Celtic are yet to officially announce Martin O’Neill as their manager for next season, prompting widespread discussion over the club’s communication with supporters.
Bernard Ponsonby, a veteran journalist and lifelong Celtic supporter, has always been perceived as a voice of reason when it comes to the club.
Ponsonby appeared on PLZ Soccer, and his words still ring true amid a time when supporters deserve to know what’s happening at their club. Ponsonby said:
“The issue on the debit side of the ledger which the supporters are concerned about is an inability to make any meaningful progress in Europe which, they believe and which I believe, is because they haven’t spent properly.
“They need to get the communication better. The only things that we’ve heard from the Desmond family in recent times is that incenduary statement on the night that Brendan Rogers resigned, which may well all be true.
“I don’t know. The only two people that know whether or not it’s true are Brendan Rogers and Dermot Desmond. It may well be true, but it has no credibility because there is no communication with the support. I don’t know what Desmond’s vision for the club is because he doesn’t say anything.
“And then he sends his plenipotentiary to the AGM to read the riot act. Distant voices from a land beyond the waves in order to read the riot act. Well, that won’t do if you don’t communicate. You first of all have to establish your credibility with the people who are paying their money. They deserve that. They deserve that degree of respect. So I will wait and see what happens.”
In over 50 years of following Celtic, Ponsonby says he has never seen anything like the discord between fans and the board, admitting that despite the league and Scottish Cup being achieved, the “complete disconnect” remains.
“The last season has been, if we take out the magic of the last couple of weeks, it was, in part, horrible,” he continued.
“And one of the reasons why it was horrible is that I’ve never known, in all of my years as a Celtic supporter, and I’ve been going to see Celtic for over 50 years, supporters actually falling out with one another and a toxic atmosphere.
“That’s not what I was reared in. It’s not what I was brought up in, and a complete disconnect between the mainstream and the board. You can only change that if you yourself are prepared to change and engage.”
Ponsonby says it is up to Desmond to communicate with the fanbase, otherwise the unease will only worsen.
“I hope he does because if he doesn’t, the chances are we will be back here again. It would help if he simply came out and spoke. I always say I don’t know what he’s like.
“I don’t know what his vision is. I don’t know where he sees Celtic being in five years time or 10 years time. I don’t know whether he thinks the current stadium is fit for purpose. Supporters will tell you there’s bits that needs done. What is the vision? From that point of view, Mr. Desmond appears blind.”
His words will ring true with many supporters.
In modern football, many clubs are briefed to keep up to date with their supporters on the latest news that they will deem useful. That’s not to say absolutely everything needs to be public, but some communication would be a good start.
We await an official update regarding the managerial situation. In the meantime, news will come from other outlets.
