One the eve of of a crucial Europa League match against Sparta Prague, the Green Brigade release a statement urging the Celtic board to “save the ten” and dismiss manager Neil Lennon.
The statement acknowledges past achievements and the fans group dissatisfaction at the recent form the Celtic team have been producing, their progress, or lack of, in European competition. This is about where I stop agreeing with them. Let me be clear. I am unhappy at the performance of the team, the results and where we currently sit in the league table, but this statement serves nothing except the Green Brigades ego.
The Scottish media, fans forums and newspaper columnists have all had a field day printing, posting and discussing the future of the current Celtic Manager to a level I have not witnessed since the John Barnes era. Everyone has had their say. It is crystal clear that Lennon and the team are under pressure to start to deliver results so why heap more public pressure on the eve of a European fixture and at a time where Celtics fixtures are coming thick and fast?
The other issue with the statement is that the Green Brigade seem to think of themselves as a voice of authority for the Celtic fans and in many ways Neil Lennon has to take some blame for that. The day he laid the League Trophy in front of the Green Brigade was the day he seemed to single out that section of support as being the sole reason for the title win. That was when a degree of power was handed to that section of fans, and it seems now, that this has backfired.
The Green Brigade have been excellent for the club. Their displays, banners and work for homelessness and food bank charities has been second to none but they do not speak on behalf of the Celtic fans. They speak for themselves.
We all know that the team is under performing. We all know that results have been poor. Now is not the time for division. Its time to back the team. Or maybe we do care if we win, lose or draw?