Stiliyan Petrov has taken aim at the Celtic board for asking Martin O’Neill to ‘save the club’ on and off the pitch this season.
Celtic’s defeat to Hibs puts a dent in their hopes of retaining the title and a fractured relationship between the Parkhead board and the fans is making this season more difficult than it really needs to be.
And Petrov has taken aim at the Celtic board for asking too much of O’Neill as the 73-year-old battles for the Scottish Premiership title.
Should Celtic lift the bans on the Green Brigade and Fan Media? Let us know in the comments.
Bhoys Celtic call on the board to end the Parkhead bans.
Stiliyan Petrov slams the Celtic board for not making ‘better decisions’
The former Celtic midfielder seems upset that the Parkhead board are forcing O’Neill to take on the battle for the title and to fix the fractured relationship with the fans as Petrov admits that he would never take that.
Petrov told The Scottish Sun, “It’s great to see him but I have felt sorry for him.
“He’s 73 years old and he’s trying to save the club at a difficult time. He’s trying to motivate, to be the connection between the fans and the board, trying to do his job on the pitch.
“It’s really sad to see. I am a Celtic fan and I would like to see Martin doing more than being asked to save the club. That’s not his job.
“The club should really have made better decisions than asking Martin to stay and save the season.
“Fair play to him. If it was me, I’d never do it.”
Martin O’Neill’s view on Celtic fan ban
Just before Celtic’s defeat to Stuttgart, O’Neill was hopeful that a resolution to end the fan ban by the board was close.
Here is what the Celtic manager thinks about the importance of fans for the team, “Yes, I agree with you. I think a full house here at Celtic Park is something special. Every European night that I have had in the past, way back then, was just filled with special moments.
“Teams were, I think, genuinely, and I am talking about the really major sides, were still very, very concerned about coming here. The passion, drive and the noise that was made.
“I think there have been some discussions, which I wasn’t party to.
“But I hear there has been some progress made. The sooner there is unity at Celtic Park, the better for all concerned.
“I have no doubt that the crowd behind the goal on Sunday contributed greatly to us fighting back in the game, no question about that.”
Like 67 Hail Hail, O’Neill clearly wants to see the Green Brigade back at Celtic Park because if the Bhoys are going to successfully defend this title, they need every single fan back in the Parkhead stands.
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