On Wednesday night Celtic could only manage a 0-0 draw in the Champions League qualifier against Kairat. It was a frustrating night inside Celtic Park. The morning after the media headlines were SACK THE BOARD after continued calls from frustrated Celtic fans during the second half and at full time.
The boos at full time were not directed at Brendan Rodgers or the players but towards the board members sitting in the main stand.
Celtic were very poor in the first half and a bit better in the second half. The Kairat plan worked for them on the night. They parked the bus and time wasting in the second half to stop Celtic getting into a Rhythm. They got the draw they wanted to take back to Kazakhstan for the second leg next Tuesday.
The atmosphere was flat inside Celtic Park although both sets of Celtic Ultras did their best to get the atmosphere going but the stadium never responded on a frustrating night.
Chants of “Sack the Board “could be heard on the 67th minute when it is usually “In the heat of Lisbon”. After 10 minutes of added on time the frustration spilled over and it was not only from the Ultra groups. The chants continued and could be heard from all around the stadium and those sitting in front of the board turned around and vented their anger.
Failing to back Brendan Rodgers with quality signings is not popular. The Celtic manager has continuously had to talk about the lack of quality signing over the summer. It is about time those running the club gave us an explanation of WHY? we have not replaced key players when we have a treasure chest of wealth accumulating interest in the bank.
I got flash backs to when Maribor knocks us out of the CL qualifiers when Ronnie Delia was in charge. He got the sack for failing in Europe and for failing to win a treble yet the board stayed.
This is the same board who were in charge when we failed to do the 10IAR. Neil Lennon got the sack and all that changed in the board room was they moved the chairs around after Dom McKay’s brief spell as CEO.
As fans we can do no more we have bought shares, merchandise and season tickets. We have given all we can give and all we want is to see the team progress on an annual basis.
Some fans continue to back the board coming up with excuses for them about players not prepared to come to Celtic Park, those comments just won’t wash.
In the Jock Stein lounge after the game the vast majority of fans were vocal in their disapproval of the performance, the board and even the appointment of Shaun Maloney as player pathway manager. Someone who has no experience in youth development while former Youth supremo Willie McStay is already in the building as a chief scout. The fear for some I spoke to was that Shaun is being groomed to take over from Brendan Rodgers.
I didn’t see anything in the visitors performance Wednesday night to suggest that Celtic cannot go there and get a result. So lets hope that Celtic’s name is in the hat when the draw is made but we all know if we don’t get some fire power we will continue to struggle in the final third.
Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes and host of the Celtic Soul Podcast
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