The news out of Celtic today reminded me of a remark that I recently made to a fellow journalist.
I was relating that the Parkhead club had once tried to keep me out of an AGM presser over a decade ago.
Perhaps they thought I wouldn’t play to the succulent rules and come armed with well-researched difficult questions.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Celtic PR person didn’t succeed, and I was in the presser when I stepped up with some difficult questions for the new Chairman, a chap called Bankier.
It’s ok if you haven’t heard of him as he has risen without a trace to be in the big chair.
I told my colleague that if the Celtic team on the pitch were like the club’s PR operation, then the Hoops would be in a relegation battle every season!
So consider this, after the disappointment in Paisley last night, some genius on the Celtic board decided that today was the ideal time to put out some underwhelming news.
The only thing I can say in favour of Mr Nicholson is that he isn’t Peter Lawwell and…err… that’s it!
That essential truth means that the new CEO doesn’t think he is the Director of Football for the wealthiest club in Scotland.
I spoke today with one of the Resolution 12 guys, and he was less than euphoric about this appointment.
He was an appropriate person to contact about this as he had worked extensively with Nicholson over the years.
In fairness, he didn’t have many bad things to say about him.
Then again he couldn’t actually think of anything at all to say about him!
Now, being the grey guy in the background is an excellent profile for the Company Secretary.
However, the CEO at a major football club has to have a personality.
Sadly, this important appointment is the boardroom equivalent of hiring the guy in the showers who has been doing the job on a temporary basis.
That didn’t work out so well the last time.
Despite all of that, the Grey Brigade at Kerrydale Street is hugely fortunate to have stumbled upon an excellent manager after their Eddie Howe shambles.
If the new Celtic CEO is to be a success, he must remember one crucial fact: the football department is off-limits to his amateur observations.
As long as DD has “control” at our Club…then it doesn’t really matter who we see in the post.
If anyone thinks that DD would allow a free thinking …”I’ll do it my way ” kind of guy to come in and take proper control…then think again.
Nah…we are hamstrung ( in more ways than one it would seem )…and will continue to be so…until DD decides to sell up and move on.
Oh…and if and when that happens…don’t be surprised if control is kept firmly in the family.
Sadly we just have to accept this appointment….but continue to make noises ( or stay silent ) when needs must.
Ange is quoted today speaking very highly of the new CEO and the drive he is putting into the incoming transfer scene. Bit embarrassing for the critics?
No matter, that’s the 3 other Japanese players on board. If they are half as good as Kyogo then that will do for me.
The winter shut down should see most of the current squad fit for duty when, if, the season resumes.
The Daily Ranger continues to run with headlines on Celtic and Rangers transfers as if both are in the business of bringing in new faces.
No doubt if Aribo, Kent, or both, head south after the break, it will be hailed as a great piece of business by our obedient media.
It will be if they replace them with players of equal ability for a lot less money.
That might be a wee bit difficult in my opinion.
How exciting can the appointment of a CEO get? Terry Cassidy, Martin Bain, Peter Lawwell? I don’t know the names of any other club’s CEO. That’s how exciting they are.
A CEO is almost, by definition, a boring safe pair of hands. An accountant or lawyer usually fits the bill.
If you want to sack the board I suggest you get into your time machine and return to the early 90’s. That was a board that needed, and got, sacked.
JS
This appointment is self preservation pure and simple, If the Celtic Board had one ounce of professionalism or credibility they would have looked far and wide for the best candidate to modernise the club and take us forward, instead We have another Yes man who is happy to take orders from a Chairman who is so out of touch with reality and a Majority Shareholder who is more interested in Golf.
I have absolutely no faith in this Board whatsoever, their attitude is to treat supporters like scum but keep begging for money from them every time season ticket renewal’s are due.
Sack The Board
The board did do that. They then hired the mam, McKay. When they realised what modernising the club would look like, they decided to sack Dom and give PL’s arse licker the job instead
This board ( bored )..should be invited to the next AGM of the Spanish inquisition, just as you thought they were slowly getting in touch with planet earth , they defrost this guy Nicholson from the kerrydale Kremlin agm last month and after the fawlty towers appointment of mr McKay for as CEO, for a fortnight or so, avoid D.O.F., question, squeeze mr nick into big Angie’s tent , then out of the blue they introduce Him as ” any title you wish to use )..no.1 choice for the ghost post above , now known as cardboard cut out of Dorian Gray, nice timing after piss poor result last nite :
His appointment complements the team’s performance last night, grey, cautious and unimaginative. Stagnation here we come.
yi sure pedros left the building – hes pedros boy afterall
So DD/the Board’s brief dalliance with the strategy of employing a capable and ambitious CEO has been binned?
With continued stagnation off the field, Ange’s plans for the footballing side will inevitably be adversely impacted.
January’s transfer business – under our “new CEO” – will be very interesting.
Let’s give him a little time, we might actually be surprised, we were with Ange. HH🍀
Let’s at least give the guy a chance. Leave the negative stuff to those who love spreading crap about the club.
It does no good whatsoever to join the whinging naysayers club.
We are better than that……..
Sometimes you can tell a book by the cover. Look at the SFA’s Ian Maxwell, I have never seen anyone look more like they are sleepwalking.
Personally, I know absolutely nothing about the guy. Or his background. On that basis it would be completely unfair of me to judge the guy. I can’t help but wonder how many of those making the negative comments about him, are forming their opinions with the same amount of knowledge of the guy as me. I.e. zero.
Give him a chance. If further down the line he deserves criticism, give him it with both barrels. However make sure he gets any praise that might be due as well.
He has been at the club since 2013. What has he done with regards to the 5 way agreement? Remember he also works for the court of arbitration for sport. Why didn’t he get them involved when it became clear the SFA were compromised