Having disposed of Celtic and AZ Alkmaar in earlier Conference League knockout rounds, Bodo/Glimt return to Rome tonight to face Roma (why we insist on calling the city one name and the club another, when they answer to exactly the same word is perplexing). In November, on Europa League duty, they drew 2-2 with Roma, after defeating Jose Mourinho’s men 6-1 in Norway.
Our season that has already delivered so much, has European blots in August and February. The defeats to Bodo/Glimt, in particular, were an indication of how much work still has to be done. I would like to see the Norwegians go even deeper into the tournament, if only to offer a reflective glow on our own performance against them, but that feels too much like grasping for straws.
SPFL chief exec Neil Doncaster said he expected Pass to Paradise and other clubs’ streaming services to stop for domestic viewers from next season. There remains a significant number of season ticket holders shielding and unable to congregate in large crowds.
The League is dependent on Sky TV’s largess here. Sky changed the terms of their contract to permit Pass to Paradise-type services, a return to business as usual was always on the cards. Before that happens, a Health Accommodation exclusion is worth exploring, especially now season ticket renewals have been issued.
I know one season ticket holder who has not attended since the socially distanced game against Dundee in August. What happens next affects real people, real fans and their exclusion from football.
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Subs bench even!
Nice statement at the end of this:
Principal Celtic shareholder Dermot Desmond insists he’s a lifer at the club and has no interest of walking away – even if he’s made a mammoth bid.
The Irish tycoon revealed he has never been presented an offer from potential investors but is adamant he has a long-term vision for the club he has been involved with in for 27 years.
Desmond has received flak over a perceived lack of visibility at Celtic but he has opened up during a wide ranging interview as he fronted up to a host of burning issues.
UFC superstar Conor McGregor previously claimed he held talks with Desmond over acquiring shares from the 71-year-old.
But Desmond made it abundantly clear that he sees himself and his family remaining key figures at Parkhead for years to come.
Speaking to Celtic TV, he said: “I’m very glad to do so (addressing speculation). Nobody’s ever approached me about buying or selling shares – nobody. And that’s in the last 27 years or so.
“I’ve no intention of selling shares, not now, not in the future, even if somebody offers me a price three or four times the current share price, I’m not selling.
“Fortunately, I’ve been privileged and honoured to be a shareholder of a club I’ve supported as a youth and I’ve been a fan for well over 50 years.
“Therefore, I’ll continue to be a fan and shareholder of the club and hopefully contribute to the continuous development of the club.”
Desmond and fellow board members were met with protests after their failed attempt to secure 10 In A Row – as Rangers romped to league glory by 25 points.
And he concedes not everything went to plan in a season that led to Neil Lennon leaving his post in February 2021 after a wretched defeat to Ross County.
He added: “As a club, we’re continuing to learn and want to improve every aspect of the club.
“Our facilities, our infrastructure, our personnel, that’s a given, every year.
“If we look back and analyse last year, let’s look at the facts. The first thing we wanted to do was retain all our squad to win 10 In A Row.
“That we did, we wanted to retain the players we had on-loan, (Mohamed) Elyounoussi and (Fraser) Forster from Southampton.
“We’d reached terms with Southampton that both could come. Both players wanted to come and those deals were being consummated.
“Unfortunately, at the last minute, Fraser Forster decided to stay at Southampton.
“But in the interim, we’d let Craig Gordon go. That was the start of a little bit of challenges we faced from the previous year.
“We were in need of getting a goalkeeper to replace both Forster and Gordon. That was one of the challenges we faced.
“We recruited other players so that in every position we had cover. We added Shane Duffy as cover for centre-back and we did that throughout the whole squad.
“But it wasn’t from the lack of having the squad, it wasn’t the lack of dedicated manager and coaches to resolve the issues.
“You may say we should’ve got rid of the manager earlier on, the manager was an outstanding player for Celtic that won the league in his own right in his first period as manager of Celtic.
“He’d basically won two Trebles, if you want to call it a Treble and two thirds. Everybody endorsed the view Celtic were favourites to win the league.
“All the pundits, the paper commentators and, indeed, the betting companies. They had us odds-on favourites.
“We were well-geared for 10 In A Row. Unfortunately it didn’t happen.
