SENTINELCELTS

For a backwater nation more dependent than others on the turnstile customer, Scottish football sure does act very strange at times.

One would tend to think the games lifeblood would be catered to, listened to, indulged for the most part.
With poor weather and diet to match giving rise to the worst heart disease rate in Europe, the national sport could well be described as much needed to people oozing competitiveness.

The current exploits of the Ibrox team in Europe allied with the national team’s qualification for a major tournament will only serve to paper over the many cracks those with knowledge of the domestic setup would find.
Depending on your viewpoint, the lack of sporting integrity may well be the games biggest issue.

There’s a quartet have found that out the hard way. Call me naive and maybe times have changed but at one point I actually believed those who through their own diligence uncovered a scandal involving something as important as the national sport and brought it to light, would be praised!

In times past they would be deemed ‘sleuths’ with front page photographs by baying press packs outside their homes vying for the first exclusive interviews.
The public would soon have found them a nickname and could sleep a tad easier at night knowing the good citizens were keeping an eye on the wheels that grind looking for flaws.
All while the heroes themselves finally sit back content in the knowledge their efforts were not in vain.

That’s clearly the past though.
In modern day Scotland, to bring high profile jiggery-pokery to light invites trouble, not praise.

When such malarkey encompasses some of the nations largest institutions, it’s judiciary services with accompanying powerful bodies, and taxpayer costs that run into nine figures, a powerful friend to carry the fight was only the sensible option.
Twice they asked, twice they were denied.

There’s no major body left to call upon, and thus a dead end stares at Resolution 12 after all these years of hard honest endeavour to find only the truth, nothing more.

But above all it exposed the one sad and simple fact that we as a support don’t have a unified voice or umbrella to gather under.
Whilst we can’t change what has happened in the past, the power to organize is something well within our capacity.

Now we know the void exists, it’s incumbent upon the support to fill it. Never again should we be caught on the hop, would the Res12 events have happened with a strong supporter body on the scene? No chance, so nip the next one in the bud now by unifying into a strong voice.

Doing nothing or trusting those already in the corridors of power to look after the game and it’s lifebloods interests will get you nowhere, just as the Res bhoys.
Fans were almost having to park miles away from the stadium also I’ll remind you, showing the regard you’re held in.

Each of us must ask what we are looking for in a body to represent us when it comes to something as precious as our club, ask questions of those who would seek to represent you, and certainly attempt to choose wisely with your endorsement. Its one of the little bits of power we’ve all still got.

As for the Resolutioners, they have my thanks and respect. They were failed by many, but forcing fans to finally unite would be far from a failing.
With a slight tweak, this song was almost made for them.

“He calls out to the Celt on the street,
Sir can you help me?,
I’ve documents show that they cheat,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?

He walks on,
Doesn’t look back,
Pretends he can’t hear him,
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street,
Seems embarrassed to be there.

Oh, think twice,
For it’s a different game for you and me in Paradise,
Oh, think twice,
Its a different game for you, you and me in Paradise “