Celtic fans’ patience with the club’s current boardroom has hit an all-time low after the summer transfer window.
After taking Bayern Munich to added time of the second leg in last season’s Champions League knockout stages, the feeling was that the club had forward momentum in Europe.
But with Nicolas Kuhn departing for Como at the beginning of the summer and no replacement forthcoming, Celtic took a gamble ahead of their crucial qualifier against Kairat Almaty.
Few saw Kairat’s huge upset victory coming, but given the chants of “Sack the board” which were heard in the home leg of the tie, fans clearly saw it as a manifestation of serious problems with the club’s management.
A 0-0 derby draw at Ibrox did little to reassure supporters, and after a bruising transfer deadline day, which saw Adam Idah also leave without being replaced, many fans have reached the end of their tether.
For one former Premier League striker, fans’ discontent is justified – but they should have done more to make it clear.
- READ MORE: Chris Sutton slams Joe Hart for ‘excuse’ about Celtic board after transfer window shambles
‘There are so many issues going on at Celtic’ – Charlie Austin
Former Southampton and QPR favourite Charlie Austin may not know what it means to play in Glasgow, but he has never been afraid to make his thoughts known.
Sunday’s derby match was far from an ideal advert for Scottish football, and in Austin’s eyes, fans should have boycotted the showpiece event.
Speaking on Sky Sports News, he said: “We hear another Celtic fan saying they’re not taking up their European package, but the weekend was the perfect time.
“For the Rangers fans, and for the Celtic fans. Why did you go to the game? Everyone talks about it being the biggest game in Scottish football. Everyone’s eyes are on it. Talk then!”
The game came after both clubs failed in their attempts to qualify for the Champions League, with Brendan Rodgers saying after the match that his best players needed help.
Winger Sebastian Tounekti was the Hoops’ only Deadline Day signing in the end – but for Austin, transfers are not the only problem.
He said: “[Transfers] are just one part of it, and there are just so many issues going on at Celtic at the moment.
“You also feel that Scottish football is in a not good place at the moment. They really aren’t. None of the clubs could get into the Champions League; they all lost their qualifying games.
“If you look at Rangers and Celtic at the moment, there are so many off-the-field issues going on at the moment, fans aren’t happy.”
Despite Kelechi Iheanacho potentially arriving at Parkhead as a free agent, there is an understandable feeling among supporters that this is too little, too late.
It is hard to imagine Brendan Rodgers extending his contract
Earlier in the summer, Brendan Rodgers made strong comments suggesting that he was only going to stay if the club were interested in going to the next level.
As things stand, it feels impossible to argue that Rodgers’ ambitions have not been matched by the club’s business.
Celtic’s squad appears to be weaker than it was at the beginning of the window – the opposite of what the Hoops boss publicly said he wanted to happen.
Rodgers also said that he didn’t think the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League should impact their transfer prospects. This also has not aged well.
With Celtic having failed to score in seven of their last eight halves of football, there is a feeling that Rodgers’ fate has been sealed by this summer’s transfer business.
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