There is a moment in the movie Wall Street when Budd Fox, the young up and coming broker, has given the slippery mogul and stock market legend Gordon Gekko some bad news.
Fox has gotten in the door in the first place because he was able to give Gekko a key piece of information about a stock that was going to go up. Now his own bet has lost Gekko money. Gekko, who always knows more than it seems and is aware of exactly how Fox came about his initial piece of info, caustically says “Well I guess your dad’s not a union representative of that company.”
Some people need their daddies to get on in life. Like our chief scout, one of the Strachan sons, who worked his way to a scouting job at our club from a golf shop. The head of recruitment at least managed not to wind up on the Celtic payroll up until now, but what a ghastly appointment that was, as this website predicted at the time to much scorn from others.
It would be nice to be able to reward family and friends by giving them gigs at the place where you work. I once got my sister a job working with me in the homeless hostels. She liked that public service role so much she parlayed in into a career in a related field and has done very well.
But I couldn’t have given her an executive job even if I’d held one myself, because in just about any organisation worth a damn that would have been subject to vetting and a process and a list of candidates would have been interviewed for the role.
That’s how shareholders are best served.
I don’t know what ours are doing standing back and watching this disgrace unfold.
The other day, The Celtic Trust picked this moment to appeal for members. This is the moment for a credible, focussed fan organisation to come to the fore, one that can command respect and bring people together. They are not it, not even close. If they have a coherent plan short of “standing with the Green Brigade” I have yet to hear it.
The Green Brigade themselves are the loudest voices in the stands; they have put this board until no pressure whatsoever. They would rather bang on about an ancient chapter in Irish history than they would fight for the wellbeing of this football club.
Did their return to the stadium come with a “no slagging the board” clause?
Because honestly, their voices should be critical here … and they are oddly silent.
Every single one of us has to do better than this.
Nobody can be looking at this board and believe that they are progressing this club at the moment. Every fan media outlet and every fan organisation, in fact every single individual fan, has to think about where we are and where we are heading.
Nobody can possibly think this window was a success. Nobody can possibly believe that this board does not have questions to answer about why the last two transfer windows were such a farce. We needed quality in the summer and we got 10 players but no first team starters.
We needed quality in this window – the manager was adamant about that – and we got one signing who he clearly wanted and a kid on loan from Norwich reserves who arrived last night via a club statement without Rodgers endorsement in it. Yet there are people who are trying to tell us that the manager is t he one responsible for this disaster of a window.
The stink of cronyism and nepotism reeks from every level of the football department; I wrote about that at the start of the week. The same applies to the upper executive.
We are run on behalf of a handful of people according to a decade old stratagem which becomes harder and harder to defend. The one year in which we had real success in signing first team ready footballers was under Ange, who decided not to use any of the current network at the club … what does the success of his first and second windows tell us when we compare them with the four after Lawwell junior was running things?
The numbers don’t lie, so let me present you with some.
He has signed 22 players in his tenure as head of recruitment.
Of that number two haven’t been here long enough to make a proper judgement.
Of the other twenty, only five – Mooy (who was Ange’s boy, and let’s not kid on about that), Jenz, Johnson, Palma and Bernardo – have been able to get into the team and hold down a place for any length of time. We decided against signing Jenz. Palma is in the side right now because Abada has been injured and Maeda is away. Bernardo is also in the side because there is no Reo Hatate at the moment, and perhaps not for some time to come.
Oh is a squad player but as soon as we have a better option he’s gone. Yang is a squad player and he’s currently third choice on both the left flank and the right. Nawrocki might be around a while and will probably be considered a success. I like Iwata and so does the manager, but Iwata definitely was an Ange Postecoglou pick as we all know full well.
The rest is just so much wreckage on the highway. Of all of them who remain at the club, only Alastair Johnson is a guaranteed starter, and he’s got that role because his backup will never challenge him for the first team place. Is he as good as Juranovic, who played in a World Cup semi-final?
Four transfer windows.
One player – one – who right now walks into the team every week and he’s got nobody to keep him on his toes or challenge for his place.
