SO, WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED IN THE CELTIC BOARDROOM YESTERDAY?
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 4 minutes ago
- 3 min read
As usual, when fans need communication the most, The Celtic Boardroom decides to slam the doors shut tighter than a constipated clam.
However, we know there was a board meeting yesterday, and that this is highly unusual, especially on New Years Day, when even the most committed of company men are usually persuaded to take the day off.
Two possibilities seemed to emerge yesterday afternoon, either the board were preparing to do what the vast majority of fans now want, which is to remove Wilfried Nancy from his position as manager, or they were about to appoint a new Chairman.
Here’s what we know so far.
Celtic Boardroom Remains Tight-Lipped as Rumors Swirl
As soon as it became clear from multiple, trustworthy sources, that the Celtic Board were meeting yesterday, I expected an imminent announcement of the manager’s departure.
In what is most likely a completely unconnected coincidence, our recent interim manager Martin O Neill postponed two speaking events due to take place today (One of which was with our very own ACSOM team in Glasgow).
However, whilst no specific reason was given beyond it’s a personal matter, this didn’t stop the online speculation from kicking into overdrive.
Rumors of Martin O’Neill coming back, on an 18-month deal began to gather momentum. However, when Martin’s representatives subsequently confirmed that one of his cancelled Friday events will go ahead early next week instead, this seemed to pour cold water on the idea of an imminent return as Celtic’s manager, much to the disappointment of myself and many other fans.
I decided to sleep on it and see what if anything was announced by Celtic overnight. Afterall, if there’s one thing our current board love, it’s sneaking out press releases late in the evening when fan media can’t immediately react to it, nor can anyone ask the club for any further clarification.
In the end, the only update to emerge so far today has been that, unsurprisingly, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey will return to Manchester City after failing to impress three Celtic managers in a row.
There is also speculation that Celtic are about to sign Mexican right-back Julian Araujo on loan from Bournemouth until the end of the season. The player is reportedly in Glasgow with a deal imminent.
Considering that a right-sided full back with the potential to play wing-back is exactly the kind of signing we expected Wilfried Nancy to push for this month, then, if indeed Araujo does sign on until the end of the season, that would point towards the manager’s position being safe for the short term.
However, the fact that it’s believed to be a loan signing, minus any obligation to buy, would also indicate that the Celtic Board are still trying to hedge their bets as far as Wilfried Nancy is concerned.
For fans, this is exactly what we didn’t want to hear. Once again Celtic boardroom dithering over the tough decisions that need to be made, leaves us all in a state of huge imbalance ahead of a Glasgow Derby this weekend that, perhaps for the first time since this new Rangers came into being, has many Celtic fans genuinely fearful about the scoreline.
I personally don’t buy the talk that the Celtic Board met yesterday to appoint a new chairman. Interim Chairman Brian Wilson has only been in the job for one day. Any such move would have been announced to the stock exchange having already been agreed before the holidays.
Still, with the stock exchange reopening today, it is possible an announcement of this kind may follow later this morning. But I have my doubts.
It seems that once again, Celtic’s board met, discussed the prospect of admitting to their mistake and removing a manager clearly out of his depth, and decided it would be easier just to retreat back into their cocoons and adopt their usual “ignore the plebs until the problem goes away” approach.
That won’t work this time, especially if, as I fear, we get a negative result against the Ibrox Tribute Act this weekend.
Of course, if I’m wrong then all that Celtic need to do is come out and say so. I think we all know though, there’s probably more chance of Lord Lucan becoming our next manager.