And the principal shareholder has moved to clear up how the club operates in terms of the transfer market.
Desmond has made it abundantly clear that current boss Ange Postecoglou – and previous managers – have the final say on deals.
He said: “The manager of the club over the last 20 years has always decided on the players to bring in. Not the board, not anyone else. Researchers provide information for the manager, the manager the decision, maybe in conjunction with his coaching staff, he makes the ultimate decision, he is the chairman of the board.
“Ange is the Chairman of the Board of Celtic, he is the person that signs the players, he is the person that takes the brickbats and takes the credits. That is the recruitment, it is not the board that decides yes or no. What the board does do it will set out the budget that we can afford so that we can be financially prudent in the way that we run the club.
“We do not want the club to get into a financial state where the club goes into liquidation and there is going to be a new Celtic. We want our history to be continuous, not to be curtailed through mismanagement.”
Is CelticForever Melbourne Mick in disguise?
So DD sets out on record that Ange is wholly responsibe for team ins and outs…that’s refreshing ;-))
H.H.
Fourstonecoppi
2. THELURKINTIM
3. PHILBHOY
4. Bada Bing
5. An Tearmann
6 Dan
7.Drew1967
8. James1955
9. Gene
10. Bigjock67
11. WEEBOBBYCOLLINS
12 Scullybhoy (suds bench as usual)
13 CELTICFOREVER
Can I start a campaign to invite the “Wee Stoatir” on to CQN.
Regarding BJ — hell mend him / complete walloper who still thinks he is in the playground.
P67 — If you have a key …
Throw it away.
Sorry mate I’m in Norway not Oz
HJ @ 11.09
Thanks for putting up the article — it makes for interesting reading.
DD does not come across well — he talks like someone who is trying to act more intelligent than he really is.
Overall poor show — if he want’s plaudits then he should be working all the hours available to improve the facilities at P/Head specifically a new main stand.
He has been involved for 27 years and he is still living off the vision of Wee FMcC — not good.
No worries…the structure of yer posts had me thinking lol
H.H.
Free Big Jimmy
I’ll add my name to the list but, I fear, from what is being posted, that it will again not receive the courtesy of a response.
I am , therefore, drawn to wee Bobby Collins suggestion of a boycott, albeit a staged and temporary boycott. Could I suggest that we consider, if there is still no response, boycotting all post match comments after the St. Johnstone game and all of Saturday evening and night. It is a small sacrifice to make and it won’t be universally supported, as can be seen above, but we can then discuss future tactics after we see the response, if any.
So, I propose that I will not make comment on this site after the final whistle tomorrow and will not post again until Sunday. Feel free to join in with this initiative, if you wish.
I could never write as well as Melbourne Mick
Does pity I think Big Jimmy getting banned means he doesn’t post so much
SFTB…It’s a small sacrifice i’m willing to make…;-))
Tho the flesh is weak lol
https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/news/old-firm-man-charged-bottle/
Usual OF nonsense
RE. Desmondo’s assertion that all of the recent managers have had the last call/say on recruitment of players. Why did Rodgers make the reference to “A winger? We’ve got millions of wingers.”?
To give but one example.
BADA, in a wee experiment I showed my better half that headline.
“Were Celtic fans throwing bottles as well?” she asked.
Job done, eh?
Sound article from Dermot Desmond.
Thanks j
HH
!!Bada Bing!!
Very strange too that they have persisted with the ‘Celtic say’ were these not the words used by the BBC etc.? Why is that the Police have confirmed that a member of Celtic’s backroom staff was struck by the bottle. It’s almost as if to say subliminally that it’s those pesky Fenians they can’t be trusted or they are so terrified of the Hun hordes inside and outside of Ibrox they always leave it to Celtic to ‘say’.
!!BADA BING!! on 8TH APRIL 2022 12:13 PM
https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/news/old-firm-man-charged-bottle/
Usual OF nonsense
###
They’re only follow following the lead set by The Great Leader, Mrs Murrell
‘Behaviour like that whether it’s at an Old Firm match or any other football match besmirches that, and it should absolutely be seen as unacceptable.’
Please add my name to the “save Big Jimmy”list.
Not exactly sure of the inns and outs but I’ve always liked the cut of his jib!!
