Celtic must formally recognising Celtic Fans Collective

A meeting has been scheduled for Monday, October 6th, with Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay set to represent the club.

Below is the full statement issued by the Celtic Fans Collective following confirmation of the meeting –

‘This evening, Celtic fan organisations received an invitation from Celtic FC to attend a meeting with the club on Monday 6th October to discuss ongoing concerns about the running of the club.

‘In conjunction with the Celtic Fans Collective, supporter organisations have accepted this invitation. Celtic FC’s representatives will include Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay.

‘We welcome the club’s decision to meet and engage directly on the issues raised. However, we remain under no illusions about the scale of change still required at board level.

‘As a result of this development, the planned continuation of the “3-match silence” has been postponed, in good faith, in the hope and expectation that supporters will now receive full and honest communication from the club.

‘We thank every supporter who has stood behind this campaign and helped bring the Celtic board to the table. Without this unity, it would not have been possible. It highlights the strength and influence of a united Celtic support.

‘The Celtic Fans Collective will continue its campaign irrespective of the outcome of this meeting, with the clear aim of securing meaningful, positive change for the betterment of Celtic Football Club and its supporters.’

At his pre-match press conference, Brendan Rodgers was asked about the impact of a potentially subdued atmosphere on his team, and whether it might play into the hands of opposition sides used to hostile environments.

Rodgers responded, “I think that obviously Celtic Park is renowned for its atmosphere and what it can do to the opponent. So it’s probably something, in all fairness, you would have to ask the other team. But I suppose my message is, probably for the longer term, is that hopefully both parties can sit down and respect the differences and find a solution so that we can all pull together again. Because that’s what’s always key here for Celtic.”

While the invitation marks progress, and the postponement of the silent protest a positive reciprocal action, controversy surrounds who has been asked to attend. Despite its size and influence, the Celtic Fans Collective was not named among the invited groups. Instead, the club contacted ‘recognised’ supporter organisations, requesting that each submit up to two named representatives before the meeting.

Some Steering Group members of the Collective will be present in their capacity as representatives of their own groups, but it seems, not directly as delegates of the Collective itself. To some supporters, this omission may perhaps be viewed as a red flag and a potential attempt by the board to divide and conquer.

The exclusion of the Collective has raised suspicion that the club intends to control the narrative by dictating who can, and cannot, represent fans. Some argue that the invited groups should have declined until the Collective was formally included. Others believe attending is absolutely the correct move, but with the condition that future communication should be directed through the Collective.

This meeting represents a major test of the Collective’s unity. If groups stand together and act in concert, the board will find it harder to drive wedges between them. If not, the campaign risks losing momentum.

Despite these concerns, most fans agree that the meeting is at least a positive first step. The “3-match silence” protest has been paused, not ended, and the Collective insists their campaign will continue regardless of what is said on Monday night. The seven questions put to the board by the Collective remain unanswered.

On Monday evening, Celtic supporters will get their first real indication of whether the board intends to meet fans in good faith, or whether the dialogue is just another attempt to pacify. And this meeting should be the chance for the Celtic Board to formally recognise the Celtic Fans Collective because it’s not going away.

Continue reading on the next page – Celtic v Sporting Braga –Everything said at  Brendan Rodgers Media Conference yesterday afternoon at Celtic Park…