I was joined this week on Football Patter by Adam Stewart and Simon Finnigan to talk through the recent turmoil at Celtic Football Club and all things Scottish Football. You can find the latest Football Patter Podcast below or on all podcast platforms – @ThePatterPod
By Shaun Forrest
As the final whistle blew at Ibrox so went Celtic’s hopes of clawing back three essential points against their Glasgow rivals. For all Celtic controlled the game until the sending off, they were still unable to really breach the Rangers back-line and were clearly still off the pace of truly competing for this title.
Celtic have made it somewhat of a tradition to get the much-needed winter sun. Last season after Rangers had beaten them 2-1 at Celtic Park, closing the gap to only two points with a game in hand, Neil Lennon’s men got away from all the media attention to use the “fantastically luxurious facilities” in Dubai. The squad came back refreshed, bonded and fit. They were ready to fight off Rangers to secure Nine in a row -which to all credit they did. Yes, the season was called early with eight games and 24 points still to play for but ultimately Rangers had deteriorated, finding themselves 13 points adrift while Celtic had gone on a ten-game unbeaten League run (only dropping two points away to Livingston).
The character and strength shown in the Celtic squad after their winter break was testament to Neil Lennon’s motivational skills, the winning mentality ingrained in the club, and Leigh Griffiths finding form. Was it the Dubai-Trip that gave Celtic the extra edge and could it work again ?
A nation has sacrificed for nearly a year with all manner of restrictions we are far too familiar with but even in November when Celtic’s Winter Training Camp was granted by the Scottish Government, Scottish FA and the Joint Response Group why did nobody ask the question if this was essential? Or why did these governing bodies not recognise that no other club was making the same request and why was the fixture moved against Hibernian without their approval?
The answer is the running joke on everybody’s lips in Scottish football: because it’s Celtic. A sad reality but the truth none-the-less that Peter Lawwell and his club have had the rub of the green for many years, even during a global pandemic with a travel ban and a country on its knees. The Scottish FA were pleading with Nicola Sturgeon for financial support at the same time the approval for Celtic to spend an estimated £250,000 on a Winter Training Camp was granted.
They will follow all appropriate procedures, they will be socially distanced, they are going out to train hard, they will not mix with the public. All the promises made to a nation stuck inside only allowed to travel for essential work and shopping. Celtic supporters were feeling deflated and angry before the defeat to their bitter rivals but to wake up with a picture of Neil Lennon and Scott Brown sitting poolside, a couple of cold beers between them, was a demoralising blow. To show not only such disrespect to the current Scottish Government guidelines but, more so, the proverbial two-fingers to the supporters who have sacrificed everything.
The picture was shamefully swept under the carpet with explanations that these people are also humans and are allowed downtime. The image was swiftly countered by the club, with dozens of videos and pictures of a squad training hard, giving everything on the blistering hot training ground. When questioned about the clear disregard to social distancing guidelines It was casually excused that some “minor things” may have occurred -this was acceptable for John Kennedy. Nobody would ever object that players and managers deserve downtime from football but with this trip being so criticised and out of touch with reality, I would have expected something more understated.
Celtic flew home on their private charter, the players well-drilled and ready to obliterate the rest of the league, but not until they had all been tested. This surely was the crucial moment that all involved would have been dreading, the realisation that those present might have contracted or spread the virus in return for some winter sun.
It didn’t take long for the news to break that Christopher Jullien had tested positive. This resulted in 13 players and three members of staff having to self-isolate, including Lennon and Kennedy. Scottish football boiled over, not only did this put Celtic’s home tie against Hibs in jeopardy, this could be the red card Nicola Sturgeon had threatened. It was time, this had to be the moment Celtic and the board stood up, held up their hands to Scottish football and sincerely said “Sorry”.
Not even close, the statement released on Monday was beyond arrogant. No kind of apology was made and claims of conducting correct protocols was all that was to be heard. The statement was tone deaf beyond belief and the Celtic faithful were again made to look on poor leadership that has lost touch with them and the country. The Celtic statement paired with another announcement that Scottish Football was being suspended from the SPFL League One and below. Some clubs would financially benefit from mothballing another few months, but the overall feeling is this decision was made by the Scottish FA to appease the pressure from the Scottish Government after what can only be described as a catastrophic decision to let the Dubai trip go ahead.
When Celtic took to the field against Hibs on Monday night it was clear from the start that this year’s winter training wasn’t going to be the quick fix of last season. The inability to deal with a cross late in the game saw Conor Hazard flapping at the ball and Kevin Nisbet securing the share of points with a quick-reaction finish. With six changes in the Celtic starting line-up and a bench full of youth it was going to be a tough task against Jack Ross’s Edinburgh men. With a debut for the young American, Cameron Harper, and Mikey Johnston given his first start after returning from injury, it actually felt refreshing to see some youth being given a chance even in these circumstances.
Hibs started the game looking the more comfortable with Kevin Nisbet’s header just missing the target and Joe Newell working Conor Hazard with a half-volley. The best chance came from the growing Celtic side who worked the ball well after Newell lost it under pressure; Mikey Johnston slipped in Harper but a rush of blood saw his strike fire into the side-netting when he could have cut the ball back into the path of an open Johnson or Turnbull with the goal gaping. The ever impressive Ismaila Soro called Hibs new keeper Macey into action with a dangerous strike from outside the box as Celtic became more confident.
Both teams will be disappointed by giving away needless fouls for goals in the second half. David Turnbull showed incredible technical ability to curl his strike neatly into the top corner. Hibernian knew Celtic were still struggling to deal with set-plays and sure enough a ball floated to the back post before being headed back across goal was too much for the Celtic defence and a flapping Hazard. Hibernian were in this game from the off and probably regret not committing more men forward in the final third but a point at Parkhead is probably fair considering their recent poor form. Nothing can be taken away from a superb free-kick from David Turnbull but overall the Celtic team looked like their heads were elsewhere -sitting by a pool with a cold beer perhaps.
The Celtic board could not hide from the criticism or the fans’ utter disappointment which has forced Peter Lawwell into making a public apology in the form of a Celtic TV interview. The interview began with Mr Lawwell apologising to the supporters, stating the Dubai trip was a mistake on reflection, followed up with a strong defence and justification of the team complying with government guidelines during the trip. He went on to explain that the decision was made to benefit the squad but again arrogantly ignored the potential wider impact on other clubs or possibly the whole of Scottish football. The Chief Executive laughed off claims that Celtic had acted arrogantly and argued that they feel those comments are unfair as the club have donated over one million pounds to help with the effects of the pandemic. Mr Lawwell finished off his interview by again directing an apology to the Celtic support and a promise that the club they want to have is here. If only he had stopped speaking, but instead he followed up the apology with a horrific tone-deaf quote about the pandemic:
“It’s affected our club, probably our club more than any”
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