When I checked my phone this morning it was full of emails and texts about Kevin McKenna’s seminal article in the Observer on the treatment, or lack of it, Neil Lennon experienced during his years in Scotland. It placed a mirror in front of the former Celtic manager, for Scotland to look at its reflection.
The prime targets were not missed: the Scottish Government, the SFA and the conspicuously idle anti-racism bodies, while the “reserved professions”, the Tories and the C of S were marked for historically nurturing anti-Catholic and Irish sentiment in Scotland.
People outside Scotland will read in horror, perhaps tinged with a whiff of moral superiority that their own communities are not similarly afflicted. This, ironically, would reflect the moral superiority many in Scotland viewed the English with last week, as a sizeable minority of their apparently poorly-educated, old and white voters backed candidates who align with racist, misogynistic and homophobe views.
In CQN comments section Scotland has often been parodied as the worst small country in the world, which is absurd. In truth, its panorama of human values vary little from those shared by our neighbours or anywhere across the globe. To think otherwise invests more weight in racial traits than I’m comfortable with.
Order your dedicated copy of Tommy Gemmell’s All the Best at the fancy new CQN Bookstore.
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Well Done…Sir Petec…
Your Precious Vote…
Swung The Seat For Nigel’s People’s Army….
Proud Of You…Wee Man!
Are You Kojo-In-Disguise ?
(ThumbsUp?)
An tearmann,
Hope yer well pal
The singing detective,
Who do ye want as the new manager?
Noo ignore me if ye want. As I said I think ye know a player…
Griffiths,Stokes and Watt wiil destroy what comes in our path.
3 qualifiers.Toffee apples
Is there emdy out there?
Tricoloured Ribbon
01:32 on 26 May, 2014
So you going to Lisbon for the CQN 50th celebration? :-)
HH
CRC
Here we go for ten in a row…
CRC,,
Hello pal.Clydebank again for me mate.Always.
Lisbon…a dream for me comrade
TCR
How many CQN’rs do you think we could get on Rockall?
HH Bud
Kirkcaldy, Lisbon, Clydebank, Rockall…reckon we could do them all :-)
Just speaking to Mrs CRC now for the pass.
HH
CRC
CRC
If you throw in Ben Nevis, we’ll have Aberdour wiped off the calendar in no time :-)
How are the elections going overby Tr?
Peter Robinson,Mike Nesbitt, David Ford,Jim Allister,Alisdair McDonnell,,
your parties are taking a hell of a beating
An tearmann ,
We are literally pasting them
I’m standing on Rockall waiting for ye.
Kinda windy mind ye.http://youtu.be/1maOiysZe-4
CRC,
Magical pal
God bless the wee town that is Winchburgh
Thousands expected at the Zombie protest yesterday…
300 balloons…
The singing detective,
Tony Watt..
Here we go for 8 in a row..
Nearly there..
10 in a row?
http://youtu.be/jmMsWSztHPg
Farewell chaps.Up the Celts
TCR
Sorry just nipped oot.
Sadly half of the village is in mourning with the Hibs going doon today.
They’ve no done us many favours in recent years…..so effum.
So Butcher joins McLeish in managing to relegate Hibernian.
Coincidence?
Is there such a thing?
Will he emulate McLeish in bouncing back immediately?
Will his team perform as McCall’s did when playing the undead?
I imagine Super Salary is worriedly munching on a stale crust as he works out his tactics to counter the threat of Hibs and Hearts next season.
And Queen of the South
And Dumbarton
And Raith Rovers
And Falkirk
And………….
He may be driven to resign.
I hope not.
I came on here to post about the guardian piece only to find that it was the headline
Quite simply,a long overdue piece of journalism. if i can find a criticism, its to say why not earlier
Keevins and his fellow succullenteers should be ashamed when they see their faces in the mirror for they were the folks who facilitated the “brings it upon himself” nonsense, and they should be reminded of it frequently
The scottish fitba authorities played a large part in it too
If neil lennon had a different skin colour most of the UK would know his story by now and would have backed him to the hilt, however, it wasn’t his skin colour that mad him different.
God Bless Neil Lennon
jobo baldie
22:55 on 25 May, 2014
There’s every chance that this has been linked to already but, just in case, here’s a most magical 13 minute film on Lisbon 67.
http://youtu.be/P_6MLX1YHdI
=================================
jobo
Thanks for posting that link. Off to pick the kids up from school with something in my eye!