But then neither does Greg Taylor, Joe Hart or Kyogo, so perhaps that’s not a surprise.
22 players signed and we still need a goalkeeper, a left back and a decent 25 goal a season striker to challenge the starter who isn’t on form right now. We probably do need a backup right back and at least one more midfielder. Under this head of recruitment, what are the odds on filling any of those holes with quality come the summer?
If there is a common cause amongst the support, holding this board to account has got to be it.
We can start to put pressure on these people, or we can wait for a disaster which won’t help us but will give them a chance to appeal for unity whilst they pick another yes-man for the dugout and we start this cycle all over again.
Ask not what your club is doing for you, but what you can do for your club. This is the moment to decide … and remember; Noah built the ark before the rain.
I’d prefer that we didn’t wait for the disaster.
Yes, Noah not Moses built the ark. You try writing one of these with a pounding headache at 2:00am, see how many mistakes you make!
I have thought for a long time James that our mantra “faithful through and through” is music to our board’s ears. They know the fans will come and boy do they take that for granted. Things really need to change and quickly
Moses aye? ?
And where was Dermor Desmond when the Lawell’s were showing utter contempt for the Manager, “Quality not quantity ” Our captain,” we need to freshen up the squad in the window”. He was playing golf in America in a pro am with Rory Mcelroy,. Our club is in decline and those in charge don’t give a damn. The fans are being taken for mugs. Disgusting
Quality over the next two windows…sure you still have enough digits left to know that is only one window.
Sorry james I hate to tell you,but noah built the ark
Absolutely spot on, who is this clown Strachan? Apart from being wee Gord’s son. The board has proven that it does not care about what the fans think, they would be best served to take heed and look back to 1994, the Whytes & the Kelly’s were ousted, and they can be ousted just like they were. I ssid when PL was allowed back in the door that the Ajeti & Toljan like signings would return and Ive ben right. When it was down to Michael Nicholson, we at least signed players who were first team ready. Its up to the fans, we should boycott the matches, stop buying the nerchandise, Im considering giving up my season ticket, not because Im a glory hunter, no but because why should I waste my hard earned, for the bunch of clowns in the boardroom to squander on their whims. Strachan has to go PL & ML have to go too. The board need a short sharp shock,its not BR’s faukt, Im gonna write ti him and advise him to resign because he is just a puppet, dangling by the strings of cronyism. A blind man on a white horse can see the squad is not good enough it has struggled this season to cope, this is very similar to the Covid season, and the outcome I fear will be the same, handing the mob across the city the title by default. So yeah its time for the fans to take a stand, this was a big season title and european wise, methinks as far as Celtic is concerned that has now gone south.
James , absolutely spot on again . Problem is what can we do ! Can we get rid of the board and owner I would love to think so it would obviously take a huge effort and sacrifice on the supporters part ,probably sacrifice at least one season £600. X 60,000
= 36 million don’t know what impact that would have on % of shares if purchased .
Please don’t slaughter me on this as I have no great understanding of how all legalities and corporate regulations work..
James we need someone to lead us we have to do something positive or at least try
Could you lead us with a couple of good business corporate people on board also .
As Wallace said to the Bruce james unite the clans.
I’m asking yo to unite the fans.
PS. 3 season tickets for almost 30 years not now after the sleekit reappearance of the lawellls .
Absolutely disgusted and frustrated fan
Totally agree.. they to be let known that the fans have had enough and won’t take it anymore. However it is more important that this is done in a discreet and official way.. my fear is we are 1 draw against Aberdeen away from 3 thousand people standing outside the ground singing Desmond gtf and sack the board with the usual coke head contingent taking it to far and getting violent. This is what sevco and their fans are dreaming of, so let’s not play into their hands
Now, that’s what I call ‘right on the nose’ criticism of the GB, and their frankly bizarre singing policy.
Good article James,and once again I really hope the fans step up, but really doubt that they will. The fans have put up with this for nigh on 20 years, I’m afraid that I don’t see this changing unfortunately.
I thought it was that big guy Noah that built the ark ! I think Brendan has been duped.
