Match Day in Sunny Portugal

I woke up in sunny Portugal early this morning. A swim in the sea is my not my usual start to a matchday experience but a very welcome one.

A quick check on the official Celtic website to see what the latest news greets me with, another sales pitch this time for a new away jersey. The Celtic Adidas catalogue is never ending.

Also I get to watch a short video from Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney about how training sessions have been in pre-season on the official CelticPlayer but what I really am interested in is concrete news on more players signing for Celtic.

Over on the MSM and the Celtic fan websites there is not much news either apart from where you can watch tonight’s match and usual rumours and half truths about players coming and going .

One story that does catch my eye is the one about Arnie Engels move to Nottingham Forest. A player we could do with keeping but I expect the club to cash in on him it’s the transfer model that we have become accustomed to as Celtic fans.

Here in Albufeira it was lively last night with young holiday makers enjoying themselves. A bit wild for us old bucks so we found a quiet area for a bite to eat and a few beers and get a catch up on all things Celtic. There does not seem to be as many Celtic fans around as when we came for the same fixture last season.

From the ones I did speak to here, confidence is low in Dermot Desmond and Celtic CEO Peter Nicholas to make the changes needed in how Celtic do their business. Celtic announced a new deal with a Swiss watch company but that does not interest any of the Celtic fans I speak to.

One of the usual suspects from our Celtic away trips who was with us last year posted on social media that he will not be attending any more friendlies and renewing his season book is all he will be spending until those running the club are replaced or can show some kind of ambition.

If reports are true on ticket sales for Celtic v Middlesborough on Saturday the team may play in a half empty stadium. Maybe just maybe the board may consider adding on pre-season friendlies back into the season book package but I won’t hold my breath.

It seems now that the Celtic Board are happy to meet with Celtic groups who will not rock the boat but if you question the running of the club you will not be invited to the party.  We were promised better communication but we don’t want to wait in vain!

Anyway back to tonight game tickets costs €11 which is not bad and the game will be streamed on the CelticPlayer. Kick Off in 5:30pm

Andrew Milne is Editor of More than 90 Minutes Celtic Fanzine & Host of the Celtic Soul Podcast