Ange Postecoglou didn’t have to wait long to have his card marked when he joined a conference of Celtic fan media.
The club took the unusual step of making fan-orientated media an equal part of yesterday’s introductions with the supporter sites speaking to Postecoglou and Dom McKay ahead of the daily and Sunday newspapers.
There are clearly different drivers or agendas between those conferences with issues relating to the SFA and governance of the game a theme running through the questions from fans.
Some events from last season are self-explanatory as Celtic collapsed in a heap but that didn’t distract fans away from several strange issues across the city.
During 38 SPFL matches Steven Gerrard’s side never had a player sent off. In 45 minutes against Slavia Prague in the Europa League two players were sent off.
It took until stoppage time in match 35 away to St Johnstone before a penalty was awarded in the SPFL against the Ibrox side.
Curiously while Celtic had two matches postponed within 48 hours of news emerging of Boli Bolingoli’s trip to Spain, it took the SFA two months to suspend Nathan Patterson after the Ibrox starlet and four team-mates were issued Fixed Penalties for attending a House Party while Scotland was in Tier 4.
After welcoming the new manager at the start of the fan media conference, the Celtic Star spoke earnestly to Postecoglou warning:
Please be straight with us and honest with us at all times. We can take defeat but we don’t like being cheated. And we don’t like being let down the way we have in the last 12 months certainly.
There are referees in this county who support one team, the compliance officer supports one team, penalties for one team, one team got three retrospective red cards last season.
Look at these things, don’t do what Tony Mowbray did and take these things on the chin. He did that and that was an open goal which was exploited and he didn’t last very long.
Replying, Postecoglou said:
I appreciate it and what I will say is that I will always always protect the interest of this football club.
Always, against anybody. I can assure you that I won’t let anyone take advantage of this football club. My interests lie here so I will protect it with everything I can.