered watching players lift a full wage while surrendering our 10 in a row with nothing but a whimper ….. the PLC Board are bunch of quislings drawing their 30 pieces of Silver , not giving a jot for the rank and File.
Not for me Phil,
The tweet from Celtic is nothing more than a slap in the face, a sly dig or even a tap on the plums to *Rangers. why don’t they just come out and blow this continuation myth to pieces..?
As you state above, the reason is that they are in on the full shit-show !!
Now we are hearing Celtic are in on the term “Old Firm” IE: throught the patent department.
Absolutely disgusting if you ask me, and the reason for it being disgusting is those zombie b@st@rds would never have done the same for us !!
HH
Phil don’t look too deep, the letters will be coming out VERY soon for season ticket renewal, and they have to market it somehow, and I’m saying that as a Season Ticket holder for many decades.
Fool me once etc.
This is just a Peter Lawwell “Rory Bremner” joke, fodder for the masses to encourage ST renewal.
Business Continuity not Business Interruption, the same as it ever was.
Fucking pathetic attempt by our crap board to appease fans, in time for renewal!…For gods sake Celtic fans….don’t be so bloody gullible and swallow this failed boards attempt to appease!
The cynic in me sees this as a trial tweet to see if it’s easy to get fans on side this way when season tickets are due for renewal. The alternative would be to invest in a decent coach and squad, after all…
If you do not own the trademark it can be us detrimentally by others.
Very Interesting Phil, and I’ve long been a believer that Celtic’s monumental collapse this season wasn’t by extraordinary bad luck or bad planning, it was orchestrated by Lawell tae perfection, with Lennon as part of the patsy, the OF cash cow had tae survive, and if sacrificing Celtics 10IAR was required tae help the huns survive, then so be it. One thing that does interest me, Scotland is run by huns for huns at almost every level, then how did Celtics new CEO Dominic McKay ever manage tae rise tae the top level within one of , the other major sports in Scotland that’s riddled with huns and the ” what school did you go to ” brigade if he has any kind of known affiliation towards Celtic, unless Scottish society has changed that much i just didn’t notice, and then he lands the biggest CEO job in Scottish sports altogether….Just curious like…HH
Celtic’s collapse this season was down to a powderpuff midfield who couldn’t cope with the fall of Broony into mediocrity …. the engine room has been running on 2 Cylinders since Ronny took over …. but the Defence came apart under the pressure , and up front we had nothing to take the weight off us …. goals win matches , and we have been firing blanks this season .
This is the ticking time bomb sevco and it’s fans have been dreading, a debate on the survival lie, it’s a debate they can’t win and they know it . The media has been doing it’s best to act puzzled at the cryptic tweet.
Maybe Celtic have been playing the long game , no point kicking them when they are down, wait till they get up and all cocky then kick them back down, bet parks wishes he kept his mouth shut.
Keep it going Celtic, torture them slowly, it’s what they deserve trying to claim another teams achievements as their own .
Another Lawell and Desmond ruse to get supporters onside with a feel good factor before fleecing them through season ticket renewals. It has Lawell’s greedy and grubby hands all over it.
I can’t believe that the Club has jointly owned the trademark to the Old Firm name, since 1998 as far as I could make out. Having read about this today I find myself viewing the club like no other as just like any other. Out for cash. They’ve sold out the soul of the club for dirty money. This isn’t my club anymore.
If its true that Celtic have been reining it in a bit for the last few years to keep it interesting whereas Rangers gave it everything this season then it should have come as no surprise to anyone when they won the league.
We’ve also got a lot to learn when it comes to statements. If Rangers aren’t happy they don’t hold back but Celtic usually keep a dignified silence. Subtle doesn’t work.
Look at the recent protest at Celtic Park. The police skelped more than a few that day. This weekend they watched on as the crowd gathered then instead of wading in they said ” c’mon we’ll escort you up the toon. You can wreck the Celtic shop”. Who complained about the police? Rangers.
Rangers have had no red cards this season. The compliance officer had to step in a few times. The big story should have been the fact that the referees didn’t deal with it on the park, not the compliance officer. Who made all the noise? Not us. If Celtic were offered five retrospective bans next season but no red cards I’d take it.
In today’s statement they should have pointed out that a group of happy Rangers supporters did more damage than an angry mob of Celtic supporters. Happy. Angry. Who’s going to wreck the place? That should be a no-brainer.
Its not as bad as it was but as far as being treated evenly we’ve still got to sit at the back of the bus……and our board know their place.
Your red card comment IS a big deal. Not once were they reduced to 10 men. One of those games would have seen them play with 10 men for over 80 minutes. Retrospective reds? A slap on the wrist to the players involved and NO effect on the team on the park. Or club as a whole.