Davie Provan slams Celtic chairman; still wants Lennon out too

Davie Provan has been ripping into Celtic chairman Ian Bankier for his ludicrous statement to the Hoops supporters last week.

Bankier provided a statement in the club’s interim results last Monday. However, he then almost immediately followed that up with a secondary statement that contained a lot of waffle but no real substance.

In it, the chairman informed supporters that the club’s review of Neil Lennon’s performance remains ongoing. He also spoke about why the season has been such a disaster, and a random line about how we’ll be looking to take advantage of any change in European football.

And Provan, who again called for Neil Lennon to walk, doesn’t see what the chairman’s done to appease supporters with his comments.

“You couldn’t mark their neck”

As quoted by the Scottish Sun, Provan said: “‘Nothing to see here, move on’ was the tone. You couldn’t mark their neck. Unfortunately, because of Covid, Bankier and fellow directors didn’t have to front up in the flesh. Pity, because fans who paid top dollar for virtual season tickets might have chased them down London Road.

“Given the club was out of the Champions League, Europa League, Betfred Cup and title race by January, this has been a car crash season for the defending champions. Not according to Bankier, who could be using Donald Trump’s old scriptwriter.

“Here’s the reality Mr Chairman. When it comes to advantages, you’ll never be handed a bigger one than Rangers going bust. You were handed the keys to the bank. That £20m you have in the vault this morning could be countless millions more if you had shown an ounce of Champions League ambition.

“For the avoidance of doubt, I think Lennon should go. Celtic have urgent business to address. In the meantime, Mr Bankier is looking five years ahead. Not the guy you’d call if your house was on fire.”

Davie Provan refuses to protect board; Celtic chairman offered fans nothing

It’s no surprise to see Provan absolutely tear into Bankier for last Monday’s statement. It was done in a way that is meant to look like the board is back communicating with fans once again. Yet, in reality, it was effectively a statement asking fans to please be quiet.

Bankier never quite got it with the managerial review either. The Celtic fans put so much emphasis on that aspect because, when it was announced back in December, the season was retrievable. It meant something because it offered hope that a swift decision on Lennon’s future was going to be made.

That Celtic are still apparently in a review period makes no sense. It takes away any meaning the review actually had in the first place. If Lennon was to get sacked tomorrow, there wouldn’t be any rejoicing going about. The Celtic fans would hold some satisfaction at the decision, but it would’ve come too late.

Celtic chairman Ian Bankier / (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

What is the board waiting for?

And now you wonder when the decision will actually be made. If the board is waiting until the end of the season then that proves they deceived the fans by making it seem as though an early 2021 verdict was going to be provided on the manager’s future.

You also wonder what other decisions the Celtic board could possibly have to weigh up. How can Lennon still be under review when every single competition on offer to us has been lost? There are no guarantees the Scottish Cup is coming back this year either.

Even thinking back on Bankier’s statement now can still provoke anger in you. Hopefully, a summer clearout occurs both in the dugout and the boardroom.