GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, on September 01, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic full Annual Report for 2025 has revealed the continuing support for the B team and Academy.
For the fifth season the B team is competing in the footballing graveyard of the Lowland League.
After 14 matches against part-time opponents Celtic have a record of Won 5, Drew 5 and Lost 4. Their goal difference is 27-30, losing more than two goals per game.
It isn’t all about results at these levels but when you are being beaten by Bonnyrigg Rose, Linlithgow Rose and Bo’ness United the chances are that you won’t be featuring in the Celtic first team.
THE LOAN DEALS
This season the SFA have created Co-operation loan deals where three players can go out on loan to a club in each of the other SPFL divisions.
Celtic have a co-operation deal with Ayr United but have loaned three players to Partick Thistle.
No co-operation deals have been struck with First and Second Division sides.
Clearly there is no strategic thinking involved. Surely getting players out on loan to clubs in the League of Ireland and Holland/Belgium would be better than matches against Civil Service Strollers or Caledonian Braves.
Despite the almost complete failure of the Academy the Annual Report decided to apply the usual spin and gloss:
The Club remains committed to long-term investment in its B Team and Academy, with the strategic aim of developing players capable of contributing to the First Team or progressing into professional football elsewhere—generating potential reinvestment opportunities.
A major milestone in this area was the opening of the redeveloped Barrowfield training facility in August 2025. This state-of-the-art environment significantly enhances the infrastructure available to support the development of young talent.
Celtic B continued its participation in the Scottish Lowland League, finishing second in the 2024/25 season. The Club views this competition as a vital platform for providing competitive experience and accelerating the development of emerging players. Participation will continue in the 2025/26 season.
As part of our player development strategy, several Academy players were loaned out during the 2024/25 season to gain valuable first-team experience. These included Dane Murray, Lenny Agbaire, Marcus Gill, Tobi Oluwayemi, Joe Morrison, Josh Clarke, and Matthew Anderson.
After being on loan at Ayr United Agbaire joined Rotherham United in League One where he has played six matches this season.
THE AUSTRIAN DISCONNECTION
Matthew Anderson spent a second season on loan at Admira Wacker before leaving Celtic to join Belgian second division side Kortrijk.
After two seasons the partnership with Admira Wacker appears to have been ditched. Although it never developed any first team players the Austrian Second Division is of a far higher standard than the Lowland League.
Goalkeepers Gill, Morrison, Oluwayemi and Clarke were out on emergency loans, none were pre-planned as part of their development. Morrison left Celtic in the summer to join East Kilbride.
FAILINGS
Despite those loan moves Celtic signed Ross Doohan as a free agent to be third choice goalkeeper following the departure of Scott Bain.
Murray’s loan was useful but cut short when he returned to Celtic in January to start a Scottish Cup tie against Raith Rovers and get 10 minutes in the Champions League away to Aston Villa. His final match of last season was on February 8 at home to Raith.
Barrowfield may have the greatest of facilities but home matches in the Lowland League are played on the plastic surface at Airdrie.
There is no easy solution to the problems but acknowledging the breakdown of the Academy would be a logical step.
Phone calls to Andy Robertson, Aaron Hickey and Lennon Miller would be a good starting point.
Why did Sinisalo not get a chance under Rodgers? Ego? Or because Rodgers had the cheek, IMO, to give an overweight, undersized son of a Goalkeeping Legend a years contract extension. Jobs for the boys? No doubt!
Players like him, a Finland International will give the dynamism that Rodgers and Kennedy stifled.The team almost died on its feet under Rodgers!
What team? It was systematically dismantled since just before the Bayern game.
We went from pushing Bayern to losing to Dundee inside 10 months.
That was on the board, not BR.
Played the hand he was dealt.
Bet you celebrated the 11 out of 13 trophies he delivered.
You are right. I celebrated the eleven trophies we won under Brendan Rogers. He was a good manager for us. But don’t forget he is a mortal!
Shankley famously described Stein as
“Immortal”.
He couldn’t be beaten as a manager!
Rodgers got the full backing of the Board and he had his shot at the UCL under Celtic. But he came up short!
Editor: Enjoy your brief return. Good for the regulars to get a reminder of the cult comments from CQN. You won’t see out the weekend- back to CQN for the back slapping.
Full backing?? Stop sniffing glue mate
Desmond stated that Rodgers was given the Board’s full backing and he chose all of the players that he brought in himself!
So far Rodgers has had NOTHING to say on the allegations made against him. Why not, I wonder!?
You would not be the first Editor to censor me. That’s okay. I have my opinions and reasoning. It just shows up your limitations!
Editor: Set up your own blog or stick to the happy clappers on CQN, love and hugs to P67 and the groovy gang.
If I wanted your advice as to what I should do I would ask for it!
Are you lawwell ya clown…fu@k off ya t it
Editor. Is this comment acceptable? I see it as personal abuse. Unacceptable or not?
Take it down!
You’re a traitor. Just over here on holiday?
You have changed your tune!
Towards his departure i was unhappy with the tactics as were most , it was horrible to watch , Calmac gave the man his due when he spoke of his achievements for Celtic , i will always remember Brendan Rodgers as a true Celtic man , no one can take that from him nor will that cnut from macroom either , good luck Brendan
Same with nawrocki,he never got a fair crack of the whip and lagerbielke.
Editor: How is Nawrocki doing in Bundesliga II? Zero minutes.
Regardless of what anyone thinks of Rodgers, that statement the other night was a complete embarrassment. It bordered on the unhinged.
We know the Board has access to reporters who are too stupid to ask the correct questions and too lazy to go and find a story, they could have just briefed against him after he was gone. It isn’t as if they haven’t done it before.
If Clachnacuddin were in the Lowland League I’d fancy them to beat The Celtic B team !
Some days I just come here for the comments…
Morning , only recently started reading this Blog , breath of fresh air compared with CQN , full of Virtue signaling Frauds , there are a few good posters like Kev J BSR and Bada Bing, but most are clique sneaks , take away the Happy Birthday , congratulations on being a grandad , and big Jimmy’s, made up bookie winning stories, then it’s dead on it’s feet
Aye welcome aboard . Wire intae the trinty tims while yer at it.
Love it ,Big Jimmy’s made up bookie winnings, fuckin brilliant.????ha hah ha.
JimDuffy! ??, Big Jimmy, posted, I bet, 2-3 real madrid wimin V Brazil men then when I checked, I had doubled it with Billy mcneill Birthday,, Ya Dancer! ? ! aye then the alarm clock went off