SENTINELCELTS

While a warrior from Lurgan is handling the footballing side of the business very competently and is making great strides , the week in Celtic cyberspace has been overshadowed by off field activities lead by four of our own who have been keeping the masses abreast of just what is happening.
You wont need my summary by now and Im well aware that many or even most are 99 percent concerned with what happens on the park and will have shrugged off the Res12 new’s as just more background noise.

No matter what side of the fence you sit on we all must agree that to have the events of 2011 – 2012 still casting a murky cloud over the national sport is a disgrace.
Now its clear this will drag on even longer with the board and resolutioners not seeing eye to eye on which course of action next.
Its possible ,of course, all this dragging along is a deliberate ploy to turn the masses off justice and make many wish it was all over ala Brexit but the simple fact is its far from over ( just like Brexit ).
We also must agree that the fact we have four men on their own resources fighting against the system for years now to have transparency and the rulebook actually enforced speaks volumes about the kind of league and people we are dealing with.

For an expat the Club can and does become a life line to home ,, an easy connection to keep from old world to new world that helps to remember the past and who you are , where you’re from. The new life brings the supporter new challenges though , in that the games are no longer conveniently timed , and the masses are gathering and getting passionate for new and different sports which have peaked your interest and are much more fan plus family friendly. Not to mention run with a high degree of professionalism and cater to many of the masses needs matter of factly.

I recall somewhere around the Tony Mowbray season having a real pain in the ass job and coming home absolutely spent to turn on Ctv for the game.
The old reassuring connection with home on the telly and what should be a nice pleasant event seeing the Hoops on the attack.
I also recall week after week of waking the house up yelling at the tv or being on the verge of smashing the thing after another round of honest mistakes.
And this was my relax time after a stressful day at work !
Watching bent refs and us reduced to a punching bag taking it without hitting back. Blood curdling to a man who believe’s always stand up for yourself.
Again it took an ordinary fan with meager resources ( see Paul Larkins Anyone but Celtic ) to document just how bent the ref’s were then yet nothing has been done to change or tackle that set up as I type.

We all know that there’s no Im switching over to this team now ala Asian football fans following a player not club. Its one and done. We are Celtic fan’s and there’s no other full stop.
However the last few years , since Wgs left us I guess , have just left me fully disillusioned with the entire footballing set up north of the border.
The governing bodies and what passes for media cannot be separated in terms of how far I would trust them , or how little respect I have for either.
Two snake pits that have each others back and spawned the bent ref’s. Integrity took one look and bolted.

And then as you watch from afar your own Club’s actions and inactions send the bat signal up such as 5wa , Gb kettled , Dawn Raids , too long in situ , weak buying while ahead , etc etc.
The Big Lie is my own particular bugbear.
On Res12 we have essentially the board refusing to “ kick it upstairs “ where it will get dealt with properly and leaving it to bent friends. Convenient.
Had the Plc endeavoured to attempt to get to the bottom of the recent malarkey that would have left me saying fair enough at least they tried and then facing up the Big Lie and whether I could possibly stomach it.
But like the ref’s , like the media its nothing. Any comments are very much at odds with the average fans view of things (great history , they cost us 10 million a year ) .
There has never been such a divergence of interests since the Celt’s for Change era imo.

Those seeking a genuine sport to enjoy the thrill of pure competition or indeed a club to champion are simply out of luck. Nothing pure about whats on offer.
The Csc’s are down in numbers attending although technology will have had a huge impact there helping the stay at home fan.
Without a good product though , the buyer will increasingly not recommend and those who stumble upon product are likely to move on.
Such an amateur run setup with mysterious ways will never crack a hard market.
The domestic scene is much easier to crack with a waiting list of 10 k for season books telling you the locals are there to be exploited by the biggest show in town. For the majority the only show in town as far as they are concerned.
Soundbites such as More than a Club and the daily dissecting of the games numerous issues keeps the attention span of the masses occupied and off the bigger issues at hand.

So here we stand leaders on the pitch yet off it those entrusted with the well being of our institution embody the opposite of what we historically stand for .
Very soon good honest men’s pleas and hard work towards a fair and transparent game that we all could embrace and enjoy will be stymied by the board , their voting bloc to be gerrymandered by our powerbrokers.
These men now in the top positions have shown no sign that they care for anything but the bottom line. Integrity and transparency are great aspirations but thats all.
Cast by the wayside as another round of obscene bonuses are ratified and another attempt at a better game is gerrymandered into the history books.
Thats what its come to , how far we have been reduced .
Our history and songs betrayed for a bigger slice of the pie. Clubs great name and reputation hawked off.
The regime that was once lauded with words such as “ long game “ plus “playing a blinder “ bandied about is now simply the Judy for the dressed in light blue co-star Punch.
Dont like the stench of corruption ? Its either hold your nose or move along.
Fight it ? No chance its profitable.
For this travesty alone we need new people in charge.

The above is by Mahe. Please consider the occasional article contribution. We are interested in your take on things.
sentinelcelts@gmail.com