Celtic’s communications took a decisive shift in policy yesterday when they turned to Twitter to explain their stand over David Turnbull.
The hoops are notoriously secretive over transfer dealings with only a handful of trusted sources generally getting wind of a deal when it is virtually completed.
Motherwell upset things on Wednesday evening when they confirmed that terms had been agreed with Celtic for Turnbull but without a deal being agreed with the player the transfer was far from completed.
On Thursday there were no developments, on Friday at lunchtime the Evening Times claimed that the player had undergone a medical but that now doesn’t appear to have taken place.
Late on Friday afternoon the story took a dramatic twist with the Daily Record claiming that Turnbull’s agent was trying to drum up interest in England.
The biggest surprise was still to follow with Celtic taking to Twitter within an hour of the story from the Record.
Rather than the usual passive stuff urging fans to buy a hot tub or pillow this tweet seems to have come from the very top of the club.
Currently, we have been unable to come to an agreement with the player’s agent.#CelticFC is content that it has made a magnificent offer and it is now up to the agent and player to decide if the player wants to join Celtic.
If not, we move on. (2/2)
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 14, 2019
— Vin (@kidhaggis) June 14, 2019
Why make a statement? if you make an offer and he turns it down then so be it.
— JT (@1888JT) June 14, 2019
Don’t go all Sevco on us with signings ffs. Keep it in house & ignore the whingers demanding hourly updates on transfers.
— Bobby Lennon (@BobbyLennon88) June 14, 2019
For a business turning over £100M this is a disgraceful set of circumstances,the sooner the club can get someone in who can deal with these matters in a more professional manner, the better.
— frank gallagher (@frankgallaghe18) June 14, 2019
Transfers at Celtic are an absolute shambles these days. Don’t even know why I bother getting my hopes up during the window.
— Danielle Cairney (@Cairney87Dani) June 14, 2019
— aidan (@aidanoneil7x) June 14, 2019
With a fake Twitter account claiming a new contract for Mikael Lustig and the transfer of Kieran Tierney this week the first reaction to the tweets were that they were fakes. Amazingly they weren’t.
There has been no response from Turnbull or his agent with the overnight newspaper reports painting Celtic in a positive light.
On Monday Celtic begin pre-season training with Tony Ralston as the sole right-back, there isn’t a reserve right-back with Lewis Bell and Wallace Duffy no longer at the club.
In central defence Jozo Simunovic will have Jack Hendry, Marvin Compper and Stephen Welsh for company with only Hendry having any meaningful first team experience.
Until the new faces and particularly defenders start to arrive those tweets are going to concern supporters and season ticket holders about how the club is handling transfer business.