Celtic Board must meet Green Brigade to resolve disputes

In our Celtic Star staff writers predictions I went for a 2-0 win to Roma, and I genuinely felt I was being kind with that one. There are so many problems at Celtic at the moment it’s hard to even know where to start, and a defeat like this, to a good team like Roma, was almost inevitable.

These are worrying times as a Celtic fan.

My phone was red hot last night as friends and family were all trying to dissect what the hell is happening at our club after the second home defeat in a matter of days. Opinion varies wildly about what or who is to blame but one thing that everyone agrees on is that something must be done one way or another to sort this mess out.

The first thing I want to discuss is the current atmosphere inside Celtic Park, or lack of atmosphere might be a better way to sum it up.

The board need to realise that their petty vendetta against the Green Brigade is harming our performances on the pitch, there is absolutely no doubting that. There are so many layers to this dispute between both sides, and yes the Green Brigade’s behaviour at times perhaps oversteps the mark but it’s nothing that can’t be sorted out with dialogue between the two parties.

The Celtic board need to swallow their pride, realise that by continuing to outlaw the Green Brigade it’s only making matters worse and is seriously affecting what happens on the pitch.

The board like to treat the fan groups like children, so if they are the so called adults in the situation well then it’s up to them to find a solution that means everyone can move forward. Yes, this might mean making a few concessions but if they truly care about the club then it’s up to them to realise that getting the fans even somewhat back on side is going to help the team massively.

Let’s be honest the atmosphere at Celtic Park has been dire recently.

Last night from pretty much the first whistle all you could hear was the Roma fans. We have listened recently to both our current and past players constantly state that they perform much better with the crowd roaring them on. It’s one of the main reasons players want to come and play here.

It must be horrible trying to play at Celtic Park at the moment, where all you can hear is either the away fans or the moans and groans of the home support when things aren’t going our way.

In the pre-match press conference Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini was talking about how his players were preparing to handle the notorious atmosphere at Celtic Park. I was thinking to myself that he’s obviously not got the memo regarding recent events. His players must have been thinking I don’t know what all the fuss is about as they listened to their own fans sing for 90 minutes. I can’t remember the stadium being so silent, barring Covid games of course.

In all honesty it was pretty embarrassing.

Now I know not all Celtic fans agree with the Green Brigade. Some hate their politics. Some dislike their songbook. Some disagree with their use of pyrotechnics. Some supporters even think they give the club a bad reputation. Whatever you think of the Green Brigade however you cannot deny the simple fact that the atmosphere inside Celtic Park without them is awful.

Where’s the noise, the colour, the roar from the stands that players thrive off? Kept outside by a board who refuse to admit they are ever wrong, that’s where.

It’s vital we regain this connection between supporters and the team. The players need it. Wilfried Nancy certainly needs it. I almost pity him as he stands there in a near silent stadium listening to all the negativity emanating from the stands. He must feel like the way things currently are that everything is against him. What he would give to have the team backed loudly for 90 minutes, it would give them so much confidence, something he himself has said is lacking.

I just pray that will change at Hampden this Sunday.

It has to. Otherwise we could be looking at three loses in a row which would absolutely derail our whole season. It’s hard to see how we would bounce back from such a devastating blow.

The board need to get the finger out and commence in some serious dialogue with the Green Brigade and work out a way to get them back to Celtic Park. This standoff has the potential to set the club back years so if they genuinely have what’s best for the club at heart then they need to sit down and thrash out a compromise. This situation cannot go on much longer otherwise it will never get sorted as both sides dig their heels in.

The board and the Green Brigade may have to swallow a few bitter pills along the way but if it means we can get some sort of unity back then it will all be worth it.

Conall McGinty

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