It just doesn’t make any sense. Any of it. Well, Green Brigade, now you have something to complain about that won’t get us into trouble with the footballing authorities. Unless you take it too far, of course, which is always a probabilty with you lot.
We all KNEW this was going to happen. And like the Celtic Board, we have no plan. I genuinely believe it is time for Celtic fans to act, but in a sensible manner. It is time to resurrect Celts For Change. I genuinely believe that.
The problem we have is that we are all angry but have no uniformity in how that anger manifests. As such, we’re booing the team after a win. I don’t think that should happen. How does Joe Hart feel about that after pulling off a good late save to keep those 3 points in the bag?
The anger should be directed at the Board. Not the team or the manager. I understand what you say, James, about him digging his own grave by trumpeting the board propaganda and that’s fine. But the source of the problem has always been the Board of Directors and the Chairman.
It was by no manner of means a successful transfer window, but neither was it a complete failure. We all want the best for the team, we don’t always get it, but we are still in a strong position going forward, so let’s get behind the bhoys and shout them on for yet another title, the third in our renewed 10 in a row target. Who’s gonna stop us?
Who’s gonna stop us ?
If not Sevco – The Cheats with whistles, flags and monitors will certainly have a bloody good try Johnny !
By the way James, Noah built the Ark, but I’m sure Moses will be flattered.
James The main man is Dermot Desmond who calls out all the shots ,Mark Lawell like his father do as they are told ,so they take all the flak ,Desmond never shows up at AGM ,because he knows he would get it from the shareholders,he in my opinion Fergus made a bad mistake in having him take over his role ,the money that man he has never upgraded a stadium that’s crying out for a major overhaul since it was built in 1998 ,look at the state of steel work outside all getting rusty and dangerous,
The fans and Manager have been sorely let down this is diabolical to say the least ,if Celtic lose the league because of lack of players that Brendan wanted this board should be discarded the same as the last lot no one is bigger than the Club IE Lawel and Son bring back the bunnet ,these people are just money orientated GTF.
Why would the GB have a go at the Celtic Board when the transfer window wasn’t closed.
Then they would be criticised for causing unnecessary trouble.
Maybe the GB will now voice their anger that is shared by the majority of our Supporters.
Maybe also the GB are putting the team first by not falling out with the Celtic Board again.
Celtic have already dropped 10 points in the 10 league games that the GB were banned.
Celtic have Won 40 points out of the 42 points available in the periods that the GB were not banned by our own Board.
Now is the time to get behind the players Celtic have available and hopefully cheer them on to another title.
That doesn’t mean we have forgot about our shambles of a board because their time will eventually come.
The answer to that is in the article. You build the ark BEFORE the rain.
Moaning about it now is crucial to avoid FUTURE fuck ups. But this fuck up might have been prevented.
You get it now?
Yes, let’s get the manager out and put the gb in charge, they’ll win us this league
So the whole football has sent a message by the amount of money NOT spent on this transfer window but this site has decided it knows better. A transfer window notoriously renowned for poor value and yet the football experts on this site know more than the rest of the football World. You guys are wasted! Literally!
Yup… they need something to complain about. You wouldn’t believe Celtic are top of the league and 2/2 against their nearest rivals.
Winter window is never the window to do business plus its conveniently ignored that BR stated quality over the next two windows.
Celtic could still win the double and these posters would still complain.
It was also funny reading the phone in on DR which I never normally do… both Celtic and that other mob stating biscuit tin… Celtic have spent £22M this season on transfer ins The Rangers £13M yet everyone including the press having a go at Celtic but praising the Rangers
Bloody Hell – Jim The Tim – It’s been well reported especially on here and other Celtic Forums as well for a decade now about how everyone in the press has a go at Celtic and praises The Sevco…
Otherwise I’d never know as I certainly don’t buy them or read them online –
And that’s the way it’ll be until they die and go bust like their beloved favourite club did…
And hopefully it happens soon to them because redundancy ain’t nice –
But the ones that it’s gonna happen to certainly ain’t nice either…
It cannot come a day too soon for me anyway !
Jim the Tim how much of that 22 million are actually playing for the first team?
