Sinister and inflammatory

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I was considerably alarmed at this morning’s Daily Record article, which appears to equate calls for an inquiry into an alleged conspiracy to subvert tax law, as well as SFA and SPL rules, on a level with sectarianism. Most clearly here:

“Of course, this will infuriate the self-proclaimed, proud ‘bampots’ on social media toiling away 24/7 in pursuit of justice for Scottish football.

“Their irreversibly entrenched view will always be that ‘the Protestant establishment club cheated on an industrial scale’”.

I’m disturbed that so many people on social media are having their views on rule breaking caricatured as an anti-Protestant witch-hunt.

This is wildly inaccurate, sinister and inflammatory. A sign, perhaps, of the direction of travel in this debate.

This bit is really, REALLY, important.

If there is a perception that there is a risk to social media users this debate is closed – trust me on this one. Right now, some are asking themselves, “How much sectarian hatred are the media prepared to stir up if we talk about this?”

Convince people their club’s record is being questioned, not because of rule breaking, but for religious reasons, and you open Pandora’s Box – and we all know this.

Don’t get angry. This angle is thus far isolated, should be mocked and we should quickly move on.

If you want the debate to take place, don’t lose focus and stick to the point: were tax laws, SFA and SPL rules broken, if so, was this an oversight, or was there a conspiracy to subvert the rules and earlier inquiries?

Perhaps most importantly, this is the time for other clubs and their fans to have their say.

Jim Craig and Brendan Sweeney on CQN TONIGHT!

Lisbon Lion, Jim Craig, and Celt for Change, Brendan Sweeny, Live chat on CQN tonight.

I’m absolutely delighted we have yet another Lisbon Lion, Jim Craig, on CQN tonight, as well as a one of the most influential fans in our history, Brendan Sweeny (who will cringe at reading that).

Brendan has researched and written Celtic: The Early Years, forward by Jim. It is the most incredible account of the how and why a football club was formed in Parkhead in 1888, and the seismic events which shaped its future during the Early Years.

Both will be on CQN tonight from 7:30, you can ask questions on the blog and chat to them. Ask Jim about those great times, his career after football, or what’s going on at the club now.

Brendan, as an integral part of Celts for Change, Jungle Bhoys and now Celtic Graves Society, has been a force of nature for the Celtic cause. This is also about as far into the limelight as he’s ever likely to emerge!

Premium Seats competition for Kilmarnock game on Saturday

Magners, Celtic’s main sponsor, are offering fans the chance to win a pair of Premium Seat tickets in the Jock Stein Stand to the match. All you have to do is answer the following question:

Who was Celtic manager when Kilmarnock won their first game in over half a century?

Email answer to celticquicknews@gmail.com with the answer in the email SUBJECT box.

Competition closes at 22:00 tonight, so this is a one day target!

On another subject, Ad hominem, def:

An ad hominem (Latin for “to the man” or “to the person”), is an attack on an argument made by attacking the character, motive, or other attribute of the person making the argument, rather than attacking the argument directly. When used inappropriately, it is a logical fallacy in which a claim or argument is dismissed on the basis of some irrelevant fact or supposition about the author or the person being criticised.

Just saying……..

Time for some Labi Siffre tunes.

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542 Comments

  1. Jim C

     

     

    Thank you for the reply. One more if I may?

     

     

    If you could choose one word to describe Jock what would it be?

  2. Brendan

     

     

    Thanks for the reply. Would you like to see supporter representation on the current board?

  3. dr ramesh and the love potion on

    Brendan,

     

    thanks for the reply! Sounds good but I think Europe is going to be difficult the next 2-3 years. We have a lot of young players who need to experience that level before making their mark. It will be interesting to see how the young Celts who come through the academy get on as they have quite a bit of experience of European football, at least more than our recruits from Dundee United, Hibs, etc do.

  4. dr ramesh and the love potion

     

     

    I hope we are in a European League because that would be good for us but to make our presence felt we need to be in the Champions League season after season after season. All of us who are Celtic fans know that Celtic are a big club and the big clubs need to be in the Champions League.

     

     

    Ronny is just one of a number of managers who have had their chance to impose their thoughts on Celtic. Domestically he has done very well but getting the club into the Champions League is the new bottom line. It is the basic definition of success.

  5. Brendan

     

     

    Just got back in to see your reply.

     

     

    I believe that there was serious discussion about a film. Anyone know Danny Boyle’s phone number. Imagine a film of the first 100 years with all the dramas of the football triumphs , 2 world wars, loss of the Prince of Goalkeepers, the tricolour, Lisbon and the centenary season. More drama here than Gone with the Wind.

     

     

    As an aside a school friend of mine is a writer and, although he has never had any interest in football, was asked about writing a book or play about the formation of Rangers.. As a professional writer, he risked divorce and researched their formative history but could not find any romance in their story and told the commissioners that he was withdrawing.

