Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has given his take on the growing tension between the club’s hierarchy and supporters, after two contrasting statements were released following Monday night’s meeting between the Celtic Fans Collective and senior Parkhead executives.
Sutton, who was speaking on the RecordSport podcast, welcomed the fact that dialogue had taken place but suggested the discussions had come too late to ease frustration among the fanbase.
“First of all, I do think that dialogue is a good thing and it is whatever anybody says. Who knows what will come out in the minutes because there are contrasting views, massively contrasting.
“Really, I think the anger at the start of the meeting would have probably been from the supporters groups that the horse has already bolted and we’re having this meeting now and the work should have been done. The stuff about the club not taking any responsibility. In fairness, the statement which was put out by the club last night, they did actually own up to mistakes and recognise concerns and the frustration of the support and what have you.
“Maybe that was the statement which they should have put out a few weeks ago, holding the hands up. I think that would have been more timely than after the horse has bolted. It’s where it leads to and where it goes.
“I think the supporters want to see a head or heads on sticks and I don’t think that that necessarily will happen. I don’t see the fan anger going away at present, which isn’t a good situation for the club to be in.”
Sutton’s remarks came after the Celtic Fans Collective described the meeting as “disappointing” and accused the board of showing “a lack of humility, awareness and accountability.”
Celtic, in their own statement, acknowledged that “mistakes have been made” in the summer transfer window and in Europe, promising to learn from recent failings and improve supporter engagement going forward.
The full minutes from Monday’s meeting are expected to be released in the coming days, which may shed further light on where the truth lies between two very different accounts.
Fan anger doesnt look to be simmering down anytime soon, and more protests could soon come.
The last set of protests divided opinion, with many not agreeing that the silent protests would be the best way forward, but they did help to bring this meeting.
The challenge for the future protests will be to find a way to do so that all fans can get behind.
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2 responses
The best thing for Celtic to do now, is to grant Brendan Rodgers his wish and fire him.
He is the cause of most of this unrest between the board and the fans, so-called and otherwise.
When he returned to Celtic he wanted to be more than manager. He wanted a place on the board! But more than this, he wanted to get back at Peter Lawwell! It was personal! Once he saw this wasn’t happening he began to use/turn the fans against the board. No good manager would EVER do this! He is the cause of this whole issue! The board acknowledges their faults. Rodgers does NOT acknowledge his!
Time for him to go!
Right you are, Peter.