With more than a month to go until the transfer window opens Glasgow World has come up with possibly the most contrived ever bad news story for Celtic fans.
With print circulation falling off a cliff titles like The Scotsman are only of value if they can reach and engage with a digital audience, one that goes beyond the true blues of Morningside and Costorphine.
National World is the umbrella under which Glasgow World publishes the sort of stories that The Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday would have sneered at if offered back in their pomp (pre Tom English).
With digital whizzkids being guided by SEO gurus the content carries a familiar whiff as two Glasgow football clubs are concocted into one headline that attempts to tick off as many boxes as possible.
Headlined ‘Celtic could be impacted by transfer ban as in-demand Rangers man to sign new contract’ it contains the old favourites of bad news for Celtic and joy upon joy over at Ibrox.
The transfer ban that could impact Celtic is losing Kyogo Furuhasi, Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate to Spurs. Not even Craig Whyte’s final cheerleader would conclude that the Jermain Defoe story in midweek will result in a January transfer ban for Spurs- leaving Celtic with three heart-broken players who were poised to join their former boss in London.
Glasgow World reports:
As reported by Football Insider yesterday, former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou could be at risk of landing a transfer ban after the English Football Association (FA) re-opened a case over Jermain Defoe’s move from Tottenham Hotspur to Portsmouth in 2008. Spurs have been accused of using an ‘unlicensed agent’ in negotiations and the FA are willing to investigate the case further if new evidence comes to light.
That possible transfer ban could have potential ramifications for Celtic with Postecoglou having consistently been linked with a few of his former players. Reo Hatate has been the most prominent name tipped with a move to North London since Postecoglou’s departure.
When you get as desperate as quoting Football Insider it really is time to take stock, you might create a spike in traffic but credibility is the secret to creating a sustainable audience, something that few mainstream publishers care for as they battle to survive the transition.
Wit ??????