Celtic fan protests have sparked fresh debate across Scottish football, with many questioning the trust between the supporters and the board.
Banners, chants, and organised action have become common at recent games, aimed at Peter Lawwell and the club’s leadership.
Some see these protests as vital to push for change, while others argue they are misplaced given Celtic’s recent domestic success. For Andy Halliday, the picture is more mixed: the club may be secure financially, but fans are right to point out the lack of progress in Europe linked to transfer decisions.
Halliday agrees that anger remains high, even after Brendan Rodgers’ side impressed with a big win at the weekend. He admitted he was shocked by how strong the latest protests were, especially when set against Celtic’s dominance in Scotland.
Still, Halliday accepted the concerns cannot be ignored. For him, the protests reflect a wider demand for ambition, with supporters frustrated that stability off the pitch has not yet led to progress in Europe.
He said: (Clyde 1 Superscoreboard), “I mean, the Celtic one’s a funny scenario because I think there’s been disdain towards the Celtic board for a number of years, regardless of on-field success or domestic honours.
“It’s obviously been intensified and ramped up since what was deemed a really poor transfer window, but I even felt the narrative towards that would change slightly given Rodgers’ man of the weekend, Tounekti. Since he and Iheanacho came in, he looks like he’s going to make a difference to the team as well.
“So I thought maybe that alone would ease things down. That’s why I was really surprised to see Celtic go so strongly again at the weekend, especially when you’re looking at it through the eyes of a Rangers fan — where the club’s won one league title in 15 years — and considering how successful Celtic have been. From the outside looking in, I can only be honest.
“I think Celtic are run as a club extremely well. I can completely understand the frustrations with this summer’s transfer window, and arguably even the summer before that, but I was surprised to see such a strong protest show again at the weekend.”
Halliday’s view ties into the bigger debate about where Celtic are heading. The accounts show a club in very strong shape, but doubts remain about whether the money is being used well enough to lift standards in Europe.
Fans have made it clear that winning at home is no longer enough. With Rangers facing their own pressure from supporters, the gap between success in Scotland and struggles in Europe is still a sore point for both clubs.
For Brendan Rodgers, the task is mixing short-term results with the bigger goals of the club. Tounekti’s bright start has given hope, but many fans believe players of his quality should have been signed weeks earlier.
With European games coming, the protests will keep testing the bond between the board and the supporters. Halliday might praise the club’s business model, but for most fans, progress will only be judged by results on the European stage.
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Two points…The ” protesters ” have no doubt bought their ST …and in lots of cases continue to buy merchandise…Wow…some protest…Also…just WHO, ultimately, is responsible for players signing for us…??… I’d dearly love to know that…Now remembering its all about opinions …Someone sanctioned £20 million on Engels and Idah…and IMO…it was wasted money…So who carries the can for that ?…. Will we ever know. ??