Scott, Dedryck, your part in a very long story

There was a bit of chat last week that Celtic were ‘at it’ by signing Scott Allan. Sticking it large to an aspiring Championship club. Tempting, though it is to let that notion roll, it’s simply not true. Scott was right on plan to be a Celtic signing, and as I’m sure he’ll explain at this afternoon’s press conference, Celtic is the perfect move for him.

He is a young Scottish player with talent and enough potential to become a top player. Like them all, he is a financial risk, but not a major risk, neither his transfer fee nor his wages will significantly alter the budget.

The need for reinforcements for other positions is more pressing. Midfield is not an area where we are short, but signing Scott will have no impact on the search to reinforce those other positions. He will immediately enhance the squad and force everyone else to up their game.  If you want a place in that Celtic midfield, you will need to be on the absolute top of your game.

I expect to see more deals like this. If there’s a player who the coaches reckon has potential, and he looks undervalued, Celtic will try to sign him.  We want the best players in Scotland at every age group and in every position.  We want to develop a culture of self-improvement.  This signing will ask questions not just of Scott, but there isn’t a midfield player at the club who will not consider the threat to his position this morning.

For the best part of an hour Celtic were a joy on Saturday.  Having read so much about what the player went through in recent months, he must have been pinching himself as he watched fast-flowing, incisive, football.  They were a team full of swagger and confidence.

Ronny Deila would have been animated at what happened after he made the decision to rest some legs.  Two goals were lost as a result of Dedryck Boyata twice losing concentration.  This was an alarming sign but Ronny knows Dedryck has played very little football, less than two dozen games before joining Celtic this summer.

How to deal with mistakes is one of the attributes which comes form experience, a qualify which makes it less likely your nerve will be affected, resulting in the second mistake.  I expect the big man to be back at his Qarabag form for Wednesday’s Cup Final.

Jane Maguire from the Celtic FC Foundation was in touch after receiving a £1,200, from money raised at last month’s CQN Golf Open:

“I just wanted to thank CQN so much for the wonderful donation of £1,200, as a result of your Golf Day. The spirit and compassion of the Celtic Family is unique and unsurpassed and your gesture is a perfect example of that.

“Your support is invaluable to Celtic FC Foundation as we strive to honour the founding principles of our Football Club and help those who need it most. We deliver a host of projects in our local communities for children, young people and adults around the four key themes of Health, Equality, Learning and Poverty. The CQN input will make a huge difference.”

I know we talk about the bigger aspects of the club, like this, often, but it’s incredible how deep the links the modern Celtic support have with the founding ethos of the club. It’s no idle boast to suggest we are the world’s most ethical football club.

The trajectory is also impressive. Links from practically every area of the support, and the club itself, to the Foundation, and to individual projects, like our own Mary’s Meals appeals, are more frequent and increasingly more successful. You are part of a long story. Keep it up.