Our season was already on the ropes in October but the final knock-out blows came in the January derby followed by the biggest act of self-harm you’re ever likely to see a club undertake outwith tax avoidance.
During a pandemic, the club charged ahead with organising a trip abroad for their side because the manager thought it was the answer to their woes.
Celtic struggled last season during the first half of the campaign when they flew out to their Dubai base pre-pandemic, the Hoops were galvanised and they wouldn’t lose another game that season in domestic competition.
Neil Lennon was a man who should have been sacked in October, instead, he was planning a holiday for the bhoys.
The emails released under the freedom of information act give us some insight into what was going on and how the bhoys were forging ahead relentlessly to organise a trip away.
At first, Gran Canaria was earmarked for a December camp before the Hoops decided to send out a staff member to Dubai. The reason for the trip to look at the facilities and organise the bubble Celtic would be in for the entirety of the short training camp.
The emails show Celtic took over 6 floors of the Dubai hotel, had their own exits and entry points and wouldn’t mingle with the public. Flashback to the images of Neil Lennon and Scott Brown by the pool – it looks like they are surrounded by other hotel guests.
An email from ScotGov to Celtic outlined the apprehensions they had about the trip just before the club set off.
The Celtic trip to Dubai is generating a lot of interest and I suspect it is only a matter of time before we are approached for comment.
Clearly the legislation allows for professional teams to attend training camps abroad without the requirement to quarantine on return, providing all protocols of the resumption of performance sport are followed.
Given the anxiety around the new strain of the virus I would ask that you are incredibly meticulous in your following of the protocols while abroad. Similarly, the restrictions in Dubai are almost non-existent so particular care to maintain your bubble environment will be vital. Particularly in relation to any down time the players may have.
If you would be willing to share your itinerary and the mitigations you have in place along the way, that would allow me to provide additional reassurance to Ministers if they ask for it. I have seen previous plans Celtic FC have had for overseas travel, which have been comprehensive.
Here is the response from a Celtic staff member: I can understand the interest and we have not taken maintaining our bubble lightly.
A couple of weeks ago the club COVID Lead (Commercial Director) and the club Travel Officer travelled on a reconnaissance trip to visit the hotel and training complex and to check their protocols were of the required standard.
Prior to travelling on Saturday evening, the entire travelling party were PCR tested (1/1/21).
There is a travelling party of 56 which includes playing and technical staff, 2 multimedia, 3 security personnel, Club COVID Lead and the club COVID Officer. They are all part of a twice weekly testing regime.
The squad travelled on a private charter via private check in gate at Glasgow airport and private arrival in Dubai. At no time did the squad pass through any public areas of either airport.
At the hotel, we have taken over 6 floors of a separate building on the complex. The team has exclusive use of separate entry to this building which also has our private dining facility and meeting room. We also have exclusive use of a games room.
The team is to train at a private sports complex which is owned by one of the Princes. We have exclusive use of this and players and staff will travel on 3 buses.
Training will be every morning from 0900-1400 and players will be allowed to relax at the hotel in the afternoons.
There will be 3 organised team meals outside of the hotel and the club have pre-booked private spaces within restaurants for the period of our meal. One of the meals will be on a boat which will sail for 2 hours and we also have exclusive use of this.
Everyone will be bused to the venue although all venues are a ten minute walk.
Middle entrance doors will be used and there will be 3 buses in use. Ventilation hatches as opposed to AC will be in operation.
MASKS WILL BE WORN AT ALL TIMES THE TRAVELLING PARTY WILL NOT LEAVE THE HOTEL AT ANY TIME WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TRAINING AND ORGANISED TEAM EVENTS.
As we know, Christopher Jullien would test positive on the return from the pitch and the Celtic team would be decimated by isolation call-offs. Chris didn’t have to be there after suffering a season-ending injury a week prior. Neil Lennon fizzing because he believed the government had moved the goalposts.
The optics of Celtic players out on the open sea, with the sun beating down on them enjoying a meal while the rest of the Celtic support were back home, smarting over another derby defeat, locked in their houses is still tough to stomach.
We can only imagine they took Barkas out on the boat for a fishing session to see if the goalkeeper could catch something.
Neil Lennon’s tunnel vision for the holiday and his lack of an apology to the Celtic support after we dropped four points out of six after the trip is also a major point of contention. Instead, he defended his right to have pints.
The trip cost over £400k to the club! The Celtic Supporters Affiliation asked the question and they were quoted the staggering amount. Given this was also a time where young players were being furloughed – it can’t be underestimated how wrong our club got things.
This season will be well chronicled over the next ten years. The men who lost the ten.
You can see the full correspondence here.
