For the third time this year Keith Jackson has published a Monday morning attack on Ange Postecoglou.
A refusal to comment on a job vacancy that he has been linked with by the Scottish media has upset the veteran Daily Record reporter, apparently Postecoglou was ducking his duties.
If the Daily Record decide to cover every aspect of the Leeds managerial vacancy by reflecting on how it Postecoglou that is their decision, perhaps there is a market for this type of news. Circulation figures suggest there is a declining market for this.
Last Wednesday Jackson’s senior sources inside Celtic had told the man from the Record that there was nothing in their constant speculation:
Sources at the club insist the interview process got up and running after Marsch’s sacking on Monday, with further discussions held on Tuesday. But Record Sport understands that, as of late Tuesday afternoon, Celtic had received no contact from the Leeds board asking for permission to open talks with Postecoglou.
Furthermore, chief executive Michael Nicholson and chairman Peter Lawwell believe the 57-year-old is happy, motivated and completely committed to leading his side towards a second successive Premiership title, despite any potential interest from across the border.
Disregarding that to push his own view that football managers should be telling all to a newspaper that sells just over 60,000 copies across the UK, Jackson tells Daily Record readers the ins and outs of Friday pre-match media conferences:
But while Klopp was cracking up and Pep was losing the plot, closer to home, Ange Postecoglou was cleverly swerving the cameras and sending John Kennedy into bat on his behalf. Which was an intriguing and unexpected plot twist in itself, given that all that week you couldn’t pick up a paper or turn on the telly without seeing the big Aussie’s name linked to the vacant hotseat at Elland Road.
This was Postecoglou’s first chance to deal with all the speculation head on – and to say exactly what the Celtic support wanted to hear. Something along the lines of: “I categorically won’t be leaving” would have done the trick.
And yet, deliberately or not, Postecoglou left a huge question mark hanging in the air when he opted to stay locked inside his office instead. The party line is that this had been the plan all along. But even if that is the case and Kennedy really was always pencilled in to handle the front of house ahead of Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie with St Mirren, it all felt a bit like the big boss was ducking out of his duties.
Jackson could have attended Saturday’s match to ask Postecoglou the big questions, strangely Scott McDermott and Michael Gannon were on duty rather than the Record’s top reporter.
Continuing on Postecoglou, Jackson added:
He was asked live on radio if he regarded the Leeds links as a compliment to his work. “I guess it would be if I paid any attention to it,” was how he brushed it off. It was then put to him that his levels of job satisfaction and feelings of loyalty to Celtic might be being underestimated. Presumably by the media. His response to this one was even more brutal. “I have no idea what you think about anything, mate.”
Again, textbook Postecoglou. Later on however, after another thumping win, Postecoglou explained why he had chosen to step aside on Friday afternoon. But this answer was a lot less convincing.
He said: “I just thought it was a good week for us to sort of focus on training. John’s a very, very capable guy and he handles the media well. I thought I’d have a break from everyone and everyone could have a break from me.”
And all the while, he stopped just short of slamming the door shut on the possibility of a move to England’s elite. By Sunday morning another Premier League job was up for grabs when Southampton finally called time on the discombobulating Nathan Jones. Which means the whole circus surrounding the Celtic manager’s future employment might roll back into town for the rest of this week too.
Today’s masterpiece started with a stunning lack of self-awareness:
They’re all borderline narcissists with a leaning towards control freakery. Well, the best of them are anyway.
Just don’t expect any football manager worth his salt to admit it. That would seem a little too much like the acceptance of criticism. And they’re not comfortable with being criticised. They’re not even all that fond of being questioned.
That is Jackson’s view on football managers, there is at least one other profession that many people would pin that description against.
On January 9 Jackson accused Postecoglou of self pitying and spiteful irrationalism.
On January 16 Jackson accused the Celtic manager of pouring fuel on the paranoia of the Celtic support.
Back in June 2020 Peter Lawwell gave his last newspaper interview as CEO, telling Jackson that he expected to have fans inside Celtic Park for test matches before the start of the SPFL season, no fans were inside Celtic Park until July 2021.
I have said it before and I will say it again LIEWELL is behind this just look atthe time frame of the articles all published since LIEWELL’S return,and his favourite s called journalist arse licker Jackson has been left in charge to run the stories week after week.
This IS LIEWELL’S sleekkit way f trying to upset Big ANGE to move on,and LIEWELL is back in with the biscuit tin money to buy players.
Remember the less money to spend on players the BIGGER the BONUS for him and board.
Jackson should know all about ” ducking his duties ” after all with the state of finances over at Ibrokes and questions NOT asked about that and vavouritism with VAR to the club from Ibrokes. Then again that is what good reporters would do so I suppose he is ruled out of that one.
Why are we giving this moron column inches.
Don’t buy the rag he
” works for”
His insignificance is becoming more apparent with every word he gurgitates
The big man played a blinder , let them talk sh*t all week and get their loaded questions set out , get them all sat down thinking , here we go , we’ll get something to twist and splash over the back pages . Then out walks John Kennedy
Im telling you man , he’s driving them all to drink
It is a consistent, congruent and cynical type of pervasive vitriol that defines so called sports journalism. The “boiling frog” incremental rhetoric of the obfuscate Mr Jackson demonstrates how to “square things off” by “ hiding in plain sight” Perhaps another penalty on “the apron” of the 18yd box is not only emblematic of the current cancerous malaise that bubbles under bowler hats and briefcases in the offices of the stenographic corps but in point of fact is no longer offering apologies for their apocalyptic and globalist philosophy.
Then again, a more insulting retort to Mr Jackson and his claims about Big Ange and his dereliction of duty might well be the classic Glesga slang.. “ Is he,Aye?”
If Jackson was half the reporter Ange is as a manager he would be good. That’s why I don’t buy your Daily Record- it’s crap reporting
I find it hard to believe that there are still sixty thousand buying the thing, the Celtic view sell as many as that.
Celtic should have banned all reporters from Celtic Park years ago. There is no need for them to speak to any other journos except the View and Celtic TV. Most people have access to the internet even at the library and can check the news on you tube or newsnow.
Or make some money on it charge 4.99 a month for access to club news. It costs 3 quid a week for the Record. Jackson is just James Traynors boy. They both ignored the cheating at their favourite club for years yet do not have the self-awareness to just resign and disappear. Their ambition is to steal a wage for 50 years like Hugh ‘dementia’ Keevins.