Celtic supporter clubs in Ireland have been left incensed by a new P&O Ferries policy that has threatened to wreak havoc with matchday travel, The Irish News has reported.
The outlet says that the travel company intend to axe Saturday 8pm sailings from Scotland next month unless stringent criteria are met that will significantly increase costs to supporters clubs.
It’s believed this includes guaranteeing a minimum of five coaches with 50 people, costing £55 a head instead of the usual £35. Fans feel unfairly targeted, and discussions are now ongoing in an effort to challenge the policy.
John Bennett, chair of St Matthew’s Celtic Supporters Club in Belfast, told The Irish News: “That leaves us in a predicament, it’s unbelievable. We’re actually getting together with other Celtic and Rangers clubs, the Donegal crowd too, who have all used P&O for years.
“Doing away with that 8pm sailing leaves us in a situation where we can’t operate because we’ve no alternatives as it nearly doubles the prices. I’m not a businessman. But if they’re going to cancel the 8pm sailing, then they’ll have to cancel the 8am one too, because football fans just won’t travel.
“It will mean you can’t get home until the next day. We’re in the middle of a financial crisis, people can just about afford to live, so any small luxuries that they have are being cherished at the moment.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for P&O Ferries said: “Given the current economic climate, we are not in a position to operate services at a loss. As such, we are working with football clubs and their fans to find a viable solution which will enable us to continue facilitating their travel at suitable times.”
There are also separate Stena Line sailings, but presumably, switching to those services would bring up unwelcome issues for the supporters’ clubs impacted by this decision.
Hopefully, a common-sense answer can be found. Irish clubs travelling over to Glasgow are part of the fabric of the support, and losing a significant contingent of them would undoubtedly be a blow.
In other news, Scottish FA chief issues bizarre and worrying prediction as Celtic set for new era.
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