Speaking to Sky Sports on Sunday, Martin O’Neill denied he had any legacy at Celtic to worry about, too modest by far. When he walked around Hampden after the 2005 Scottish Cup Final we knew the most impactful manager since Jock Stein, whom O’Neill referenced on Sunday, was leaving us to an uncertain future.
That parting was bitter sweet. A week earlier a calamitous performance at Motherwell saw the league title slip away in the dying minutes of the game. A squad which lost Henrik Larsson a year earlier looked more than a tad unfit. Celtic’s squad was too old, cost millions more than our income could pay for and needed an overhaul.
It is incomprehensible that Martin has enhanced his considerable Celtic legacy since returning as manager in October. A league challenge which was dented by defeats to Dundee and Hearts is back on track, as are our Europa League progression chances. Players who were regarded as bit parts have delivered, and in Callum Osmand we even got a glimpse of an exciting young talent. It is as though we were being driven around in a Honda Civic, and upgraded to a Ferrari.
Football fans want the fairytale ending. This didn’t happen for Martin in 2005, his victory lap at Hampden was mostly with head bowed, still shaken from the previous week. There will be a heightened appetite among the crowd for the win tomorrow night to allow the great man to say his farewells in appropriate style. No matter how much you or I want the win, Martin will want it more.
203 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- »
Celtic F.C. v Dundee F.C.
William Hill Premiership
03/12/2025 7:45pm Celtic Park
Referee:Duncan Nicolson
AR1
David McGeachie
AR2
Alastair Taylor
VAR
Andrew Dallas
AVAR
Peter Stuart
I’m not a huge fan of the celtic board. Poor communication, lack of ambition outside of scotland, and poor management of conflict.
Having said that, those GB members who continue to tarnish our name are childish and entitled “fans” who should be banned for life. Those seats would gladly be accepted by many fans on the wait list for season tickets. I like some of what the GB does and brings to Celtic – but this is a battle they cannot and will not win – the only end game here is a total ban on that entire section. Get your act together, connect with the board and agree on a path forward where you abide by the rules (if you dont like the rules – stop going to the games) .
The board, as much as I’m disgusted with their handling of this situation and others, hold the cards – unless GB can convince Celtic fans to not buy tickets and merch. Not going to happen as the scale that would really impact.
Finally – welcome Nancy! I dont get a good feeling about this one, I think the Scottish media will wind him up and he will bite (seen a few of his interviews where he get too emotional). If we ‘re taking a risk – I’d rather we go for the Motherwell manager. he has that team playing beautiful competitive football with very limited resources.
Celtic F.C. v Heart of Midlothian F.C.
William Hill Premiership
07/12/2025 3:00pm Celtic Park
Referee:Don Robertson
AR1
David Roome
AR2
Ross Macleod
VAR
Greg Aitken
AVAR
Dan McFarlane
Whose seat does DD get when he appears ? Maybe the next time he popes up, they should give him one of the GB 2’s seats.
The GB have done more for Celtic around the world than any of the entitled in the comfy seats. The board holding the cards is something I’ve heard somewhere before involving the some of the scummiest human beings to ever walk the planet.
The Celtic Board acting like Huns —- like many others I will not give them one thin dime.
They are despised now by a huge section of the support.
DD & co need to go.
Not defending the plc as an ownership model – but I am not sure what is being proposed as the alternative?
DD could buy out the whole shebang – that might be a more ‘honest’ way to exert his autocratic authority – but I am not sure that will change anything except things are likely to be even less transparent.
Someone else might buy us all out – who knows with what motivation?
Fan ownership – not going to happen unless we go bust.
In 2000 Celtic paid £500k in dividends off the back of a £30+ Million turnover.
In 2025 Celtic paid that same £500k in dividends off the back of a £130+ Million turnover.
For sure DD has seen the value of his ‘asset’ increase – but not sure where the cash cow argument is coming from?
I don’t know anyone who will agree with the likes of Lucky Cody. Celtic means more to them than the Green Brigade.
Jolly sporting of Crew to keep quiet on their gaffer flying over to Scotland to start a new job having presumably already terminated his contract with them.
