The Green Brigade Has Set Its Position Out. Celtic Only Has To Meet Them Halfway.

Last night, The Green Brigade set out their position in relation to continuing the silent protest.

They told Celtic that if Michael Nicholson agrees to meet with them, or one of the other Celtic fan groups who are vocally opposed to the appointment of Higgins that they will put the protests on hold.

Not end them, but put them on hold pending talks.

That seems to me a wholly fair and reasonable position.

Celtic can do us all a favour by meeting them halfway and then negotiating in good faith.

I know the directors want to present this as an “operational matter” and one that is beneath the comprehension of mere mortals, but that’s part of the problem here. You don’t have to be a genius to recognise that there are other people who could do this job; their courting of this man is an insult to the many Celtic fans who he helped criminalise.

The board must now know that his hiring will be untenable.

How big a backlash do they want to provoke?

The fans have made it clear how they feel – indeed, in all my time as a Celtic supporter, not just as a blogger but as an ordinary fan, this has resulted in the greatest concentration of opposition since the days of the old board.

To hire him now would be to put two fingers up to the people who keep the lights on at Celtic.

This board can only push the average supporter so far.

These people have no divine right to make this club in their own image, and by this point it must be obvious to everyone that ego is what’s driving this more than anything else.

Or they would already have moved on.

The Green Brigade and other fan groups have set them a challenge now; take one step towards us and we’ll take two towards you. All these guys want is a chance to sit down with the decision makers and get their point across on this issue.

Here’s what muddies the waters somewhat; Michael Nicholson has already met fan reps recently, and I know that for a fact.

He’s met with the Association in the last few weeks, but as per usual they aren’t publicising what was discussed at the meeting, nor did they tell their members beforehand that it was taking place, as that would have made it too easy for the membership to seek answers on this matter.

So let’s presume that when the Green Brigade and is asking for a meeting that it’s with people they know will ask those hard questions and get the job done.

Celtic has been offered an olive branch here.

If they throw it back in the faces of the Trust and The Green Brigade and the other fan groups who are angered by this mooted appointment then fan anger shouldn’t be turned against fellow fans … it should be turned, ever more, where it belongs.