Celtic fans reacted with fury to the news that the club is looking for an extra £19 to attend next week’s Europa League match against Jablonec.
For 18 months the club has been telling everyone how wonderful the fans are, how much they have missed them, how important they are. Jock Stein’s quotes have been called on regularly.
It seems that the hierarchy were only missing the pounds, shillings and pence that they fans pour into the club.
Many fans have paid in thousands of pounds since they last attended a match in March 2020. Family groups might have three or more tickets, they watched a sub-standard stream last season and equally sub-standard performances and results from the team. Many have missed out on the four ticket ballots so far this season.
They renewed again for the current season as a gesture of faith, Ange Postecoglou and Dom McKay weren’t responsible for last season’s multiple failings.
McKay went on a charm offensive on Season Ticket Renewal Day. The Kano Foundation were given free tickets, he met with fan media and came over as someone who cared for the supporters, who would do things differently, rebuild the bridges broken last season.
Apparently he comes from a strong Communications background at the Scottish Rugby Union.
He’ll need all those skills and more as he deals with the backlash of today’s announcement. At lunchtime today Jablonec could have been facing 60,000 partying Celtic fans in the return leg, as things stand there might be around one third of that number- if the club’s ticketing system can be sorted to allow fans to spend more money on tickets.
On Sunday the Celtic Shared group are hosting a pre-match BACK THE TEAM SACK THE BOARD demonstration ahead of the match against Dundee.
? #CELFKJ tickets on sale to STHs! ???
With an increased capacity crowd permitted to attend – it’s time to get Paradise rocking once more, as we are given the green light to bring our supporters home! ?
Full details, @CelticFCTickets ??#UEL | #COYBIG
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 5, 2021
??? couldn’t mark your necks woth a blowtorch.
The biggest shower of money grabbing charlatans in football.
— Inside The SPFL (@AgentScotland) August 5, 2021
An absolute brass neck I’ve paid nearly £1400 and not been to a single game
— Paul B Lyons. (@plyons45) August 5, 2021
Shameless
— Paul (@ptmcd92) August 5, 2021
Exactly why I’m getting too! pic.twitter.com/WVdYaCrCQi
— BBMAC??????? (@BBMac69) August 5, 2021
Absolute shambles, fans not been to a game in 18 months, paid season tickets for 2 seasons and at 1st opportunity to give something back, you charge us ?? well played Celtic
— paul eadie (@eadie86) August 5, 2021
0/4 I’m getting moved from main stand ( assuming i get a ticket) for UEFA despots demanding the full thing? And there is no HCTS in operation. Welcome back indeed.
— Henrik (@HenrikVegetable) August 5, 2021
We’ve had 0/4 games so far on our season tickets, even then I’m trying to pay to get in to the next available game (against my better judgement) and you’re now telling me that I don’t have the correct privileges. The mismanagement of this club runs right through!
— Steven Kelly (@stevenkelly77) August 5, 2021
@CelticFCSLO a lot of fans have paid £1,200+ in last 12 months and no access to games. First opportunity to give something back and a bit of positive PR, ahead of planned demo on Sunday, you do this. Once again, how not to read the room! ??
— Peter Herbison (@Pedro010573) August 5, 2021
Sort it out pic.twitter.com/0yRYP23o9d
— Ryan Cullen (@_RyanCullen_) August 5, 2021
This is peak celtic. Start to get fans onside with a few signings then totally shoot themselves in the foot. Club will say they cant afford to lose the ticket sales but could fans afford season books knowing they wouldn’t get in? Probably not but they found a way, do the same!!
— james corcoran (@jamesy0891) August 5, 2021
Spot on. Shows the utter contempt the board show towards the fans who have ploughed millions into the club the last few years without getting to a game. This is why thousands will still attend the demo on Sunday…don’t let a few signings mask the real issues with the board
— Dan Doc (@doc76) August 5, 2021