The statement released by Celtic FC earlier today should leave no one in any doubt that for the most part The Green Brigade have had priveleged access to tickets, both match and season, and to the Club itself. The safe standing section, a template for clubs South of the border, was achieved largely as a result of the persistent efforts, not of the CT or the GB but of a Celtic FC led by Peter Lawwell. (The Board has also made it clear that it is open to to the idea expanding it). CSCs are also well looked after by Celtic FC in terms of the provision of match tickets. In return there has been an increase in villification and animus towards the Board, by amongst others, the CT, who also have access to the Club, and by the Collective, much of it fuelled by the departed manager, and in particular by the GB and the North Curve whose position is now one approaching malevolence, the type of which was roundly condemned by Ross Desmond at the AGM. That said if the Hearts game at the weekend is indeed sold out, and the Roma match not far behind, it appears that the vast majority of those attending do so in support of a Celtic which is moving, slowly, madly and deeply in the right direction. And lets hope our new manager continues that, and if he is indeed now on Board my message to him is…Allons Y!
Will the new manager not be up against it trying to lift players in a library stadium?
What is the thinking here?
Ignorance?
Incoherent?
A new need to throw games because Rodgers isny here to do it? lol
Or sabotage again from the PLC?
Give Nancy an undisclosed deal and a golden envelope instructed to fail so that wee Shaun gets the gig in the summer?
Who knows with all of these Mason’s running Celtic?
Or finally a much needed kick up the erchie for the GB?
Chucking Tangerines then 10 minutes later answering Ireland’s call from the hills & glens. lol
If you sing about Ireland from 100 years ago and say ZERO about today’s 2025 Ireland then they are Rebels from their Maws basements.
Maybe their da’s are virtue signalers who don’t even know what Ireland 2025 looks like?
The unlearning fans will go on unlearning.
Will players unlearn the MON way to learn the Nancy way, whatever that is?
Any team playing tippy tappy deserves to be handed their erchies.
Jist because.
HH
oot.
Kev Racist
What is the thinking there?
Brown people? Black People?
What’s your thinking there?
Is George grifting to the racist vote?lol
Good little unionist puppet is George,so wants to kneel to take his….oath…from his majesty .I see your fellow flegsookers/racistscum are raging in Belfast with the Palestinian flag flying over city hall.
Hahaha
Chap who disnae leave Blant’R
Giving us his range of words learned today.
Thanks kevvi
I think your grifter millionaire will start sending you money as his wurkuz party is down the shiter now Jeremy will hoover up the real left…you know those who have not defaulted to blaming black or brown people for being of crippled mind in Blant’R
Maolmuire O Muirgheasa on 2nd December 2025 9:01 pm
I think you are elucidating something i have long suspected.
====
I think your narrative has an element of truth in it when you refer to competitiveness, but it could be expanded to cover the SPFL as other clubs would have faced financial difficulty had Rangers been lost to the game.
So it wasnt about saving Rangers in 2012 it was about saving the then SPL who were signatories to the 5WA.
Sure Celtic accepted the 5WA when it was circulated to SPL clubs, but in the covering letter was a note that if not accepted quickly The SPFL might have been unable to bring the misregistration charges against Rangers that LNS was then set up to investigate.
Set up is the right term to use as it transpired, LNS was a sham and its all covered in the Res12 Archive.
Even if Celtic had not accepted the 5WA all other clubs who depended on the blue pound for survival would have accepted, so it was not within Celtic’s power to prevent the SPL accepting.
The overriding point that covers your narrative is that football as an industry is interdependent and it is in no clubs interest to see any significant source of income another club brings to disappear from the game.
Also: there would be no hate to package if supporters did not feel it, which challenges the idea Celtic are solely responsible for the hate. They packaged it but did not create it.
That is why to use your words I “sermonise” about love as metanoia always comes from within. Mine came at Ibrox when I was 16/17.
Further: I would be interested to know how you arrived at the £8m Directors have received in dividends.
I was wondeeing how this outflow was recorded in the accounts and the most recent was £0.52m. which might be the basis of the £8m over 20 years you mention.
Even so £8m would not buy an Engles so is not a CL differentiator really.
Having said all that I think the point that Celtic do not spend as much as the FSR ceiling allows because the gap between Celtic if we participated in CL one season after another and the rest if the SPFL would turn it into a one horse race which kills competition has merit.
Todays game v Dundee will be a sellout as will Saturdays v Hearts
If we get any points from Roma the boycott of the EL for final game will see no seat unfilled.
That is what competition does and perhaps we all have to get used to it, make the best of it and learn to enjoy what is and stop raging against what isnt.
The Board act on the basis of the interdependent nature of football and the value of competition.
I realised that over the years beginning in 2013 to 2022 but if everyone does what is left to package?
How about, and I sermonise, what is good about Celtic based not on hate or fear but love?
We will get there in time.
KevJungle on 2nd December 2025 6:41 pm
Auldheid on 2nd December 2025 4:44 pm
Bleating for more money is what Tories or spoiled children do.