Will show them their Uncle Tommy when we get back.
HH
Celtic may have to battle with Malaga for Oscar Garcia… but Spaniard still has heart on Scotland
By MARK WILSON
PUBLISHED: 00:46, 26 May 2014 | UPDATED: 00:46, 26 May 2014
Celtic contender Oscar Garcia is being eyed by La Liga outfit Malaga – but still has his heart set on Parkhead.
The former Brighton manager and Barcelona youth coach told Sportsmail last week of his desire to succeed Neil Lennon and it’s understood he remains a viable candidate for the vacancy.
Garcia is, however, also wanted in his homeland where Malaga hunt for a successor to coach Bernd Schuster. The German has confirmed he will be departing this summer and the 41-year-old figures is among the names under consideration to replace him.
Up for the job: Garcia, who left Brighton after narrowly missing out on promotion, has put his name forward
More…
Oscar Garcia may be a left-field candidate for the Celtic job, but he could be just right
Oscar Garcia puts himself forward for Celtic job, wants to bring Barca style to Scotland
Despite the chance of a return to Spain, though, it’s believed Garcia would prefer to take up their reins at Celtic if selected by the Parkhead hierarchy.
Major shareholder Dermot Desmond and chief executive Peter Lawwell will this week assess their options as they step up the recruitment process.
Malky Mackay and Owen Coyle remain high in the betting while Murdo MacLeod, a confidante of Henrik Larsson, has insisted the Swedish icon should not be ruled out despite committing himself to current club Falkenbergs. Dundee United boss Jackie McNamara and ex-West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke are among the other names linked.
They have now been joined by former Parkhead midfielder Morten Weighorst, who yesterday became the latest to state his desire to replace Lennon.
Most recently assistant to Michael Laudrup at Swansea, the 43-year-old is keen to become a manager again in his own right. Five years at FC Nordsjaelland yielded back-to-back Danish Cup triumphs before a spell in charge of Denmark’s Under-21
‘I am honoured to be mentioned in connection with Celtic,’ said Wieghorst, a Parkhead player between 1995 and 2002.
‘It is a great club and I enjoyed some fantastic times there. My feelings for Celtic are well-known and I have been back several times since I left.
‘It is a massive club and I would be interested if I got a call. Glasgow was a fantastic place to stay for me and my family.’
Lawwell insists the club will not be rushed into appointing Lennon’s successor and are determined to keep their options open.
And with no clear frontrunner in the race to fill the Celtic vacancy, the club’ s chief executive said: ‘We’ll take as long as it takes to get the right guy.
‘There has been no approaches to anyone yet but good quality candidates have put themselves forward.
‘We will be guided by the quality of the individual and his intelligence and the team he surrounds himself with.
‘This is a fantastic job. It’s manager of Celtic, we are in great shape, we are ambitious, progressive, dominant in Scotland and want to keep pushing as far as we can in Europe.
‘Age won’t come into it. It’s an open field at the moment.’
Lawwell admitted he could understand Lennon’s decision to leave Parkhead and bring to an end his four-year spell in the Celtic hotset.
And he said: ‘I think after four years you can see the intensity of what he’s gone through, the intensity of being Celtic manager , has taken a toll – and eventually you’ve got to say what’s best for him, what’s best for his family.
‘And I think he’s made the right decision. I understand it.
Malky Mackay fits Celtic bill perfectly, says Scotland midfielder Don Cowie
Mackay believed to be interested in speaking to the Parkhead club about their vacancy
Cardiff midfielder Don Cowie says Mackay would thrive if handed the reins at Celtic
By MARK WILSON
PUBLISHED: 01:09, 26 May 2014 | UPDATED: 01:09, 26 May 2014
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comments
There is not yet an identikit for the next Celtic manager. Chief executive Peter Lawwell has pledged that the board will both take their time and use open minds when it comes to selecting Neil Lennon’s replacement.
In the impressive figure of Malky Mackay, however, there is a candidate who might well match many of the criteria that could be considered.
Former Celtic player? Check. Young and ambitious? Check. Experience at the top level of the game? Check. Out of work and available? Check.
+3
Interest: It is thought that Malky Mackay would be willing to speak to Celtic about their vacancy
It is thought that Mackay would be willing to speak to the Parkhead club about their vacancy. But he also remains a man in demand south of the border. His name is currently being considered in the boardroom at West Bromwich Albion.