Are you Lawwell in disguise John !!!!!
The only thing that’s wasted literally is not us guys, but millions upon millions on wasted bloody ‘project’ players at Parkhead !
I think John we could have comfortably bought shankland or miovski, both proven goalscorers in the SPFL, they would have scored enough to ensure we beat sevco to the title because there is nothing in it this year,it wouldn’t surprise me at all if sevco win it this year,what if kyogo gets injured what then,our board and Rodgers has fucked up big time.
I agree with everything you say. However, it feels like the support is totally trapped.
Any meaningful action or demonstration will always run the risk of having an adverse affect on the team. No matter how clear it is made that our anger and frustrations are with the board alone, the hostile atmosphere, marches, empty seats (or however else it might transpire) will end up seeping into performances on the pitch. Not least because the media will make sure it does.
Unfortunately, because every other team in Scotland is so poor, this runs the risk of handing Sevco trophies and titles.
So although i think action is needed to remove these self righteous, dishonest, unambitious nepotists any action would in the short term risk handing an advantage to the tribute act.
For years we have mocked how skint they are and how recklessly they live off debt. However, one season in next years CL and they could wipe most of that out.
Even if we accept that the boards plan has only been to stay one step ahead of Sevco (which i dont accept and think takes the fans for mugs) the folly of the last two windows has been breathtaking.
I honestly think we could be one poor result away from this season totally falling apart which would hand the tribute act a get out of jail free card and then the financial foundations to dominate for the next few years.
The board knows this, they know they can trust that fans wont sacrifice the short term for the benefit of the medium to long terms. Because sacrficing the short term means handing the riches on offer to only one club. They would have no problem is spending these riches to hammer home their advantage.
If the board knew this David why have they done nothing to ensure sevco don’t win it this year,ie bought a proven striker ie shankland or miovski,you also suggest taking no action in case it hands the advantage to sevco,who might well win the league anyway regardless what action the fans take,what then start action next season or the next ,we have to act now.
“The one year in which we had real success in signing first team ready footballers was under Ange, who decided not to use any of the current network at the club”
I’m not disagreeing here but what puzzles me about this scenario is that Ange appeared to endorse Mark Lawwell.
I don’t think Ange is stupid, if we can see, in a relatively short time that Mark Lawwell is not suitable for the job, why couldn’t Ange?
Well, I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago. Ange already had one foot out the door and he knew it and the club had at least a reasonable idea that he might. Ange never intended to hang around and work with him, and so this is a classic example of a guy saying what his employers wanted to hear and asked him to say. It wasn’t a real endorsement.
Jimthetim,
But Celtic have made a net profit on our transfer this season.
This season would’ve been the time to spend money on decent experienced players,instead of constantly bragging about how much money we have in the bank.
The Celtic Board are meant to be businessmen and yet they sleep at the wheel once again with a £40 Million plus reward available at the end of the season.
It all doesn’t make any sense.
Leave recriminations to the end of the season, withdraw your support at that point if you so wish but please don’t drive disharmony just now as the only winners will be our noisy neighbours!(They have signed 3 world class players according to the media)
We require all Celtic supporters and all at the club to be united and pull in the same direction which gives the new guys and the club a better chance at success, it is imperative we win this title so pulling ourselves apart isn’t the answer, the media have driven this since Rodgers returned with talk of £10 million players arriving etc and they would love to drive our supporters to cause our team to self implode thus helping their friends at castle greyskull to success but we need to stay as one and roar our bhoys onto another double and then we can hold people to account in the summer from a position of strength on the back of our success, let’s drive the team forward in unity!!Hail Hail.
Raymond,it will be too late at the end the season,if we fuck this up which I think we might well do,and sevco win the league and get CL riches what then,we will be playing catch up and we will lose , make no mistake whoever wins the league will rule jockland for the foreseeable future,why doesn’t golf heed desmond not put money in his pocket to help his mate Rodgers,oops he already has £ 3 million to sit there and shut the fuck up,let’s be honest here if you’re boss says there’s 3 million just sit tight and tow the line,what would we do?