‘Staggering’ – Celtic journalist slams board for showing no remorse for fans
The Celtic board have received further criticism for their statement before manager Brendan Rodgers prepares to speak to the media.
Celtic fans are fuming at the club’s transfer strategy and lack of high profile signings throughout the summer.
Protests and boycotts are planned and Rodgers could leave Celtic amid a supposed lack of ambition at the club.
On the pitch the Hoops have not impressed either, a 0-0 draw against Rangers continued their unbeaten start to the season, but their attacking play has been criticised.
Celtic board have shown no ‘contrition’
Rodgers is set to be questioned for the first time since Celtic fans wrote to the board, and the club hierarchy responded to much disdain from supporters, before the Hoops’ trip to Kilmarnock.
In the Scottish Daily Mail, [11 September], journalist John McGarry slammed the Celtic board for their statement and questioned a key point of it.
“A public relations exercise that would have made Gerald Ratner wince, it was rich in flannel yet contained not a trace of contrition,” John McGarry said.
“The claims that the club’s cash reserves were ‘not relevant’ in regards to UEFA’s financial rules begged two obvious questions: What are they then for? And who decided to accrue them?
“On the back of failing to replace Kyogo Furuhashi in January and Nicolas Kuhn prior to facing Kairat, the explanation for being unable to conclude deals in the necessary time was simply staggering.”
Celtic let striker Adam Idah join Swansea on deadline day without a replacement lined up, with top target Kasper Dolberg electing to join Ajax meaning free agent Kelechi Iheanacho signed after the window shut.
Celtic focus on league return
The statement from the Celtic board has not gone down well with anyone, and there is little chance they will be breaking cover again.
Fans believe the club have not shown ambition over the summer, with transfer business left until the last minute.
Performances on the pitch have proved that more quality additions were needed, and the board will continue to be pressed to back Rodgers in January, if he is still the manager.
| Games Managed | 115 |
| Games Won | 79 |
| Games Drawn | 21 |
| Games Lost | 15 |
Nothing looks set to change at Celtic in the short-term, and Rodgers needs to focus on results on the pitch with noise increasing from the outside.
The players’ mentality will now be examined as Celtic return to face Kilmarnock and whether performances can improve with the squad Rodgers has at his disposal.