Spending more money IS NOT the answer
====
You seem to have my point that withdrawing income is self defeating.
However having read some if your other theories I withdraw the suggestion you are dim and replace it with one my father said to me.
” Yer heid is full of broken motors son”
And there are times that I think he might be right.
Dont take me too seriously.
Maolmuire O Muirgheasa on 2nd December 2025 9:01 pm
Superb post needs no further additions or not those who love the spotlight attempting to hijack the limelight
post of 2025
Cap doffed as they say in these here parts, usually in deference to the board
I will be in the North Stand tonight ready to applaud MON and why not
No one knew for sure how the MON appointment would go, that the wise intelligent knowledgable winner would guide the team back to success, indeed if those who made the temp appointment knew for certain MON would be a success this season, Brother Walfried wouldn’t have arrived last night
have a good day
COYBIG
TIM MALONE WILL TELL on 2ND DECEMBER 2025 4:05 PM
So let me see if I have got this right…
1. Arne Engels is a BR signing…not a club signing…BR having convinced the board to spend £11 million.
1A – Having identified the player the Celtic exec manage to feck up a deal negotiating upwards in terms of the fee and waiting until the last minute as usual.
1B – Arne plays in almost every game since joining and contributes very well to a successful season including best Euro performance for decades. He is our penalty, corner and set piece taker ( not bad for a a 21 yo) and scores 11 from memory. Form does dip towards end of the season, not unusual for young players.
1C – despite the above 1B a campaign of negativity appears via the media, certain blogs and certain poster. The same applies to colleagues Trusty and Idah the narrative being that they are all rubbish, a waste of money and the manager responsible for that should not be allowed to buy new players – all of this despite being a whisker away from a treble and beating B Munich with these terrible players?
1D – negative narrative grows as some supporters follow the media and blog led agenda both using it as stick to beat Celtic and the manager. Unsurprisingly Engels and Idahs confidence falls of a cliff and performances dip leading to more time on the bench.
2. Arne isn’t developing as expected (wonder why?) so to save the boy from everyone’s displeasure, BR gives him a permanent place on the bench as a magnanimous gesture – even though we are playing terribly.
3. Meanwhile, Calmac is wearing out the 18 yard line – and occasionally the centre Circle – doing his ‘Peter the Pointer’ impersonation.
4.MON & Shaun come in, play Arne, move Calmac further up the pitch to good effect – but everything that went before is the boards fault?
I think that is the gist
I just fixed that for you – filling in the bits you missed 👍🏻
The question I’ve been asking for months is where did the negativity on Arne ( and others) come from and why? These players were rubbished when the evidence said otherwise and has subsequently been proved by Arne and Austin so where did it come from? The media loved it and certain blogs and posters were hugely enthusiastic in there condemnation of the players and the guy that supposedly bought them. Anyway go do the math and see what answers you come up with
M17
Good Morning Fholk – Grand Day To Be A Tim
Maolmuire O Muirgheasa @ 9:01 pm,
Excellent post…
Great finale in prospect tonight – Martin and the bhoys will take us top of the league.
Celtic 3 – 0 Dundee
COYBIG
Hail Hail
Monsieur Nancy,est-il arrive?Non?Mon Dieu.Pourquoi cest retard?
Mr Nancy is a God from the series,American Gods.A little know fact.
At the moment ,,an invisible God.
Are’nt they all?
Paging Mr O’ Neil,paging Mr O’ Neil,urgent telephone call from Celtic Park.Please go to a telephone at reception.
Good morning CQN.
Game day.
This one feels to me like it has come around quickly from the last.
Really looking forward to a veritable glut of Celtic games.
Unfair on the players though.
Plus, the squad is not in wonderful shape.
I don’t expect December to be smooth.
Miracle cures for injuries / January transfer window both unavailable to mitigate.
In these difficult circumstances its amazing what can be achieved by players who, while not playing spectacularly, at least appear to be enjoying coming to work.
I think MON deserves more credit for that than for anything else he has done in the last month.
11 hours to kick off.
Bring it on.
Stebhoy,
Just how do the GB,” Tarnish our name”.They have launched our club to global recognition,in their unflinching support of Palestine.News,newspapers,supporters groups all over,mentioning our clubs supporters with admiration.
Fooodbank collections,going to replenish empty foodbank shelves,at Xmas.Presents for kids who would have none.Only a passing mention from the Media,who influence fans like you with their negative stories.They are Ultras.A form of fan base every club now has.We have,good ones.
