1st November 2026; Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Falkirk versus Celtic;
One full time video clip highlights the deep divide that is running straight through Celtic Football Club.
While Chris McKay was enjoying hospitality in the Falkirk boardroom the Celtic players were in the firing line.
Less than 800 tickets were given to away fans at Falkirk as Celtic crashed to their first SPFL defeat on the road since Tannadice in March.
Spectacularly that 2-0 defeat seemed to kick start a reaction as a down and almost out Celtic reeled off seven wins to take the SPFL title.
Today’s side looked a million miles away from being title winners. Even amid the dross that is the SPFL Premiership. Where two teams that lost out in the UEFA Conference League Play Off round will contest the first trophy of the season.
Normally at the end of away matches there is a special connect between players and supporters. Not today.
THE DEEP RIFT SPLITTING CELTIC APART
During the first half there had been chants of Sack The Board and against Dermot Desmond. At the final whistle the players were in the firing line and they knew it.
The players stood well well back from the fans. Outside the 18 yard box as they avoided any close contact as abuse was hurled in their direction.
@fast_sin Players are being hung out to dry by the people above them. Recruitment been terrible and we’ve not got a proper coaching staff
— Jamie (@JMcD_11) November 1, 2026
Individually the players aren’t to blame for the issues that have made Celtic almost a broken club.
But with a Board led by a CEO that hasn’t said a single word in public in 2026 the players are the most visible front of the club.
As the players faced the music Martin O’Neill was conjuring up his excuses and deflections. He reminded the media that Celtic were top of the league and could have scored seven goals.
Scott Bain apparently had the game of his life. Almost every save from the Falkirk keeper was one that you’d expect him to make, Celtic provided him with show-reel material.
What Mika Baur and Haissem Hassan make of the full time reaction is anyone’s guess. It might be next year or the year after but neither will be at Celtic as they develop their careers elsewhere.
With the club deciding to treat supporters with a combination of contempt and arrogance relations are going to be much worse.
The commercial machine of the club will be stepping up activities in the next eight weeks as they go for the bank accounts of customers.
Not Another Penny has set the ball rolling. Starting with matches on Thursday and Sunday attendances at Celtic Park of over 40,000 are likely to become a novelty with an unofficial novelty underway.
Should Celtic sack Martin O'Neill and his coaching staff?
NO- Keep the faith, trust the process
YES- The club is clueless at every level
The fact is, MON was correct. We should have scored a few. You would have put your house on Nygren burying that rebound.
Combined with the fact Falkirk were gifted a goal, a manager would be forgiven for thinking that the luck just wasn’t with them on the day.
But here we have a pattern established, and that pattern is “there is no pattern” and everybody I know and speak to who has watched these performances sees the same thing. No discernible tactics, no visible plan of attack, no cohesive and collective defending.
Players out injured, players coming back from injury, no settled front 3, no settled back 4, no settles keeper, and a lightweight midfield orchestrated by a guy who is blowing bubbles.
These are managerial decisions, not board decisions. I think the board have been derelict in their duty of care to the club, but team selections and tactics are down to the manager and coaching staff.
MON was right about “should have” scored a load of goals, but this is his team, and his tactics, as selected by him. And the buck eventually stops with him one way or another.
The aggregate of the last three matches is 4-5 against average but organised opponents.
A pattern is established.
We are in for more of the same if this management team remains in place.
Listen, don’t like seeing that but maybe some players need to know what is and isn’t acceptable. Also, CCV did his talking in the press a few weeks back then couldn’t do a basic bit of defending here. Was that MONs fault for not telling him what to do? We need change from top to bottom (Inc Manager) but the players need to step up as well. Not good enough