Celtic’s iron grip on media activity was extended to Dublin last night.
‘New’ manager Martin O’Neill was in charge for the first time since his appointment was confirmed on June 11.
There hasn’t been an introduction media conference for O’Neill. That seems to have been planned for the benefit of Michael Nicholson who dodged out of the December introduction of Wilfried Nancy.
After 33 days Nicholson was sacking the hopeless Frenchman and his mate Paul Tisdale.
That episode seems to have totally spooked Celtic.
A visit from double winners Celtic to Dublin ought to be a significant event. Managed by Martin O’Neill it was the perfect opportunity to project the club to a sympathetic audience.
Right now Rico Lopes of Shamrock Rovers is a bigger name, attracting bigger crowds and more media attention in Dublin.
Just 6,576 fans turned up at Tolka Park last night.
Celtic’s disdain for fans and fan media has been long established.
The club is much more comfortable in their relationship with legacy media outlets.
As long as they keep boardroom criticism to a minimum they are given access to all things around the club.
Pre and post match media conferences, speaking to managers and players to fill those awkward spaces as print circulation disappears down the pan.
And when required they break the EXCLUSIVES.
On June 5 at 5pm the Daily Record, Scottish Sun and Herald/Glasgow Times/Celtic Way all got the news that Martin O’Neill had agreed a 12 month deal to become manager.
On June 11 the club confirmed that news. Finally on June 27 Celtic broadcast the new manager being interviewed by Gerry McCulloch for Celtic TV.
CELTIC KEEP THEIR PLANS SECRET AND IN-HOUSE
There are dozens of burning questions around Celtic at the moment. Issues that the club is in hiding from.
Pre-match O’Neill spoke to the new Celtic-Player and Premier Sports.
The interview with Celtic Player was surprisingly revealing.
We have a number of players that we are looking at.
We’ve had a number of offers in for players as well too at the same time.
And I’m hoping in the not too distant future, and I mean maybe in the next couple of weeks, that we will have some really decent players at the football club to add to the very decent players we have at the football club.
That teaser ought to have opened the door for the post match media access. It proved to be as underwhelming as the January transfer window.
It proved to be anything but.
The Daily Record, Sun and Herald/Glasgow Times/Celtic Way all had reporters at Tolka Park last night.
All that they came up with post match was a few quotes on Duran, vague detail on future signings and the squirrel that Yang Hyun-jun will be absent in September. Missing European matches and the September 20 Glasgow Derby is significant but not right now.
It seems that O’Neill’s media conference was very short or that the publishers involved are holding back other comments.
With a week of limited access coming up in Portugal reporters and publishers having to justify costs there may be some juicy O’Neill comments being held back.
AVOIDING THE BIG QUESTIONS
Celtic fans have dozens of big questions to ask of the club.
Such as who is involved and leading recruitment? Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale left on January 5, the January transfer window was yet another disaster.
Does O’Neill expect to have a stronger squad next season?
Will he have most of his recruitment completed in time for the SPFL opener on August 3?
Does he think that the squad will be strengthened and ready for the Champions League Play Off on August 18/19 and 25/26?
Does O’Neill want to sign Marcelo Saracchi and Kelechi Iheanacho?
Why was Reo Hatate not involved against Shelbourne?
Why was the Alex Oxlaid-Chamberlain signing delayed, the midfielder will be almost two weeks behind his team-mates when he joins them in pre-season training.
And will Celtic be net spenders during the summer transfer window? Apparently everyone at the club has learned lessons from last season.
None of those questions were answered last night in Dublin.
FAN ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
It could be almost a week before Celtic fans hear again from O’Neill.
CEO Nicholson has been hiding since giving Celtic TV two interviews in December explaining the brilliance of Wilfried Nancy.
We can expect Unity Wilson to repeat his monthly rallying call ahead of the SPFL opener against Dundee on August 3.
Celtic fans will be left to scan social media and foreign news reports to find out anything about signing new players.
And this is after Chairman Wilson promised a very active few weeks on June 11. Wilson’s main activity seems to be providing opinion pieces for The Scotsman.
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