Online the anger of Celtic supporters has turned away from the team and management on Sunday towards the boardroom, with one figure in particular the target. Appropriately 31st December is traditionally the day that bonus payments are made to company executives.
Yesterday an article by Paul Larkin on The Front of the Bus seemed to provide a focal point for fans dismayed at the way Celtic is run. The anger and frustration of thousands was articulated into one punchy article that captured the simmering anger of the last half dozen years.
Initially the continuation myth was treated exactly for what is, a myth. At various times Celtic could have killed it off but drip by drip Neil Doncaster and others have been able to repeat the claim with Celtic notable by their silence.
Not only has more than a decade worth of trophies won by ineligible players gone without punishment, an asterisk would have satisfied most fans that paid money every week for a contest that was as fair as the Tour de France with one competitor doped into liquidation.
Those tainted trophies remain in the record books with the company founded in 2012 claiming them without a peep of protest from any of the clubs that lost out. Celtic and Celtic supporters lost more than most.
With Celtic’s board dozing at the wheel all sorts of financial stunts have been pulled since 2012 with the Ibrox club now capable of wiping out the other 10 sides in the SPFL on a regular basis to leave the Glasgow derby as the significant battle for supremacy.
Celtic look ill-prepared for a scrap, the failure of the board to push the SFA over the 2011 licence issue has backfired. The decision not to force the issue has left Celtic exposed, if they show no interest in a potential loss of £20m they are hardly likely to railroad through Financial Fair Play, VAR or any other reforms to bring the Scottish game upto date with Cyprus and Malta. Referees can conjure up any number of honest mistakes without any repercussions, just ask John Beaton if you pop into The Crown in Bellshill.
It seems that the restoration of the Old Firm brings a warm glow to the Celtic boardroom; those that fill the stands, buy the merchandise and the rest are showing signs that they’ve been taken for mugs once too often.
Social media isn’t quite the real world but the views below ought to be listened to if the Gravy Train is to remain on track.
The biggest cheats in the history of Scottish football preaching to others? this is where lawwell and our joke boards silence has led us and the game.
— roy (@Airthreycastle3) December 30, 2019
As long as the fans comply to the PLC Motto “SHUTUP and hand over your cash” nothing will change. Peter Lawwell acts as he does because he knows there will be no repercussions. A traitor to everything Celtic should stand for. Unforgivable
— Timposter (@Tim_Poster) December 30, 2019
The thing is a lot of our fans r angry and loosing the league to them will be the final straw,they’ve a team on the park they can’t afford,our silence over that is deafening,we have money in the bank we won’t spend this could be the end for Lawwell
— greenhillsbhoy (@Paulmullen4) December 31, 2019
Since they were liquidated in 2012, it`s always been PL`s aim to bring back this “O** F***” bollocks and the fans have turned a blind eye due to going for 9/10IAR.
— Tam (@TamMcKenna1888) December 30, 2019
The Sold firm.
— Daz Furey (@DazFurey) December 30, 2019
Spot on Paul. David Murray’s cheating between 1988-12 put a bullet in Scottish football’s head. Instead of cleaning up their act, Regan, Doncaster, Petrie, McRae, Dickson & Bryson (& PL?) conspired to rewrite history with the continuation myth and conferring of titles #FanBoycott
— damianglancy (@DamianGlancy) December 30, 2019
Well said Paul
Peter Lawwell’s remuneration is grossly inflated compared to other companies with similar revenues. Fact.
It does seem clear the primary goal of Lawwell & his boardroom pals has always been to keep the gravy train rolling — largely for their own benefit
— Chris (@hampden75) December 30, 2019
You know PL and co might as well go on and use the OF tag as well as that will remove the last of any pretense that they aren’t complicit with re-animation of the oldco!
— Nas M (@NasM_7) December 30, 2019
Spot on Paul. The Celtic board wanted the “old firm” back and they’ve got it. The appointment of Lennon backs this up and the fans are paying for it as usual. The “rangers” are an average team with a rookie manager and no money yet have “bested” Lennon’s team consistently.
— Michael Brogan (@Michael45788700) December 30, 2019
£3.55m salary and bonuses. Or 3.5% of turnover. The CEO of RBS (£13bn revenue) would be paid £450m!!!
Rangers MD earns one tenth of what Pedro trousers.
He’s got the next transfer window and couple of dozen games to earn his keep.
— J-Mac ??????? (@maccathebolt) December 30, 2019