Celtic are lacking unity at the moment.
The team may be facing a challenge in the Scottish Premiership title race, but issues off the pitch have also been on the club’s agenda.
The Green Brigade have been locked out of all fixtures since November, with a Celtic fan boycott at last weekend’s clash with Dundee showing solidarity with the fan group.
Dialogue between the group and the club has been staggered, with Hoops interim chairman Brian Wilson recently giving a statement voicing a willingness to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
Someone more familiar with the GB than most in the Celtic dressing room is Kieran Tierney.
Only one of Kieran Tierney and Marcelo Saracchi can start against Kilmarnock
Who are you picking?
Celtic’s Kieran Tierney on the Green Brigade
Tierney’s relationship with the Celtic ultra groups was one of the ways he established himself as a fan favourite in his first spell at the club.
The pictures of the defender celebrating with a megaphone after wins became iconic.
READ MORE: Tommy Burns’ offer to leave Celtic role in 2001 and how he rejected it
Speaking ahead of Celtic’s trip to Rugby Park, Tierney mentioned that a banner from the fans had reminded the players of what’s required in the title race.
He said: “I think for all we’ve been through this season, the team has never been more together, and I think that shows great character and that we’re not giving up the fight.
“There was a banner on Wednesday night that we’ll fight until the end, and I think that’s the message that every supporter would give the players if they could speak to them.
“I have known [the ultras] for years, going to the games and that when I was younger, that’s kind of what I love to do when I went, try and create an atmosphere as well.
“I would love the atmosphere to be the best it can be because the run-in’s going to be tough and you know yourself how the atmosphere can be at Celtic Park and how much it can help us, so yeah, I would look forward to that.
“It means a lot, and you see them when they go to the games, they make noise.
“All the kids that go in, you see how much it makes their day and their weeks. When I got asked to do it, of course I would do it because it’s great and I’m looking forward to working with them closer in these next few years.”
The way I would improve the atmosphere at Celtic Park is…
A timeline of the Green Brigade’s current Celtic ban
As we know, the two parties have had disagreements before, but the current situation began in late October.
Celtic described a ‘major incident’ at a home match with Falkirk, alleging assaults in the Safe Standing section. The Green Brigade were given a three-game ban by the club.
In December, the ban was made indefinite, and little progress has been made towards a resolution since then.
In their most recent statement, the Green Brigade said there was ‘no end in sight’ for the ban.
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