MICHAEL NICHOLSON FINALLY FINDS HIS VOICE
The third question of the brief meeting concerned the problems of recruitment
Michael Nicholson took the question and advised of the difficulty in dealing with agents, competing with the Premier League and even The Championship.
He advised that the easy signings are the players that are out of contract and these are being worked on immediately.
Kelechi Iheanacho remains out of contract on July 16, Marcelo Sarachi has been told to find a new club by Boca Juniors. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain joined his Celtic team-mates in training on July 10, pre-season training started on June 26.
The difficulties of competing for players with English clubs is well established, Club Brugge, Copenhagen, Sporting Lisbon and Bodo Glimt seem able to overcome that issue. Arne Engels, Auston Trusty and Adam Idah were signed two years ago despite that problem.
Without any real hint of active engagements with potential players Martin O’Neill then proceeded to confirm that he has put to the board that we are major need of signings, as the current squad, despite the heroics of last season, are not strong enough to compete.
O’Neill is just over a fortnight away from starting season 26/27 with a weakened squad.
He mentioned the focus on finding talent and developing it, because targets that he had already identified were difficult to attract to Glasgow.
A recruitment team carries out background work to ensure that they are looking at players prepared to move to Glasgow. Networking with agents settles that issue.
In the summer of 2021, coming out of Covid, Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi, Carl Starfelt, Joe Hart, Josip Juranovic, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers were prepared to come to Glasgow. Quickly followed by Daizen Maeda, Reo Hatate and Matt O’Riley.
Michael Nicholson also mentioned the silence being intentional because the media will run with any story and paint the club in a bad light no matter what the barriers to signing the player may be.
Celtic have just rolled out the red carpet to their friends at the Daily Record, The Sun and Herald in Ireland and Portugal.
Those three publishers all had the exclusive at 5pm on June 5 that O’Neill was taking on the manager’s job on a one year contract. Celtic confirmed that news on June 11. Celtic then announced Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham as coaches on June 26.
O’Neill has two friendlies before the SPFL opener on August 3. They have three competitive games before the Champions League Play Off on August 18/19 and 25/26.
Empty stadiums.
I’ve said it many times and will continue to say it.
The one thing fans seem to find the hardest to do that would have more impact than any other action taking place now.
The suits could not possibly survive a month or two of empty stands home & away.
Every camera would show the evidence, every commentator & pundit would be forced to discuss the reasons behind it, every week.
Everything other action is invisible, behind the scenes, sure it has impact but a blind eye can be turned.
Even if everyone bought their ST’s and bought the merch, not going to the games would be the strongest message that could be sent to the suits because everyone would have to start asking questions, and they just simply couldn’t ignore the UK media the way they ignore the fans.
No bums on seats, that’s the way to really hammer it home in a way that just simply could not be ignored.
Definitely a bad move with O’Neil. Just a yes man now. To old to argue.
I agree with Bhoy4life, but it’s hard to stay away from Celtic park for me it’s a family day out with our 4 season tickets in the main stand and to be honest I don’t know if I can do that. On MN blaming agents the issue is MN he needs to have a good look at himself why they don’t want to deal with him from previous transfers windows and how he has acted. And as for getting players to play in Glasgow, there doesn’t seem to be a problem at the other side of the city. Please get you act together and act like a proper football club board I don’t know how your not embarrassed
Asking politely won’t do it Terry. I, like you, renewed my season ticket simply because I have had it a long time and like where I sit. If I lose it I lose it for good. We will be there long after these parasites are gone, as we have been before, however I am more than willing to boycott. It is quite simply the only way. They cannot survive empty stands.
There must be boycotts of ALL games until they are gone. Or we may as well sit down, pay the money and shut the fuck up. Like they believe all scummy CUSTOMERS should.
aye..dont give up your family day oot…if thats the attitude of the majority of the support best we just shut up and keep takin it up the ronsen..ill no set foot back in the place till these cretins are gone
Nothing will embarrass Nicholson or Desmond they don’t care about Celtic football club they only care about Celtic plc and will sell off our best assets and bank the money Celtic business club is our new name folks
I’m wondering why the CSCs didn’t tell the spineless to stand up for the travelling fans and say no to matche times being moved to accommodate everyone but Celtic fans.
I checked the Glasgow City council site for licenced events on 1 and 2 of August and there were none listed, so someone at Celtic park is telling porkies.
The usual playbook of evasions, half truths and lazy excuses we’ve heard so many times before. As you say, other teams in smaller, unattractive leagues find solutions to these ‘problems’ and our Board should as well – that’s what they are paid for. I guarantee you playing 8 games in the CL league format would be a massive selling point to almost every player out there not already at a CL club. But, we all know Fritzl will make no effort to ensure Celtic get there.
The board don’t give a toss about empty stands or otherwise, they care only about one thing, cash. Sometimes you need to be prepared to sacrifice to save the thing you love, and unfortunately our fans cannot do that, as they are terrified of losing their season tickets.
So in a nutshell, no pain no gain, suck it up, this is your Celtic.
Why does Martin O’Neill need to ‘advise ‘ the board that the club is in dire need of new recruits ? Are they all so apathetic ? Blind to the truth ? So far detached from reality ? What then ? Do they pick up their information and current situation from their preferred media partners as in the daily Record and that equally God awful publication -The Scottish Sun when Martin is concentrating on the football stuff ? Memo to the invisible man Nicholson ! Stop low balling on transfer fees . By all means get a good deal but continually ripping the piss out of agents and players with Pawn broker prices is a shambles. You need to ‘up your game ‘ big time as any reputation you may have left is dwindling …fast . Just like your two preferred media partners !
As seen by the comments here Celtic supporters are split in their opinions of the way forward…
Some – Not another penny…
Some – I can’t bear to give up ma season ticket…
Both have valid points – But both are meat and drink to The Brit policy of – Divide and Conquer…
And your chairman is Labour to the core and this therefore places him as an Uber Brit loving Butchers Apron flag shagger and very much part of The Parkhead Divide and Conquer strategy…
Tragic is the only description of what The Celtic I once truly loved has become under Brian ‘Butchers Apron ‘ also Lucan and Sly McKay !
Face it season tickets is the only weapon the support has ,but there’s too many factions wanting a sniff at the boards balls for sort of change to happen ,the board picked the AICSC for a reason ,they comply with them and not ask any questions
well done your now joined the ranks of the affiliation and association ,yeez can all suckle at Desmonds teet , the clubs fkd and will stay that way every season is rinse and repeat and it’s all the supports fault ,as long as we were winning nobody wanted ask questions even while we were downsizing every year ,the acadamy shot to shit ,never seen so many young players wanting away as quick as they can
So no matter how many columns are written it won’t change a thing because representatives of the wider base support want to be feeding off the scraps of the board