Celtic's handling of the Wilfried Nancy debacle has left fans and pundits alike scratching their heads. The club's refusal to accept responsibility or offer any genuine apology for its catastrophic decision-making process only serves as a further indication of a deeper problem - one that extends far beyond a single managerial appointment.
In an era where clubs with a fraction of Celtic's resources are finding it challenging to stay afloat, the fact that the Scottish giants are struggling to find a manager who can steer them towards success is nothing short of astonishing. Eight games into the season and the club has already suffered its fair share of humiliating defeats, which only serves to further erode the credibility of those in charge.
The real question on everyone's lips, however, is how did this come to pass? How did a club that has dominated Scottish football for over a decade find itself at the mercy of a managerial merry-go-round? The answer, unfortunately, lies in the lack of strategy and direction that has characterised Celtic's decision-making process.
The latest casualty of this debacle is Paul Tisdale, whose appointment as head of football operations has been widely seen as a misfire. And yet, it was his removal that sparked renewed speculation about who was behind the scenes pulling the strings. Was it Dermot Desmond, the club's main shareholder, or his son Ross? The truth remains shrouded in mystery.
What is clear, however, is that those responsible for targeting Lawwell, the former chief executive, must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The level of intimidation and abuse directed at Lawwell was appalling, and it serves as a stark reminder of the toxic culture that has taken hold within Celtic's inner circle.
The fact remains, though, that Celtic's season has been defined by statements rather than victories. The club's leadership has consistently failed to provide clear direction or guidance, leaving fans feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
Martin O'Neill's return as interim manager may have brought some much-needed stability, but it is far from a panacea for the club's problems. O'Neill himself has acknowledged that he has his work cut out, and it remains to be seen whether he can guide Celtic towards a more positive trajectory.
What is imperative, however, is that those in charge at Celtic demonstrate a willingness to listen to their fans and engage with them in a meaningful way. This includes proper detail about what led to the appointment of Wilfried Nancy, rather than simply blaming everything short of Magna Carta for the club's woes.
In a bizarre twist, it appears that Celtic may yet salvage some of this season's wreckage. A Champions League outing has provided reason to believe that there is still life left in this campaign, and a domestic double could prove just out of reach.
But even if these uplifting outcomes come to fruition, they will provide no justification for the pickle Celtic finds itself in. The club's failures have been well-documented, and it is high time for them to acknowledge their mistakes and embark on a long-overdue reboot. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty, not just towards fans, but also towards the very fabric of Scottish football.
In an era where clubs with a fraction of Celtic's resources are finding it challenging to stay afloat, the fact that the Scottish giants are struggling to find a manager who can steer them towards success is nothing short of astonishing. Eight games into the season and the club has already suffered its fair share of humiliating defeats, which only serves to further erode the credibility of those in charge.
The real question on everyone's lips, however, is how did this come to pass? How did a club that has dominated Scottish football for over a decade find itself at the mercy of a managerial merry-go-round? The answer, unfortunately, lies in the lack of strategy and direction that has characterised Celtic's decision-making process.
The latest casualty of this debacle is Paul Tisdale, whose appointment as head of football operations has been widely seen as a misfire. And yet, it was his removal that sparked renewed speculation about who was behind the scenes pulling the strings. Was it Dermot Desmond, the club's main shareholder, or his son Ross? The truth remains shrouded in mystery.
What is clear, however, is that those responsible for targeting Lawwell, the former chief executive, must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The level of intimidation and abuse directed at Lawwell was appalling, and it serves as a stark reminder of the toxic culture that has taken hold within Celtic's inner circle.
The fact remains, though, that Celtic's season has been defined by statements rather than victories. The club's leadership has consistently failed to provide clear direction or guidance, leaving fans feeling frustrated and disillusioned.
Martin O'Neill's return as interim manager may have brought some much-needed stability, but it is far from a panacea for the club's problems. O'Neill himself has acknowledged that he has his work cut out, and it remains to be seen whether he can guide Celtic towards a more positive trajectory.
What is imperative, however, is that those in charge at Celtic demonstrate a willingness to listen to their fans and engage with them in a meaningful way. This includes proper detail about what led to the appointment of Wilfried Nancy, rather than simply blaming everything short of Magna Carta for the club's woes.
In a bizarre twist, it appears that Celtic may yet salvage some of this season's wreckage. A Champions League outing has provided reason to believe that there is still life left in this campaign, and a domestic double could prove just out of reach.
But even if these uplifting outcomes come to fruition, they will provide no justification for the pickle Celtic finds itself in. The club's failures have been well-documented, and it is high time for them to acknowledge their mistakes and embark on a long-overdue reboot. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty, not just towards fans, but also towards the very fabric of Scottish football.
... it's like they're trying to make things worse with every move they make 
. They need to take responsibility for their actions and apologize sincerely to Lawwell, that kind of bullying is totally unacceptable 
. It's not just about Wilfried Nancy, it's a systemic problem that goes all the way to the top 
. They need to get some fresh blood in there and give fans something to be excited about 
... anything less would be a huge disappointment for us supporters 
... but instead of being fashionably late, they're just consistently bad at everything! 
I mean, eight games in and they've already lost more games than a beginner's poker game with a bunch of newbie friends 
. And don't even get me started on the Wilfried Nancy debacle – it's like they took all their spare change from 2010 and put it in a "bad decision" jar 
... now that's just ridiculous! 
.
Still, that won't save them from being the laughing stock of Scottish football for long 
. It seems like they're more worried about covering up their own mistakes than taking responsibility for them. I've been following the club for years and never have I seen such a lack of leadership 
. The fact that they're struggling to find a manager who can lead them to success is just embarrassing. Eight games in and already they're getting thrashed? 
. I think O'Neill might be able to turn things around, but it'll take a lot more than just one manager to fix this mess 
.
. It seems like a toxic culture is present within the club and that's a major problem 
. Fans deserve better than vague excuses and no apology... it's time for some real accountability, you know? 
He was given a chance to prove himself and Celtic's board didn't exactly give him a free pass to fail 
It's not like they just handed him the job on a silver platter, it's all about how you handle setbacks & failures 
Celtic's had their fair share of those in recent years too 
i mean, they're one of the biggest clubs in scotland and yet they can't even get their manager thing right 
paul tisdale's appointment was a disaster and now lawwell's getting abuse from whoever's behind it all? that's just gross 
i mean 8 games into the season already and its like theyre just wingin it with no clear strategy or direction 
what happened to derbyshire u know u gotta have a plan man 
and demot desmond & ross are sus 
so yeah i dont think anyone is gonna be happy till celts sort out their act together 
.