The featured image comes from an email that landed in my inbox yesterday morning.
It seemed a strange juxtaposition, just as the team were about to audition for the Conference League also rans.
Yes, yes, Celtic are in the Europa League, but even in that second-tier competition they look seriously outclassed.
Bayern’s last-gasp equaliser (94th minute) in the Allianz Arena on February 18 last year now seems like a very long time ago.
The fall-off in capability looks precipitous.
Yet the merchandising emails have not faltered.
The people behind the Not Another Penny campaign are, in fact, being true to the club’s roots.
It was only eight years before Celtic were founded that the concept of ostracism as a weapon emerged.
My kin in Mayo gave political protest a new concept: the Boycott.
Some in the Celtic support used the B Word before last night’s match.
Faced with club leadership that simply wouldn’t listen, their only response was refusal.
Consequently, some of the Parkhead faithful boycotted the match.
That in itself is deeply sad.
There is a dictum in politics: “If you’re explaining, you’re losing”, but at this stage the people running Celtic are losing because they’re not explaining.
Obviously, as a listed company, they can’t be entirely transparent about everything.
However, at this point they’re taking opacity to a new level.
In this anniversary season for the club’s greatest triumph, they really should be aiming higher.
As for the club’s corporate golfing shindig at the Palácio Estoril.
I’m told that a party of 4 will cost £6700…
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