Tempting him to continue his career in the more constrained Scottish environment may not be entirely straightforward. One man who has worked closely with Mackay throughout his management career to date is adamant, though, that it would be worth every ounce of effort.
Scotland midfielder Don Cowie played under the 42-year-old at both Watford and Cardiff and has no doubt Mackay would thrive if handed the reins at Celtic.
‘I think Malky ticks a lot of boxes,’ Cowie told Sportsmail. ‘He is an ex-Celtic player so the fans will be fully aware of him – and he understands the club.
‘He is still young in management terms and has done very well in his career so far.
‘I’m sure he is desperate to get back in quickly. The Celtic job would probably suit him perfectly. He is available and I can see no reason why he is not the man for it.’
+3
Mackay’s time at Cardiff came to a controversial end when a breakdown in his relationship with owner Vincent Tan led to a well-trailed sacking last December. Even by the modern standards of the English game, it was a development which led to an outpouring of sympathy for the Glaswegian.
He had led Cardiff into the top flight for the first time in 53 years and left them sitting one point above the relegation zone. The Welsh club eventually finished bottom of the Barclays Premier League, six points short of safety.
His dismissal did not, therefore, do any significant damage to a reputation that has grown since he took charge of Watford back in 2009. Former Inverness man Cowie was there from the start.
‘When I first went to Watford, he was a coach under Brendan Rodgers at the time,’ the 31-year-old recalled. ‘But I could see he was ready to do more than he was doing.
‘Brendan was very much a hands-on manager and took a lot of the training. Malky had to bide his time for a number of months and it took Brendan leaving for Reading for him to get the opportunity to take the Watford job. He grabbed it with both hands.
‘Malky is not that long out of the changing room. He knows how players feel and how they want to be treated.
‘You know that you can have a laugh with him but, at the same time, you are very aware you don’t want to cross the line. His door is always open if you want to have a chat. But he will soon let you know if your standards have dropped or if he thinks you are not putting the effort in.
+3
Interest: Don Cowie is currently weighing up the offer of a new contract at Cardiff
‘He did very well at Watford with a not very big budget at all. He then got the move to Cardiff and a team that had fallen short at the last hurdle on a number of occasions.
‘Malky was the man picked to get them into the Premier League and that’s exactly what he did in his second year.
‘He had done it a few times as a player and knew exactly what it took to get over the line. His first year was about transition and building the squad. But we managed to get the job done in the second year and that was a great achievement.’
Mackay’s profile rose in accordance with Cardiff’s success, yet the spotlight he would face at Celtic would be of substantially greater wattage.
The environment in Glasgow can be stifling for those in the lead roles. It is a situation that requires a certain type of character. Again, though, Cowie believes Mackay has what it takes.
‘I know being a manager of the one of the Old Firm clubs isn’t easy,’ he recognised. ‘It’s not just back page stuff, you are on the front page as well.
‘There is huge scrutiny on you and the passion from the fans is incredible. You are in the public eye all the time.
‘But I think Malky has shown he can handle that kind of situation. It’s not something that’s great to talk about but the scenario at Cardiff with the owner wasn’t ideal.
‘But Malky conducted himself in a certain manner and was still willing to put himself out to the media. On the dressing room side, I could see how well he was handling it. He didn’t allow the players to get caught up in it or for it to be used as any kind of excuse.
‘He keeps all external stuff away from his players and I’m fairly confident he could handle anything that is thrown at him should he end up at Celtic.’
Cowie is currently weighing up the offer of a new contract at Cardiff amid reported interest from Blackburn Rovers. Wherever he ends up next, he will never forget the influence Mackay has had on him.
‘My Watford contract was out at the same time as he took the Cardiff job,’ Cowie said. ‘He asked me to come and join him again and I was confident Malky was the person who could get that club promotion.
‘We did just that and I managed to play in the Premiership. I also added ten Scotland caps while working under him. So he has been a great help to my career and I will always be in debt to him.’
Celtic hotseat: Owen Coyle rather than David Moyes is the man for Parkhead, says Ian McCall
May 25, 2014 08:32 By Gordon Waddell 26 Comments
FORMER Partick Thistle boss Ian McCall knows both Owen Coyle and David Moyes well but reckons it’s the former who is most suited to taking on the job of Celtic manager.
He has two of the bookies favourites for the job on speed dial.
The realist in Ian McCall says he will only be needing one of their numbers to text his congratulations.
