SENTINELCELTS

Morning,all.

Sometimes being a football fan in Scotland leads you to believe that you’re really living inside an old episode of The Twilight Zone. And sometimes things happen,as a Celtic supporter,that just confirm that for you!

It was only around four weeks ago that Ryan Christie was cited by the SFA Compliance Officer for his challenge on Morelos,a challenge which was seen and acted upon by referee Kevin Clancy,who dished out a yellow for it. As far as I am aware,that is a precedent in the game-usually the decision and punishment handed out by the referee is deemed as sufficient and inviolate. It is only when a referee agrees that he has not seen a particular incident that the Compliance Officer can get involved.

So in this case,to refresh your memories,Clancy was asked to look at the incident again. Did Ryan deliberately strike at Morelos’ genital area or,as originally thought,was he merely attempting to pull him back-the offence for which he was originally yellow carded?

Never one to rock the boat,Clancy agreed that it was a deliberate strike at Morelos’ genital area and worthy of a red card. As a result,Ryan was given a two match ban-which morphed into three as this was his second red card of the campaign. Worse though was to come,as the SFA let it be known that the ban was for an ACT OF BRUTALITY,language which I have never heard them use before,despite adjudicating on many worse and more clear cut cases. Christie’s reputation is now forever tarnished by those words,the same as Tonev was tarnished by being branded a racist-on the balance of probability!

I’d have sued them.

Moving on from the beginning of the month to the end of it,and I am thoroughly shocked that the Compliance Officer has not cited Power of Kilmarnock for his brutal assault on Jeremie Frimpong a week ago. If you want to term something as an act of brutality,I know which of the two is closer to the mark for me. Power launched himself into the tackle with a reckless disregard for the welfare of his opponent. He knew damned fine well that he was gonna clear Frimpers out,and just hoped to get enough on the ball to get away with it. The last bit is only a rule where the target is a Celtic player,btw-everywhere else it is still a cardable offence,the colour dependent on the severity of the assault.

I’d say this one was pretty high on the severity scale. Two-footed,straight through the player with full body weight behind the challenge,nowhere near the ball. Player stretchered off after a ten minute delay.

We didn’t even get a f…..g free kick off Robertson,so he can hardly have said that he saw it-he gave a throw in to us,which means that he thought Power had touched the ball.

But naw,nothing. I must have dreamt it all. We all did. As I said,The Twilight Zone.

Of course,The Twilight Zone could also be used to describe our efforts at boosting the squad during this transfer window. Neil Lennon told the world before it opened that he wanted four new players in total,with at least a couple signed in time for our trip to Dubai. He got none in time for Dubai,one in time for the first match back against Partick Thistle,and a second one joining yesterday after the biggest cliffhanger since Who Shot JR? He then proceeded to tell the world that he was happy with what he had,it was a great squad to work with,yada yada. So that’s some change of mindset in a month,Neil. From needing four to getting two-who have played TEN MINUTES between them for us-and only three days left of the window. Of course,what it all means is that he learned so much about the players whilst in Dubai,he’s underestimated them,they’re all world beaters just waiting to be unleashed.

So that’s alright,then. Everything in the garden is rosy after all. No need to panic,it’s all under control. More likely that PL has told him that he had planned a few loans but the sneaky new rules have kyboshed that plan. So it’s Plan B. Send my Dad down to St Winin’s and light some candles.

The Twilight Zone,a litre of Scotch and a bag of hallucinogenics are needed for any of that to make the slightest sense. A wing and a prayer,and that’s it.

But some things do give us reasons to be cheerful. I’d heard some rumours over the last six weeks or so that the 2019 AGM had stirred some people into action,and certain names were mentioned. Also that Celtic-minded people of significant wealth and influence were being contacted regarding the possibility of building a shareholding large enough to challenge the comfort zone of the current occupying force in the boardroom. And that the Celtic Supporters Trust were planning a relaunch. I wish I’d asked more questions about that at the time,as I’ve no idea why a relaunch was necessary.

So yesterday brought the heartening news of a return to the fray of David Low,and as head of The Celtic Supporters Trust. This position gives him the authority to actively push for change,whether it be a change of regime or a change in their approach. As Consigliori for Fergus McCann during the takeover in 1994,he has the respect and admiration of those of us who well remember those days,and the calamity of which they strived manfully to steer us clear.

He is already speaking of increasing the membership of the CST,widening the spectrum of Celtic voices behind their banner,and of using any surplus funds to purchase shares in the club. When membership details are revealed,I’ll be sure to sign up-and to post them on here too. My hope is that his presence will galvanise and unite the support enough for membership to explode,and for those funds to make a difference.

But here’s another wee possibility. That Celtic-minded people of significant wealth and influence will be motivated to quietly buy shares in their own name and discreetly offer their support to The Trust. This could be a game-changer,and only time will tell. But when you’ve been living in The Twilight Zone for so long,with no discernible prospects of change,the mere suggestion of A New Dawn lights up my life!

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Above article by BMCUWP. It’s not all doom and gloom being a Celtic supporter,as I hope the above shows. I saved the best till last! If you’ve been saving some thoughts on the club,write them down and send them to us. We always publish as Article of the Day,and the more views we have the fresher the site feels. Mail Mahe on

sentinelcelts@gmail.com