The Celtic board’s popularity with supporters is at an all-time low.
With Brendan Rodgers entering the final year of his contract this summer, a lacklustre transfer window and failure to qualify for the Champions League has pushed supporters’ patience too far.
Failure to secure publicly known targets such as Jakob Breum and Kasper Dolberg didn’t reflect well on the club, leading fans to send the Celtic board an open letter asking seven key questions.
The board eventually responded with a hugely controversial club statement released on a Saturday night, which seemed to deflect the blame.
This resulted in numerous stadium protests over the last few months, and with relations at a crisis point, the club have taken a new measure to try and do something about it.
Celtic to appoint new head of business operations
John Paul Taylor, Celtic’s long-standing Supporters’ Liaison Officer, will be a familiar name to many Hoops fans. But in truth, there is some ambiguity about who says what at Celtic.
Ian Jamieson has overseen the club’s comms strategy for over 20 years, and will be highly familiar with key figures such as Peter Lawwell and Michael Nicholson.
READ MORE: ‘They could’… Scathing Chris Sutton Celtic take has him seriously considering Hearts title race
But the guys upstairs are after some help – they have posted an advert for a new Head of Business Operations. This role does not currently exist at Celtic.
Whilst it sounds like a more corporate-based role, the job description uses some interesting language.
It reads: “The opportunity has arisen to join Celtic in the role of Head of Business Operations.
“This role is fundamental to ensuring that supporter services are delivered in a way which ensures world class supporter service is in place.
“It will encompass a broad range of supporter services including the oversight of all retail operations, ticketing, hospitality sales, and stadium services.”
It’s hard not to laugh at the mention of “world class supporter service”. We have certainly heard things along those lines before.
If the club’s definition of “world class” is applied in the same way that it is to our football operations, don’t expect much.
Celtic and fan action this season
It’s impossible to know whether the timing of this advert is coincidental, but it cannot be ignored that it comes at a time when communication issues between fans and board are a key issue.
Brendan Rodgers has said that the club are ‘looking into’ these issues, and this could well be an example of that.
The only way that the club can truly restore trust is through actions making a tangible difference to the way that things are communicated and carried out.
It will be fascinating to see what comes of this new role at the club, but fans won’t be holding their breath.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
