Celtic have again handed club communications over to their favoured media messengers.
On Friday the red carpet was rolled out to three reporters from the Daily Record, Sun and Herald/Glasgow Times.
Three of the titles that went into meltdown as they trashed Celtic’s SPFL title win.
Getting a stoppage time penalty at Motherwell almost destroyed the Sports Desk at the Daily Record.
Celtic’s 3-1 victory over Hearts on Matchday 38 left Keith Jackson devastated.
First up he was sharing the fantasy that Hearts players were assaulted on the pitch at Celtic Park.
Not true. If it had happened Sky Sports News would have shown the incidents on a loop all weekend.
In tandem we had the tale of the missing minutes. As genuine as a billionaire in Motherwell.
MEDIA PILE ON OVER CELTIC WINNING THE SPFL TITLE
After four days of mourning the SFA were forced into releasing the audio. After seven minutes of stoppage time Don Robertson checked with Derek McInnes and blew for full time.
Three weeks after Celtic’s title win obscure claims were being published about the great injustice.
Celtic’s title win hurt them deeply. The reaction at the Sun and Herald/Glasgow Times was similar.
On Friday Celtic invited those three publishers into their Portuguese training camp to dictate the messaging relayed to the Celtic support.
By-passing the super duper Celtic-Player and the club app pUshed by Michael Nicholson to bridge the communication gap with customers.
On Friday at 6pm the three titles released the news that Nicholson is in talks over deals for Marcelo Saracchi and Kelechi Iheanacho.
That message seemed good enough for the Three Amigos.
There was no follow up about the time being wasted on these ‘deals’. What the sticking points are, how concerning is it that two weeks into pre-season training Nicholson is still in talks.
PREPARE FOR THE PLAYER EXODUS
An equal concern, one working in tandem is the prospect of Celtic losing three, four or more of the remaining core of winners.
Such as Daizen Maeda, Alistair Johnston, Arne Engels and Auston Trusty.
There are two options in play here.
The bad news about losing players has been held back for publication on Saturday. Or the three reporters have been told not to ask about departures.
Or about Dermot Desmond’s all covering influence over the club and especially recruitment.
Nothing was asked about O’Neill’s faith in Nicholson after three horrific transfer windows that has seriously weakened the Celtic squad.
Or who was leading recruitment with the role of Head of Football Operations sacked alongside Wilfried Nancy on January 6.
All of those issues have been ignored. Or publication held back with Celtic working with three publishers to manipulate the news agenda.
The talks with Iheanacho and Saracchi have been presented in a positive light! Not Nicholson labouring two easy deals out into a seven week saga.
With no urgency to sign players from a stale, unchanged boardroom Celtic fans know what to expect.
A full week of Duran mania to mask the lack of activity while pushing the sale of tickets for a glamour friendly against Middlesbrough.
On Friday two stories appeared on the Celtic website. One announcing the signing of Camilo Duran with the other being a gallery from training.
As it stands the away support will out number home fans, turning Celtic Park into the venue for a Reform Party rally.
Which will make a welcome change for some from chants of SACK THE BOARD and STAND UP IF YOU HATE THE BOARD.
The contempt for their customers and their blatant managed decline coupled with the incompetence of their CEO and CFO is now beyond a joke. I hope the legend that is MON is getting the BR Salary that he asked for as he is in real danger, after delivering beyond anyone’s wildest expectations last season, of sullying his standing as he is more and more looking like a Board Shill and Human Shield……