Davie Moyes and Owen Coyle are two of his closest mates in the game, both regular confidantes and callers.
But while he believes Moyes would be the Hoops’ perfect pick, he reckons Celtic-daft Coyle’s the more likely.
And he’s certain his mate’s infectious enthusiasm would win over anyone
doubting his qualities.
“If Neil Lennon’s supposed to have brought the thunder,” said McCall, “then Coyley’s the right type of guy to keep it.”
The former Dundee United, Falkirk and Partick Thistle manager is convinced that if Celtic were in the English Premier League rather than the Scottish one, the story could be different, though.
He said: “I’m certain David would appeal to Celtic enormously but I’m just not 100 per cent sure it’s the right career move for him just now.
“If Celtic were in the English Premier League then absolutely, they’d be one of the biggest clubs and there would be no question.
“You look at the other names on the list and they’ve all been at decent clubs but David’s track record is Everton for 10 years and then at Man United.
“In terms of reputation, he’s in a different league.
“Would he be a success? Of course he would. But then what is success at Celtic these days?
“So the big question is whether he would take it.
“The one thing that might draw him is the Champions League but then is that why Lenny left in the first place? Would they have the funds to compete? That’s up for debate.
“David would add all these things up.
“The Champions League would appeal but not if he wasn’t given a realistic chance. He wouldn’t be looking for a guarantee but at least a 50-50 chance.
“So it would be a draw – but maybe not big enough.”
They’ve been mates since their days at Dunfermline together 20 years ago and McCall felt his pal’s pain when he was bumped from Old Trafford after failing to complete a single season.
Tony NicolettiIan McCall knows both Owen Coyle and David Moyes well but believes it’s the former who would be most suited to the Celtic job
However, he insists Moyes doesn’t need the reputation revival many claim Celtic would offer him.
He said: “I’m not sure about the whole redemption thing, David’s reputation in England is still huge. The vast majority of people within football thought he was harshly treated.
“And I believe they’ll also look at his body of work over 10 years rather than the past 10 months.
“He was due more time. Louis van Gaal has come in at Old Trafford and the changes still need made.
“But the manager straight after Sir Alex was probably always going to be a sacrificial lamb.
“It’s not a big gap in terms of size of club but to come to Scotland, especially with no Rangers in the Premiership, would be a hard one for David.”
Coyle on the other hand does have a rebuilding job to do.
His spells at Bolton and Wigan knocked what was a stellar reputation down the road out of the sky.
But McCall claims it won’t affect the ability of the game’s biggest enthusiast to do the job.
They worked together at Airdrie, Falkirk and Tannadice and he said: “Owen would do really well at Celtic.
“There would be questions raised about the last two jobs but he’s the type of guy who could go in there and be good for the place.
“He’s so naturally enthusiastic and he’s a chief executive’s dream, the way he carries himself in public.
“Owen played the same way every day whether it was fives with his mates or a cup final. He has an infectious way about him for the game and it rubs off on a club and on a team.
“You don’t learn that at coaching courses, it’s in-built.”
Coyle turned down the Celtic job five years ago when Tony Mowbray was eventually appointed.
At the time he felt his future lay in the English Premier League, where he had spells in charge of both Burnley and Bolton, and he raised concerns for his young family being caught up in the thick of the Old Firm.
However, McCall said: “Coyley is a huge Celtic fan. There’s nothing kiddy-on about him, he was born and raised in the Gorbals and he loves the club.
“But for all his bluster, he’s also a serious family man. Him and Kerry are very protective of the kids so that had
something to do with it – as did the chance to go into the English Premier League – but circumstances change.”
They couldn’t be any more different five years on. The landscape in Scottish football has changed with Rangers still fighting their way back to the top flight after a financial implosion at Ibrox.
And McCall said: “You’re guaranteed a title in your first year if you get the Celtic job now. In fact, you could almost say you’re guaranteed two or three titles.
“They could keep going until Rangers get themselves in order – and how long’s that going to be?
“It’s a strange situation.
“How do you gauge success? Usually it would be winning the league but it’s obviously more than that now.
“Getting to the groups of the Champions League is the yardstick.
“And that was one of the things behind Lenny leaving. He was one European tie away from a crisis and anyone can get beaten in a European tie.
“That’s the thing – some of Celtic’s play was absolutely sparkling in the league this season, different class.
“But it’s hard to see the challenge for them week in week out.
