It was a great relief when Martin O’Neill was appointed Celtic manager, given the shambolic lack of process that arrived at two other unacceptably poor choices.

Of course, although it has generally been accepted as fact, there has been no communication from the club to either confirm or deny. I went to the trouble of writing a blog late on Friday night, because I didn’t want to be a week behind the narrative. The club seemingly have no such qualms.

Many have speculated the initial delay was because the stock market would have to be informed. but statutory stock exchange announcements for appointments are mandated by market rules (AIM Rule 17). Specifically, the PLC must notify a Regulatory Information Service (RIS) without delay regarding the resignation, dismissal, or appointment of any PLC director. So, unless Martin was simultaneously being appointed as a director, then appointments of strictly operational or sporting staff do not need to be announced to the stock market.

Of course, the Club may choose to cover itself from all eventualities if it felt an announcement was price sensitive information that must be disclosed without delay. However, given the lack of liquidity in respect of Celtic shares, there are no grounds to believe that Martin’s appointment would have any notable effect on the share price.

Another possibility of course, is that no such appointment has been made. Wouldn’t that be something?

Interplanetary or Earthly Comms?

The most likely scenario for this failure to inform, is that Celtic’s legendary comms strategy has struck again. Treat the fans like an arthritic gardener treats mushrooms. Keep them in the dark and, very slowly, feed them ‘fertiliser’.

Researchers from the University of California, calculated that early radio signals sent by Earth (directed at NASA’s Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft) will reach potentially habitable star systems, meaning an intelligent civilization could intercept them and send a reply reaching Earth as early as 2029.

We all know what ET is short for don’t we?

That’s right, it’s because he has wee legs.

I make no apologies for a classic Dad joke!!

It is a matter of some conjecture as to whether Celtic fans will hear from their CEO before the aliens drop us a line. Will we hear about Celtic’s managerial and board appointments before we hear about the invasion threats of the androgynous grey beings from Proxima Centauri B?

I think it’s reasonable to assume that we will, but as for a 5 year plan with a vision for Celtic’s progress in Europe, it seems just as likely we’ll see that around the same time as the actual alien invasion which, based on a similar level of technological advancement, should be in about 74,000 years or so.

Would it be a stretch to assume that Dermot Desmond’s preserved & animated brain would still be interfering in transfer business? Surely, after so many millennia we could be confident that Dermot has raised the cap of £3m for recruiting players without needing his authorisation, to maybe £3.5m?

Too much to hope for?

Opaque Decision Making from the Unaccountable

Without an interim manager (or any manager) in place, we have significantly extended the contracts of Scales, McCowan and Yang, plus given another year to Forrest. I would suggest any new manager would have wanted a say in at least three of those decisions.

We have also sold Palma and Inamura, plus cancelled the contract for Stephen Welsh. And by ‘we’ I mean absolutely nobody knows who is making these decisions, on what basis, and with whom they are consulting.

We heard about all of the last three mentioned initially via the press. The real concern there is when you realise how easily information leaks, it belies the notion that there is feverish activity going on in the background. It strongly suggests that Celtic’s glacial pace for doing anything other than barring their own fans, remains unchanged. It appears their three speed approach to change and recruitment of –

1: Iceberg, 2: Dead stop and 3: Reverse, has been unaltered by the events of last season.

So far it also seems the board ‘refresh’ will consist of replacing a retiring chairman and a director stepping down on health grounds. The CEO is currently on holiday, but there’s absolutely no way to differentiate between holiday and work when it comes to hearing from him.

It’s unclear as to when former Heineken chief Paul Mazoyer takes up his position as Head of Business Operations, but given his responsibilities include retail operations, ticketing, hospitality sales, and stadium services, if the CEO is still not communicating, then what on earth is he doing to justify a package near a million pounds a year?

A Fond Farewell

To switch gears for a moment. On a personal level I was very saddened to see Stephen Welsh leave the club. For those unfamiliar with my X account, you will also be unfamiliar with my pinned post. Stephen scored a vital and timely goal against Aberdeen, and this was central to the very last conscious interaction I had with my father as he lay on his deathbed.

In fact, I find it difficult to discuss Stephen without getting emotional.

With me, as with almost all of you I’m sure, Celtic is central to so many memories and experiences that are far more consequential than football itself.

It is fundamental to our lives and core to our beliefs. The reality for so many of us is that Celtic is far more than a club. Despite that statement being hijacked for marketing by a bloodless PLC, it remains an undiminished truth for the fans.

This was my post upon my father’s passing.

“He rallied one last time on Sunday to sing us ‘Grace’ as best he could. His last conscious acts were hanging on for YNWA & giving us a wee fist pump celebration for Stephen’s goal. There is undeniable magic about this club we all love. A Celtic man until his last breath”

Best of luck to you Stephen. I sincerely wish you every conceivable good fortune in your future career. May your God go with you.