Michael Nicholson will face the Celtic Fans Collective on Monday.
Ahead of the planned 29 minute silence for the Europa League match against Braga, the Celtic CEO reached out to members of the Collective to break his self imposed silence.
That invite marks an incredible success for the Collective.
It came less than a month after North Curve Celtic first published the open letter that all major fan groups rallied around.
Everyone involved in any way with the Collective can take heart from this development.
Every fan who stood on the concourse at Rugby Park, held up their banner at Firhill, kept silent against Hibs last Saturday – well done.
REAL CHANGE AT CELTIC
This is only the beginning of course.
The Collective was formed to push for real change at Celtic – not just a cuppa in the boardroom and a warm handshake.
And fans have to trust the representatives attending the meeting on Monday that they know how to play this game.
It was interesting that the club did not appear to reach out to the Collective itself but instead chose to contact individual groups within it.
Invites went out to the big three Supporters Associations as well as the Celtic Disabled Supporters Association, Bhoys Celtic, The Green Brigade, The Celtic Trust and CSCs from the North of Ireland,
Organisations that know what they are doing, understand who they are representing and the depth of feeling among their members.
GIVERS V TAKERS
The fact that these representatives attend games among fellow Celtic fans gives them a huge advantage over Michael Nicholson straight away.
One side of the table consistently contribute to Celtic be it financially, vocally and visibly – the other side only withdraw.
The millionaire executives have no concept of sweating over getting match tickets, worrying if the next inevitable season ticket price hike will finally make it unaffordable or getting kettled by the boys in Blue for no reason on the way to a game.
All in the room will be Celtic fans but with completely different experiences of supporting Celtic.
Perhaps the powers that be at Celtic Park couldn’t quite bring themselves to contact the Celtic Fans Collective directly, knowing full well the organisation only came into being as a result of their utter incompetency.
They used the same tactic when they were finally ready to release the Fairhurst Inquiry – send out invites to members of the Collective, but not the Collective itself.
LONG ROAD AHEAD
Progress is going to be slow – but at least it has finally started.
Given their utterly appalling attitude towards having any sort of relationship with us fans, it’s fair to assume the board have not come to this point willingly.
Dragged kicking and screaming would be more appropriate.
I would guess the club’s attitude to Mondays meeting will be along the lines of ‘How little do we need to do here to get this mob buying Europa League Tickets and Larsson watches again?’
Anything more constructive would be a bonus, and a shock.
But the need for change is glaringly obvious.
STRUGGLES ON THE PARK
The team is currently struggling, badly.
The January transfer window is going to have to deliver the quality that was not added in the summer, as well as a replacement for Diazen Maeda, and possibly more.
We can’t afford to go into it with the same shambolic recruitment set up that failed so miserably in the summer.
But one thing is absolutely clear – it is entirely up to the current club regime to deliver what is required, on all fronts.
All of the pressure is on the Celtic board and the executives.
The Celtic Fans Collective will go in there to fight for what the fans want.
But it is not their responsibility to force club employees to deliver a good transfer window, fan engagement, share a long term vision for the club.
Nicholson, Chris McKay and Peter Lawwell should have been doing all these things for years as a matter of course.
RELATED READING
8 minutes, Nicholson- to be world class in everything that we do.
4 Comments
by Dan
Great words to begin an article
“I would guess” which means and shows the article is all about your opinion and it certainly reads that way.
I agree the board have failed in many areas and change is required but change is required on both sides of the fence.
You have pointed out many failings by the board but failed to point out where there are failings on the fans side
Banners and flags being flown at matches along with pyro that cost the club ten of thousands in fines every year
Supporters cramming into areas which they have no tickets for
And the list could go on.
Perhaps in your next article you could write about how you think changes could be most for everyone without a bias
by Editor
Ah Dan Dan, the PLC fan.
You are only going to get uncomfortable reading on here, if you want to read about how wonderful your corporate heroes are head back to the comfort zone of CQN.
Are you getting excited for the Lennon/Maloney/ Wilson management dream team with Marky bhoy returning to head up recruitment?
by Brendan McHugh
Hi Dan
Yes this piece is my opinion.
But unlike the people that run Celtic, I am prepared to put my name to my views.
The need for a bigger standing section is clear to see. The fans presented a proposal for increased standing in the “Celtic end” – the club ignored it.
Loads of enthusiastic young Celtic fans that want to support their team by standing, singing and waving flags – what’s the problem?
As for what goes on in the north curve – dialogue could sort that out. But one party has been in a huff and not willing to speak about anything – the Celtic board.
The banner on Thursday was a credit to the club, in my opinion.
The failings are on the side of the board and executives, in my opinion, and I have no qualms about pointing that out.
Can you tell me any opinion or view that is held by any member of the Celtic board on any subject?
by Che
Stop giving them money they need the fans we don’t need or want them