The Changing of the Guard

We head back over the Irish sea  for a few days after saying a fond farewell to Martin O’Neill. He arrived to steady the ship after Brendan Rodgers left. His departure after a damming personal attack on him by Dermot Desmond, the man who brought him back to the club.

Last night Celtic dominated the game and after Maeda opened the scoring and picking up an injury in the process. I thought we would score a few more goals but failure to do so made for a nervy last 5 or 10 minutes. Kilmarnock’s late goal at Tynecastle also added to the shine of the evening.

Football is a results business and Martin certainly delivered them, 100% win record in Scotland. Celtic were 8 points behind Hearts when he arrived we are now level at the top of the league with a game in hand going into Sundays game with them. The highlight for me has to be last Thursday night in Rotterdam. European away wins don’t come too often for Celtic. Wins like that make all the time and expense travelling  to support the team worth it.

As we travelled to the ground last night Wilfried Nancy was finally announced as the new Celtic manager. I think his appointment is a gamble but he will need time, but time does not come easy in Glasgow for football managers. A top of the table clash with Hearts, a Europa home game v Roma and a Cup Final v St. Mirren in his first competitive week is no easy task.

Sadly he arrives at a time when the divide has never been greater since the 1990’s between those charged with running the club and a large section of the Celtic support.

The Green Brigade have had their ban extended and the front section of the North Curve was covered over. There were also plenty of empty seats scattered around the stadium but I expect all of them to be filled on Sunday.

The noise last night came from the opposite corner of the stadium with the Bhoys Ultras section backing the team but also making their feelings known towards the board. From my view in the main stand I could see the Parasites banner and when the chants of Sack the Board started in that corner the Celtic board did not look happy as their heads turned to look over their left shoulders and seemed to be caught a little by surprise.

A protest march is now planned by the Celtic Fan Collective for Sunday before the game. Celtic fans will gather at St Mary’s in the Calton at 1.15pm and march to Celtic Park.

The Green Brigade will also have a Foodbank Collection point, where supporters are encouraged to donate non-perishable food or toiletries to those in need this Christmas.

Another sad point last night was I was not allowed meet friends at my regular meeting spot at the Brother Walfrid statue. Barriers are always there but Celtic fans from around the globe have always moved freely between the statues at the front of the main entrance. Fans gather to view the paving stones, many dedicated to Celtic fans who have passed away and also taking pictures in front of the statues of club legends.

Mediation is much needed between the Celtic board and the Celtic Fans Collective even if it starts with a back channel. For today we have the changing from the old guard and safe pair of hands to a new era and with every new manger coming to Celtic it can bring risks and rewards. Let’s hope its a new era of success.

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