Callum McGregor will lead his team-mates out at Ibrox tomorrow with no Celtic fans in the ground.
There won’t be silence but that is the reaction to everything from Michael Nicholson as he approaches two years in the job, replacing Dom McKay after the highly successful summer 2021 transfer window.
More than a few thousand Celtic fans would love to be in that corner of Ibrox, surrounded on all sides by hostility, to be diplomatic, but for reasons not yet explained there won’t be any away fans at tomorrow’s match.
Celtic’s usual means of communication is to brief favoured media messengers with no trail back to whoever is making the decisions.
At the first two Derby matches last season there was the token 700 away supporters present, for no stated reason that changed with the next two SPFL matches played in front of home supporters only.
The issue has bounced around with James Bisgrove setting the pace in cosy media interviews, going on about stakeholders and other jargon knowing that no probing questions will be asked.
On August 17 The Sun were presented with the news that Celtic had turned down 700 tickets for tomorrow’s match with the follow up strike that Bisgrove will be demanding that the SPFL ensure an away allocation for Celtic Park on December 30.
Rather than go ‘on the record’ the Celtic CEO turned to his favourite record who quickly responded with:
Record Sport understands Celtic refused the offer of 700 tickets as they believe promises over ramped up security were not met and they are now determined to shut out Rangers supporters in the second encounter of the season.
And the Parkhead club are also prepared to battle it out with league bosses if the SPFL get involved in the fight. League rules state home clubs must make provision for ‘a reasonable number of visiting supporters’ for matches and if clubs can’t agree the SPFL will step in.
Nothing has been heard about the alleged safety issues, it has all been off the record with claims about nets being requested but a time issue in getting them installed.
A timeline would have been appreciated for the diehard fans that won’t be at Ibrox tomorrow but the club restricts communications to launching new kits or selling Champions League tickets.
Going to watch a match, to support the team, even at £51 for a precarious seat isn’t the sort of issue that Nicholson is comfortable discussing.
In January 700 Celtic supporters were allocated tickets to Ibrox, the least that they deserve is some sort of explanation over why there won’t be any away fans at tomorrow’s match.
Fuck them..
Fans dont want them, and dont want them near Celtic Park,so what’s the problem?
Celtic should highlight WHY we are in this situation . Let everyone know it’s down to them . Horrible , bigoted cxnts .
Perhaps fans being hit with bottles coins lighters etc is the reason. Someone will be killed there, for once the board are right.
Editor: Why won’t the board say that? Are they afraid to upset their cherished business partners? #sydneysupercup
Martin O’Neill said last week that
“Celtic Need A Strong Rangers.”
Jim White, Talksport Radio.
Presumably Any Rangers Will Do!
Even one which cheated for a decade, were liquidated and resurrected by Scottish Football Authorities to retake their place in Scottish football.
Perhaps if O’Neill had been thinking less about Rangers and more about Celtic, we would have won the UEFA Cup in Seville in 2003!?
Let’s face it, sevco wants to run Scottish Football.
And that seems to be generally okay with most of stakeholders in the Scottish game!
Great stuff, I agree with every comment.
That scum started it, Celtic should finish it.
KEEP THEM OUT!
Where have you been? What have you watched? Over the past 2 visits with fans at Ibrokes 2 Celtic fans and a member of the Celtic back room team have been hospitalised and required stitches. It’s the failure of the SMSM to highlight this that is the problem, for failing to report this properly!
Editor: Can you point me to any comment from Celtic on these attacks? Will be a long search, reluctantly Nicholson was forced to comment at the 2022 AGM, seven months after the mysterious appearance of glass in Joe Hart’s penalty box.