THE Green Brigade are among several Celtic fan groups to sign an open letter to the club’s under-fire board.
Club chiefs have come under significant scrutiny in recent weeks over the Hoops’ transfer business and failure to reach the Champions League proper.
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Tensions have been simmering for much of the summer in terms of the relationship between Celtic fans and those running the club.
Despite an unbeaten start to the Premiership season with three wins and a draw from four matches, supporters have been left highly frustrated by the club’s transfer dealings.
With the window now closed, the Green Brigade and other prominent groups have unleashed an open letter demanding answers from club chiefs.
Celtic have lost a host of top stars in recent months, including Kyogo Furuhashi and Nicolas Kuhn and many fans feel they haven’t been replaced.
Adam Idah was allowed to leave in a £6million deal to Swansea on transfer deadline day despite manager Brendan Rodgers insisting he couldn’t let the striker go without a replacement.
The Ireland international’s exit left Celtic very light up front and the transfer deadline came and went without a replacement being signed.
The Hoops did eventually snap up free agent Kelechi Iheanacho last night, 24 hours after the transfer window closed.
Celtic great Chris Sutton blasted his old club’s signing business and insisted they’d come out of it WEAKER than they went into it.
Sutton’s sentiments and frustrations have been echoed by fed-up Hoops fans.
They chanted “sack the board” as Celtic were held to a dismal goalless draw by Kairat Almaty in the first leg of their Champions League play-off two weeks ago.
It was the same result the week after and the Hoops then crashed out on penalties to the Kazakhstan club.
In the wake of that European humiliation and perceived transfer window failings, several leading Celtic fan groups have launched an open letter in the direction of the board.
Directed to major shareholder Dermot Desmond, chief executive Michael Nicholson, chairman Peter Lawwell and chief financial officer Chris McKay, the Green Brigade and other leading groups have demanded URGENT action in addressing the club’s current situation.
Blasting a “collective failure,” the fan groups laid out a series of questions they want the board to answer in the wake of a “disastrous transfer window.”
The letter posted on social media blasted: “After a disastrous transfer window and failure to qualify for the Champions League, Celtic supporters are once again calling for urgent action to address the clear structural problems within the club.
“We demand full transparency from the board regarding its repeated failure to back the manager and reinvest our money into the playing squad.
“We also demand accountability: what course of action will be taken to ensure such a collective failure does not happen again?
“In addition, we highlight once more the club’s lack of a coherent fan engagement strategy, and call for a progressive, innovative approach to working with supporters.
“Our questions for Michael Nicholson, Chris McKay, Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond are:
“What is the club’s long term footballing strategy, and when and how will this be communicated to supporters?
“Why has there been no investment in critical positions despite repeated pleas from the manager, obvious weaknesses in the squad and calls from supporters?
“What accountability measures are in place for repeated failures in transfer dealings?
“How do you intend to modernise the club’s structure to compete in Europe and why are we consistently unprepared for qualification stages?
“When will supporters receive the results of the ‘fan survey’ conducted over a year ago and why have these not yet been released despite being in the club’s possession for several months?
“Why have the results of the Fairhurst Inquiry not been made public and what action will the club take to protect supporters from unlawful and disproportionate policing in the future?
“Why does the club continue to resist working with supporters to improve matchday atmosphere, supporter experience and consultation on key issues such as ticket pricing and distribution?”
After listing the questions they want to see answered, the fan groups also renewed calls for what they call “open and transparent dialogue” from those running the club.
They said that “the time for silence is over.”
The letter continued: “It has now been years since any form of meaningful communication between the Celtic board and supporters.
“For clarity, this means clear, open and transparent dialogue across the support and not confined to carefully selected representatives behind closed doors.
“Fans have repeatedly demanded positive engagement and repeatedly been ignored – the time for silence is over.”
Read more on the Scottish Sun
The letter was signed by a host of fan organisations and fan media groups, including the Green Brigade, Bhoys Celtic and the Celtic Trust.
It was also signed by a sizeable list of Celtic supporters clubs from around the world.
More to follow…
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