‘A shameless attempt at deflection’ ‘Utterly depressing how this board treats fans’ ‘self sabotage once again’ Celtic fans react to latest Green Brigade ban

Celtic have turned shooting themselves in the foot into an art form.

Truly, under Michael Nicholson the club is world class at self destruction.

Under Brendan Rodgers the hoops CEO went overboard as he attempted a managed decline.

Even Peter Lawwell would have backed off from selling Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn while preparing for a £40m Champions League qualifier.

Nicholson went further. No attempt was made at signing replacements. Brendan Rodgers faced Kairat Almaty while his boss was trying to sell off Adam Idah, Daizen Maeda and Yang Hyun-jun.

September and October was a period of misery, on and off the pitch. On October 27 Rodgers resigned. More than five weeks later Celtic remain manager-less.

SPOKESMAN O’NEILL

After failing to deliver a new manager during the international break every Martin O’Neill media conference has been turned into a management update.

Last week the interim manager pointed heavily to the Hibs match as his final one in charge. Ahead of the Easter Road clash O’Neill revealed that paperwork meant that he would be staying on.

At lunchtime today O’Neill moved even closer to his exit. He said that the Dundee match would be his last, Celtic said nothing.

Sky Sports had the video clip on Twitter before 2pm. Every hour passed without word from Celtic, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm.

But there was an announcement that Celtic were ready to make. Sadly a predictable and depressing subject. Further punishment for the Green Brigade, indefinitely.

SEASON OF GOODWILL?

O’Neill has bought the club time and a little goodwill.

He has retained an interest in the Europa League, two home wins in the SPFL Premiership will take Celtic into top position.

A new manager could be a new beginning. Some of the edge could be taken from the protests of the Celtic Fans Collective.

Instead the vindictiveness action against the Green Brigade has galvanised opposition to the Board.

Any chance of seasonal goodwill has been blown. Regardless of the result of the League Cup Final Santa won’t be required at Celtic Park this month.

Under Rodgers it seemed that the club was on a course of managed decline.

Five weeks after his exit nothing has changed. It seems to be a cross between self destruction and a scorched earth policy.

No wonder O’Neill is in a rush to get out of town, back to the tranquillity of TalkSPORT and Sky Sports News.