SENTINELCELTS

Now one of the games worst kept secrets (the 5 way agreement and who was involved) is out in the open one would hope that its the beginning of the end.
After seeing the last decade dominated by off field events Im sure none of us wish for a repeat of any such scenes and just want a game to sit back and enjoy knowing its exactly what it says on the tin. No more and no less.

There are hundreds of lessons to be learned from the entire saga, if only one chooses to. We can only hope that those who will lead the governing bodies and the top flights clubs share at least a large percentage of our dismay at what we have been served up as properly regulated football.
I already know its going to be a very hard quick summary in the future to potential young fans, trying to explain the ripples after a leading club died, and subsequent manipulation of existing rules.
We seen the Asterisk years ( hat tip to Paul Larkin ) and now the ten in a row years dominate most Tims brains. I guess how this quest ends will give birth to its nickname for better or worse.
And when it ends we all enter into a new era for the national sport.

While some may fall in love twice or more, your teams a different matter all together. It’s your badge of who you are and what you represent. We’ve all seen folk thrown into sheer unbridled ecstasy at a goal or result,, their day, week, month, year suddenly looking a hell of a lot better. In the case of the big cup it literally made many lives better.
There is no changing your chosen team.
For a real fan it’s just not possible.

As mentioned we enter the second decade of scandals now, and for myself the second year of this blog and year’s on another before that asking questions or seeking answers.
Or shaking the head.
It’s taxing and it’s not good for the soul.
To do the same again would drain the life out of me to be honest.
It’s not gonna happen.
I often wonder how Auldheid keeps going and I’m not the first and won’t be the last.
It’s not good for any supporter to be in such limbo. Many are, perhaps more than some realise. We know there’s other clubs fans just as concerned also. This isn’t restricted to just our club of choice. There’s widespread dissatisfaction.

That new era spoke of will not take all supporters without change.
Seeing the same faces and bodies quick to take your money but disappear into smoke and mirrors when concerns are raised just will not cut it after what we have been through.
As we read almost daily some have decided they just can not put up with the stench of corruption and have already made their personal peace with withdrawing.
It’s tragic on every level. Fans do not grow on trees. Once that void is filled with something else, that’s it.
For a set up that counts on fans season book and walk up cash not television rights purchased, that’s the road to failure. Pure unadulterated failure.

There’s one possible way out of this mess of many years making.
It’s an old cliche but its good to talk has never been more apt. I’ve seen bigger shitstorms fixed with some good old-fashioned chin wagging. Conflicts end in such a fashion.
No one at all wants this mistrust and misleading to continue.
It’s in everyone’s best interests to find common ground and let the focus be solely on the field of play for many a year hoping the sport rebuilds it’s tarnished reputation.
Everyone wants to move on, hopefully with the club onside.

Leveling with the support at large and engaging them will help many think much better of the club. Would sway many a troubled Tim and would be an act worthy of proper Celtic men.
We cant continue on this course no matter what. Knowing what we all know now about the last ten years or so, putting the head in the sand and hoping discontent blows over is not going to cut the mustard one bit.

This next era the club will head into cannot be anything like the last. The league wouldn’t survive another decade like that and even now there are major doubts whether it could apply FFP correctly to its charges. No lessons seem to have been learnt from the governing bodies who should have been ripped up after what they overseen.
Only yesterday we have this weeks sinister scandal with a whiff of “hes being forced out of Scotland“ already being floated by he who is one of the biggest problems the game has. The national sport dragged into the gutter to help hopefully sell an asset,, no problem at all.
Like I say something needs to give here,,those wishing a properly run competition are going elsewhere and will continue to, the number growing each month that see’s another farce to add to the huge list of them.
The Old Firm set up is the road nowhere and will just leave more unhappy supporters in its wake.

We call on the PLC to realise the frustrations of the support , and to take steps to not only hear but consider and act upon the issues the support face.
The fans feel voiceless and taken for granted plus having seen the 5 way document some explanation is due. More than anything, some honesty is due.
Talk to your lifeblood while you still have them.
Now before its too late.

The above is by Mahe. Should you wish to contribute an article simply email it to me at sentinelcelts@gmail.com and we will have it up asap. We do love a guest article on here.