“It’s all well and good to talk about the Champions League but it’s actually just a tiny part of the season in terms of games. The Rangers situation has just put a weird slant on all aspects of Scottish football.”
Was just thinking that the next manager will be the 19th in our history. Ya believe in coincidences? If you do…..Malky wore the number …..19. Mind you, so did a few others including Stan, but they’re not quoted:-))
There has been a lot of talk on here over the last few days about why our current strategy is wrong. We should spend more on players/ keep players longer etc. I just don’t see how we can sustainably do these things in the current environment.
The buy low sell high policy is not just a Celtic policy. It is not just something that Peter Lawell inflicts on us poor suffering Celtic fans. All the similar sized teams (in smaller leagues) across Europe adopt it. Benfica, Porto, Sporting, Ajax, PSV, Anderlecht, Basle, Copenhagen etc. All of these teams regularly sell their best players!! None of them hold onto their best players indefinitely.
The reason some of these teams have outperformed Celtic in Europe in recent seasons is largely down to the fact they have had the policy in operation for longer than we have. Celtic only really started it in 2010 (with the sale of McGeady) whereas Porto, for example, have been doing it since 2004. They sold all the team we played in the 2003 final for big money and re-invested a lot of it in the in the team and club. We let all our players get old and leave on frees and had very little money to replace them.
Celtic, as a club and squad, have gradually improved year on year since 2010. The starting 11 in 2013 was better than the 2014 model but I think with players like Griffiths, Johansen, Henderson and Twardzik emerging we are looking strong again.
The other argument that is a little unfair is that we sign too many duds. The summer transfer window in 2013 wasn’t the best and we did sign some poor players. However, overall NL had a very good record with players he brought in. Approximately 2/3 of his signings have been successful at the club. Players like Forster, Matthews, Ambrose, Van Diyk, Izaguirre, Mulgrew, Ledley, Johansen, Biton, Hooper, Kayal, Stokes, Commons, Lustig, Griffiths and Watt. Only Bangura, Juarez, Murphy and probably Balde and Boerrighter of the players he spent money on have been complete failures. A lot of people argue that if we had spent 20 million on players last summer (instead of 10million) we would have had more success. I really don’t think that argument stands up. Look at some of the big money signings that struggled in the EPL last season. Spurs signings (Lamela, Chirichtes, Soldado, Capoue etc.), Liverpools signings (Aspas, Alberto), Norwich signing (Van Wolfswinkel), Sunderland signings (Altidore, Giaccherini). Spending more money doesn’t necessarily mean more success.
Anyway as I said the sign low sell high policy isn’t just Lawells and Celtics. All teams outside the big leagues adopt it!! We’re moving in the right direction……realistically we can catch up to teams like Porto and Benfica…..we just need to be a bit more patient.
Niallo83
As you said teams have been selling high and reinvesting in the team for years
PL indeed did say that every penny brought in in transfer fees would be reinvested in the team
Unfortunatly that policy stopped when we sold Mcgeady as some of that cash went to reducing our debt and hence triggered extra payments for PL
Vic was sold for 12.5 million and by all calculations Neil received zero of that money to reinvest in the team and was used to show cash in bank and trigger more income for PL
Hence Neil is no longer with us as we did not use our income from transfers to reinvest in the team
Dan Petrescu said he agreed terms of the contract with new club. Contract is not signed yet but for 99 percent he will have new job. Petrescu said he had offers from Great Britain and from Italy. Name of the new club not given.
Zbyszek
A club in the Arabian gulf league according to reports.
….or perhaps….a little closer to home……Southampton…..:-))
Twists N Turns Strange if true. His priority and dream was Great Britain.
Sydneytim,
Did Lawell say every penny would be reinvested in the club or the team? If he said team he should have said club.
Look back the transfer records of all the teams I listed. None of them spend the same as they receive in transfer fees. All make a substantial profit on player movements which is used to help run the club (i.e. improve scouting, stadium improvements, having more players on books etc.).
My points are (a). this is the only policy a team from the smaller leagues can adopt without going bankrupt, (b). clubs such as Benfica and Porto have made this work so it can be a successful policy, (c). the club and squad will get stronger over a 5 year period using this policy. The starting 11 might weaken every so often as players are sold but overall the club will get stronger and (d). I’m not saying the policy is perfect or that we have implemented it perfectly there is still lots of room for improvement. Overall, though, we are moving in the right direction.