Sutton on Celtic Board pulling off an unusual achievement

In recent weeks the Celtic support has displayed their anger after an abysmal transfer window and yet another unsuccessful attempt to reach the Champions League through not sufficiently preparing and investing in the team on the pitch.

Fans intend to demonstrate their discontent at Rugby Park this weekend by holding a “12 Minutes Without the 12th Man” protest. It will be the first of a series of actions supporters of the Open Letter will take part in over the coming weeks and months to force change at the top.

Writing in his weekly column in Daily Record, Sutton stated: “Credit where it’s due. The Celtic board are under severe pressure but they have pulled off one remarkable feat in the last few weeks.”

“They’ve managed to unite an entire fan base. That’s good going when you have a support the size of Celtic’s. They’ve succeeded in (upsetting) all of them.”

Sutton added: “The summer transfer window was a slow moving train wreck plenty of us – including the manager and club captain – were warned well in advance. But last weekend’s haughty and ill-judged statement on the back of the muck being thrown around with Brendan Rodgers has proved to be the straw that’s broken the camel’s back.”

“This is what happens when fans feel like they are being taken granted and fed nonsense – a huge backlash. The noise from supporters groups and individual fans is deafening, with votes of no confidence, proposed Europa League boycotts and numerous methods of protest in the pipeline.

“It says it all when even the Celtic Supporters Association are coming out and having a go,” Sutton noted.

The former Celtic striker continued: “It probably seems madness to those on the outside given Celtic have won 13 of the last 14 titles but I totally get the fan frustration. They want to see the club being ambitious beyond Scotland, maximising its potential and giving supporters a bang for their buck.”

Celtic face Kilmarnock tomorrow afternoon live on Sky Sports, and the North Curve group revealed on Thursday night that their protest will begin as the match kicks off.

Releasing a statement two days ago, the group stated: “At Sunday’s match v Kilmarnock, Celtic’s 12th man will enter the stand on the 12th minute to remind the Celtic FC board that it exists.”

“This bold visual and vocal protest, follows the recent Open Letter signed by 420 signatories, which the board has failed to respond to; and a consultation meeting with these signatories.”

“As a collective of fans, we wish no detriment to the team but believe necessary steps must be taken to demonstrate our discontent and remind the board that ‘football is nothing without fans.”

“Once we enter the stand, the team will receive vociferous backing.”

Conor Spence

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