Two nights after the Celtic Fans Collective invited supporters to boycott Saturday’s match against Dundee Brian Wilson has appealed for unity. Again.
Last time he mentioned unity it was in the statement announcing the return of Martin O’Neill as interim manager. Again.
The Collective quickly published an open letter to the interim Chairman which was acknowledged.
WILSON- 100% A POLITICIAN
The fans group then suggested three dates to have a meeting to find ways forward to provide O’Neill and the players with the backing that they need.
That was completely ignored. Wilson has spent most of January writing opinion pieces for The Scotsman that are highly critical of the Scottish Government.
In any circumstances that isn’t a wise move for a Celtic Chairman to take. Even more so with the SNP expected to be successful at the May Holyrood elections. Again.
Against Falkirk on Sunday Wilson watched 90% of those inside Celtic Park stand up to announce how much they hate the Celtic board.
That action and the vote from the Collective have clearly shaken the Celtic Chairman.
Tonight he spoke to Gerry McCulloch to come up with a five minute plea for Celtic TV.
THE INTERIM CHAIRMAN SAID
When I did that interview I spoke about unity and I spoke specifically about unity within the stadium.
I don’t expect the issues to go away suddenly but what I did ask for was to get unity behind the team.
Let’s sort these issues. I am in no way dismissing them or marginalising them. We want to engage with them.
But short term it is imperative to support the team and it’s up to each individual to make a decision on whether a boycott insider or outside of the stadium helps that.
What I can say is that I do accept there hasn’t been enough engagement as I would have liked over the past month for a range of reasons, but mainly because of the focus of the transfer window.
What I can say is that we have reached out to all fan groups and we hope these meetings will take place over the next week.
There is no reluctance on my part to engage and I hope that can be put that into practise soon.
Unity in the ground is one thing. We won’t agree on everything to do with these issues but we can talk about them.
But don’t let it distract from what’s going on inside the stadium. That’s all I’m asking for.
What I want to see is a full Celtic Park with a great atmosphere and everyone getting behind the team.
GREEN BRIGADE SUSPENSION
Wilson has a very easy quick win decision to make. Lift the suspension of the Green Brigade.
Based on four fans facing a Breach of the Peace charge Celtic have suspended 245 Season Ticket holders.
Celtic Park is generally quiet, without the Green Brigade it has all the noise, colour and atmosphere of a library.
Tonight’s interview is to appeal to fans wavering over whether or not to attend on Saturday.
Rather than sharing soundbites with McCulloch, Wilson could have been meeting members of the Collective.
As events of this week have confirmed Labour politicians aren’t to be trusted. What they say and do can often be completely different.
The Green Brigade should be back on Saturday on complimentary tickets.
Anything else leaves Wilson as shallow and compromised as his good friend Peter Mandelson.
NOTE: Wilson’s invite for talks and meetings was to various groups, NOT the Collective. The usual divide and conquer tactics.
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4 Comments
by Dan
Your piece is very biased towards getting what you want and giving nothing back. The Chairman has offered to meet supporters groups and is a step in the right direction. He hasn’t offered to meet the Collective you say and rightly so why should he? They have 19-22 leaders who wont show their faces publicly and as much as they say they represent 400 supporters units it has yet to be proven that every supporter within these units approve of the Collective.
The Collective want answers to questions that no PLC will give out anywhere in any line of business which clearly shows the lack of knowledge on how a PLC operates by the 19-22 leaders.
If you take 400 units with an average of 40 members per unit means they represent 16000 supporters. They had less than 2000 at their last march and it will be interesting to see how many back their boycott and attend Celtic Park on Saturday. I would bet my mortgage that they wont have anywhere near 16000 backing them which will be a reflection on how highly thought of they are.
They also screwed the AGM for genuine shareholders which showed how they have no respect for other supporters never mind the board.
I’m no happy clapper and want a change of leadership like most Celtic supporters and will always support the manager and the players
by Editor
Apart from your elderly mates on Celtic Quick News there is no support for your corporate heroes- O** F*** PLC.
Did you look around at the Falkirk match as 90% joined in STAND UP IF YOU HATE THE BOARD?
That level of hatred applies to you, the happy clappers, CQN and the scattered group of spineless apologists devoted to the Gospel of big Peter.
by Sean
F#ck off you a@@hole, no divide and conquering! Tell him where to go
by Hightower
He needs to grow some balls and meet the issues head on. I always thought Wilson was a celtic man through and through but he is proving to be a yes man. Not a surprise when you see what else is happening with the labour party these days- showing themselves to be historically untrustworthy. Time to move aside Brian and take wee mike and the rest with you. We deserve better and need new ideas and new people in charge