When I look around the world,I know whos side I would rather be on.
Good morning all.
Maolmuire O Muirgheasa on 2nd December 2025 9:01 pm
Spot on. Been banging the drum on this for 6 or 7 years now. Feels like some are now waking up and smelling the coffee. Don’t detect the will to change it though.
M17
Young Arne is a really good player and for me would be in the team every week. I suspect you’re assigning too much influence to blogs , noise etc as to how the manager sets out the team, if I’m reading your last correctly.
The issue with Arne that we bought a very good player but Brendan failed to get the best out of him and had difficulty fitting him into the team setup. We went through a spell with Arne wide left in midfield and then benched , brought back for Euro games , all down to the manager.
As a club we can’t shell out £11m for a player and not fully integrate him into the team , it’s ridiculous. It’s smacks of lack proper planning by the manager.
Letslookforwardcfc
GlassTwoThirdsFull on 3rd December 2025 9:25 am
Maolmuire O Muirgheasa on 2nd December 2025 9:01 pm
“Spot on. Been banging the drum on this for 6 or 7 years now. Feels like some are now waking up and smelling the coffee. Don’t detect the will to change it though.”
Do we want it to change? As he said in his post, and as Kevin Bridges said, “Scottish Football is a 2 horse race, take away the Huns and it becomes Show Jumping!”
We are srtuck with this as there is no other way to keep the sponsors we have and the monies that accrue because of this, por cierto
Log in
Go to most recent page of comments
Log in
Repeat
I wonder of those 2 diddies BR signed,Trusty and Engels will play tonight?
The Battered Bunnet
When you login and go the the newest page of comments and it looks like you need to log in again
Just refresh the page and the comments box appears
Think it must be the server cache showing the last page accessed to try and speed up the site……
the battered bunnet
When I log back in I always make a point of posting on Page 1 of the most recent blog.
Not surefire, not even surestart but it does seem to work….
Not sure how or why though
Celtic Mac,
I do the very same. It usually works.
One year ago this blog lost a titan
Setting free the bears.
Still missed badly my friend.
Rip Tony 🙏
Maolmuire O Muirgheasa on 2nd December 2025 9:01 pm
I enjoyed reading that, well played.
It’s a small point maybe, but the ‘dividend’ is paid only on the Convertible Cumulative Preference shares issued by Fergus way back when to build the stadium. As you know, Celtic has never declared a dividend on Ordinary shares.
CCP shares are in effect a perpetual loan, paying out 6% per year (3.6p per share) and are now classed as Debt for the purposes of reporting standards.
There is a Scrip dividend reinvestment scheme which allows shareholders to receive Ordinary shares in lieu of CCP dividend payments which only a very small minority of shareholders utilise.
There are about 15 million CCPs issued, of which Desmond owns about 5 million.
It’s worth noting that Desmond receives his CCP divi each year – about £185,000 – despite there being a) An instrument to convert them to Ordinary shares that he elects not to utilise, and b) Absolutely no need for this classification of shares anymore in terms of the funding of the company. Worth adding that the shareholders could elect to dissolve the CCPs by way of a buyback, but it has never been mooted and divi turkeys don’t vote for Christmas, do they…
Of course, were Desmond to elect to convert his shares as he has a right to do, or indeed to participate in the SCRIP scheme, it would serve to further increase his control of the company. He currently has about 40% of the voting rights already; converting his CCPs would take that to about 44%.
It’s a legacy of the model Fergus used to refund Celtic in the 90s, and relatedly, to the decision at the 2004 share issue to permit Desmond to increase his shareholding above 30% without triggering a formal bid for the company. This despite the share issue being oversubscribed, meaning Desmond’s additional purchase taking him over the 30% threshold wasn’t necessary.
And here we are, twenty, thirty years later.
Anyway, hopelessly long scribble for such a small point. Sorry.
Thanks for your post.
An Tearmann
Tony was such a well balanced compassionate human being .
I’m sure his loss will be deeply felt by his family.
TT
TinyTim
Indeed TT, remiss of me forgetting his wife and family at this time.
HH
TBB and Moisey17
I am sure that Engels and Trusty will play against Dundee – as they should.
Not sure why Engels wasn’t playing at the start of the season – but he sure didn’t look too happy (along with several others). I really don’t buy the idea that BR was ‘resting him’ – but can accept that is just my opinion.
I think that people tie themselves in knots trying to justify their opinion – all I can say is that MON & Shaun have taken BR’s team, made a few tactical tweaks, and things seem to have improved significantly in terms of both performance and morale.
P.S. I don’t love the board.