There’s a new article up …
But no comments box , so maybe Paul 67 agrees with the boycott 😂😜
…………
14. VIOLET ELIZABETH BOTT
BOGNORBHOY on 8TH APRIL 2022 12:35 PM
There’s a new article up …
But no comments box , so maybe Paul 67 agrees with the boycott 😂😜
……………………………………………………………..
Aye, that’ll teach us 🙃
Desmond’s interview was interesting.
He confirmed Ange was Lawwell’s man and that Ange has full control over the football operations- don’t expect a director of football anytime soon.
His defence of retaining Neil Lennon was unnecessary and only opens old wounds, let’s move on now and stop the attempts to rewrite history – Lennon should have been gone after Prague.
He apparently has no intention to sell his shares and he found time to get a comment in about liquidation and new clubs.
All in all, not sure what the point of the interview was really, besides paying homage to Peter Lawwell, Dom wasn’t mentioned once.
ERNIE LYNCH on 8TH APRIL 2022 12:36 PM
…………
14. VIOLET ELIZABETH BOTT
Paul Brennan changed his name😊
Fourstonecoppi
2. THELURKINTIM
3. PHILBHOY
4. Bada Bing
5. An Tearmann
6 Dan
7.Drew1967
8. James1955
9. Gene
10. Bigjock67
11. WEEBOBBYCOLLINS
12 Scullybhoy (suds bench as usual)
13 CELTICFOREVER
14, BELMONTBRIAN
Celtic
1/7
Draw
8/1
St Johnstone
27/1
Dinky Desmond @ 12.21
Sound article by DD — now you really are having a laugh.
Cute guy trying to be clever would be a good place to start.
Managers in charge / total control of player recruitment — someone is having a laugh.
Belmont Brian
Hope youz enjoyed your day out celebrating the two players from johnstone who played in our first cup final.seen some of the prints.class.hi to Saltires,that man is a Celtic man.onto Saturday.:-)
HH
If we make the CL proper next season — and we are in with a shout.
It will then be interesting to see if that allows plans for improvements to the ground and surroundings to be brought forward — and if they are what will be the scale?
Hopefully we start to plan ahead — nearly 30 years on from FMcC’s dream and we need to move on.
Just what are the board’s plans for the 2020’s?
They were phoning it in during the 2010’s so hopefully they get their finger out.
Mad Mitch…is it beyond you to accept that he believes what he’s saying?…am pretty sure the minutiae of Celtic is not on his radar (to £1 coin a phrase) ;-))
I’d bet my house on Police Scotland knowing the identity of the man for a few days, maybe even since Monday, and waiting until today before taking him into custody. That way he gets to languish in a cell over the weekend rather than just one night.
It’s the way they operate.
Anytime you want to attend a game,come and see Celtic do give a shout.you ought to do something bout your attention seeking trolling,think the foundation run courses,but,it may mean you attend Celtic Park.
Problem there eh troll.
Tom…I’ll take that bet ;-))
H.H.
D, if yer still looking to off-load tickets gies a shout big yin ;-))
H.H.
Has anyone ever told DD that he is only a minority shareholder and he should start behaving like one — the whole interview comes across as a cry for help to try and increase the price of his shareholding.
He will sell when the price is right.
Hopefully the fridge magnet doesn’t play hardball as we desperately need change.
Share price @ 116p
Market cap = £106mill
DD’s cut = £32mill
He will take £50mill and walk away quietly.
The trading volumes this season suggest somebody is up to something.
FREE BIG JIMMY :
1.Fourstonecoppi
2. THELURKINTIM
3. PHILBHOY
4. Bada Bing
5. An Tearmann
6 Dan
7.Drew1967
8. James1955
Leftclicktic
TLT @ 1.07
DD and the complete picture.
All you have to do is read the article to find a whole farrago of waffle that does not stand up to scrutiny.
Managers have always been in charge of recruitment …
Total whopper but not the biggest on show.
If he says he wants to keep his shares — why mention it / allow it to be mentioned at all?
The status quo doesn’t need to be talked about — he is playing games with potential buyers.
DD — he is waiting on the fridge phone to ring.
the MMA angle is just a squirrel to give the impression that there is more than one game in town.
The job is beyond him now.
Well past his sell by date and living off the efforts of AP.