The Parkhead civil war shows no signs of abating despite clear-the-air talks between the club and a fan delegation – and one Hoops great does not expect hostility to subside anytime soon.
The recent meeting in Parkhead, supposed to calm the air, has merely heightened the tension.
Celtic officials had anticipated that convening a delegation of fans for a talk would help to reduce some of the tension in the current deadlock.
However, it appears that the conference has merely strengthened the battle lines in this ongoing conflict, which has been building since the summer.
The Celtic Fans Collective group’s statement hinted at further protest actions in the coming weeks after not receiving the answers or accountability they sought, claiming that the crucial meeting has further fuelled their demand for change at the club’s management.
Following this, the club issued its own statement, admitting mistakes made during the transfer window and emphasising the need of learning from them, according to the Daily Record.
This type of statement may have been more fitting than the late-night announcement made a few Saturdays earlier, but it appeared to directly contradict the Collective’s narrative of events.
It’s all quite messy, and former Celtic star Chris Sutton admitted on the Record Sport Celtic Podcast that he doesn’t see an end to this internal battle anytime soon.
The hoops legend stated, “First and foremost, I believe that dialogue is beneficial. It is whatever anyone says.
“Who knows what will come out in the minutes because there are so many competing perspectives.
“The fury at the outset of the meeting would have most likely come from supporters who believed the horse had already fled and we were having this meeting now.
“The work should have been completed. The part about the club not accepting any responsibility.
“In fairness, in the statement issued by the club last night, they did admit to faults and acknowledged the fears and dissatisfaction of the fans.
“Maybe that was the statement they should have issued a few weeks ago, with their hands up.
“I believe that would have been more timely than when the horse ran. It is where it leads and where it goes.
“I believe that supporters want to see a head or heads on sticks. I don’t think that will happen.
“I don’t see the fan anger going away at present, which isn’t a good situation for the club to be in.”
The Celtic board may have a rough few months ahead, but Sutton believes there is one surefire way to start healing the rift.
The Hoops must strike decisively as soon as the January transfer window opens.
The Celtics’ current squad is depleted in key positions and uneven elsewhere.
Manager Brendan Rodgers is currently obliged to put things together in Scotland and the Europa League.
Everyone at Celtic is eagerly awaiting the window opening. Sutton stated: “I believe January is a big month for the team. However, in terms of what we are seeing right now, the Europa League will face another challenge on Thursday night.
“Everything is like a perfect storm right now in terms of what’s going on at the top of the club with the fans. And then there’s the playing side.
“And you’ve got a collection of players who, for whatever reason, are far from what they were last season, aren’t connecting, and aren’t clicking.
“It seems like every game is a fight. People will wonder if the win over Motherwell will be a watershed moment, given the late turnaround.
“It simply doesn’t feel that way. Celtic have struggled to perform well this season. In many ways, they’ve been flat-track bullies, defeating teams you’d expect them to beat.
“But then they struggled in the Champions League and the Europa League.” I mean, in Braga the other night, Kasper Schmeichel could have, and should have, done better with the goal.
“Celtic were robbed by the stupid VAR decision. However, the performance fell short.
“It’s not like Celtic play an incredible brand of game, and the other goalkeepers they face every week make hundreds of saves, hitting the VAR, the post, and peppering the goal. It’s tough in the final third.”
Celtic may be struggling, but it’s all about perspective.
The Hoops are undefeated in domestic competition this season, despite needing late victories against St Mirren, Kilmarnock, and Motherwell, and there are signs that things may improve as new players adjust and others return to peak form.
Sutton added: “I suppose the flip side is, taking Europe aside for a moment, I just wonder within the Celtic dressing room and the players whether they’re thinking, ‘blimey, we’ve been ranked rotten this season, but we’re still unbeaten in the league, we’re two points off the top, we’re miles off it, but do you know what? It’s not that horrible.
“‘We’re still very close to Hearts, who everyone is comparing to Real Madrid right now, and the performances will come’.
“I’m just wondering if they feel that way or if it’s simply a lack of quality playing personnel in the final third, as has been the case in prior seasons.
“January is going to be the be-all and end-all for Celtic, because this is going to rumble on.”
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