     

     

    God bless you Brendan and Jim

  6. Brendan Sweeney on

    Saint Stivs, i have dozens of candidates for my favourite Celtic team and it would take me all night to narrow it down but for me a team full of Johnny Doyles would give me all the courage, never say die attitude and devotion i would love to see from a Celtic team.

  7. HamiltonTim i would love to see a fans rep on the board. Simply from experience working with Celtic men, guys like Matt McGlone or Eddie Toner who bleed Celtic would do a great job in my humble opinion.

  8. Jim Craig

     

     

    Is that St Mary’s Bannockburn, my sisters a teacher there, will make sure your well looked after.

  9. dr ramesh and the love potion on

    Jim, thanks for the reply.

     

    The Champions League might be the bottom line nowadays but I wonder if we have the players, infrastructure, league (season timing, etc), geography ( we always play teams well into their league schedules) to do so. Every year the last qualifying round is a lottery.

  10. Brendan,

     

     

    Cop out, cmon, your favorite eleven and 5 subs.

     

     

    Cmon.

     

     

    First names that come into your head, cmon.

  11. Sid,

     

    my own daughter is the trainee placement in P7 there, with another wee Cowieghirl, being the teacher :-)

     

    I believe it is

     

    P5 & P6 who are having a Christmas Fayre :-)

     

     

    Hail Hail

  12. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    JIM CRAIG on 18TH NOVEMBER 2015 9:55 PM

     

    dr ramesh and the love potion

     

     

    Ronny is just one of a number of managers who have had their chance to impose their thoughts on Celtic. Domestically he has done very well but getting the club into the Champions League is the new bottom line. It is the basic definition of success.

     

     

    ===============================================================

     

     

    Hear Hear.

     

    “definition of success “

  13. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    Sid

     

    Can you and Cowiebhoy not ask the lion to go along to your joint CSC night coming up shortly? 8))

     

     

    Or do you 2 want me to ask for you?

  14. Hamiltontim

     

     

    That’s a good one and it will be my last word for the night.

     

     

    I can’t do it in one word I would three.

     

     

    Dynamic

     

     

    Resourceful

     

     

    Intelligent.

     

     

    Every player will have his own opinion of Jock Stein when he was at Celtic Park.

     

     

    There is though one factor that nobody can argue with.

     

     

    If he had not been there all those wonderful days would never have happened.

     

     

    Thank you for sending me the questions. I hope that my answers have pleased you and if I have missed anyone I am so sorry.

     

     

    Please keep eye on my website http://www.football50.co.uk

     

     

    Regarding making it on to Celtic Quick News I think I am the youngest ever Lisbon Lion to be on here. Actually Tam is six months younger than me so I am always a No2.

     

     

    Good night CQN, Brendan is going to stay on a little while longer and your Winning Captains is going to drive me home.

     

     

    Hail Hail , CQN!

  15. Jim

     

     

    A wee question considering there were about 4 players from Inter

     

    in the italian side who played in the 1970 world cup in Mexico

     

     

    Do you think the lions would have beaten Brazil?

     

     

    Now that would have been some game of football to watch

     

     

    Pele csc

  16. Mr Craig,

     

    thanks for your time with us, and being part of the greatest team ever in the hoops :-)

     

     

    Hail Hail

  17. Brendan

     

     

    During the Celts for Change period did you receive any encouragement from players or board members behind the scenes?

  18. Oh

     

    And Winning Captains, hat doffed for making that happen

     

    Let’s now grill Brendan :-)

     

     

    Hail Hail

  19. Evening. ….can you please remember in your thoughts Mr Alex Reilly. ..laid to rest today in Bishopbriggs. .a braw braw lad…

     

     

    Hail hail

     

     

    Braw

  20. Ghuys thanks very much for having me. It was a truly humbling experience sitting in the same room as a real Celtic great and discussing all things Celtic. Thanks too to everyone who has bought Celtic: The Early Years, it is a labour of love and it is a story of a forgotten Celtic in a forgotten ground. Celtic is a fairytale and this is the story of that fairytale with all the facts thrown in. Goodnight and God bless the Celtic.

  21. Alex Reilly, may perpetual light shine upon you, and may you rest in peace

     

    Also

     

    AoW, thoughts and prayers will stay with your sister, as she recovers

     

    Also with the family of the donor, total respect

     

     

    Hail Hail

  22. Thanks for everything gentlmen, really enjoyed the answers.

     

     

    HT, the one word for Jock Stein…… BIG.

     

     

    HAIL HAIL.

  23. Superb stuff on the blog tonight, many excellent questions put to Jim and Brendan. Great to read their in depth, insightful and honest replies.

  24. Brendan, here was me just going to ask if you ever had to wear ear plugs when sitting with that JT in Celts for Change meetings :-)

     

    Sorry JT, but your never short of a word :-)))

     

     

    Hail Hail