Tom Boyd says Celtic feel-good factor is on the pitch as fan issues rumble on

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Celtic’s win over Kilmarnock on Sunday was a much-needed burst of positivity for the supporters.

A disappointing summer transfer window culminated in an open letter sent by club fan groups to the Parkhead board, with many believing the club had failed to back Brendan Rodgers.

This led to a controversial Celtic statement, released on a Saturday night, which only angered supporters further due to a perceived lack of accountability.

Thousands of Hoops fans joined in on an in-stadium protest on Sunday, which saw supporters wait until the 12th minute of the match to enter the stands.

So how much will the victory, and the circumstances of it, impact the feeling around the club? Former Hoops captain Tom Boyd has had his say.

Tom Boyd on Celtic ‘feel-good factor’

The win put Celtic nine points clear of Rangers already, and level on points with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

For Boyd, speaking to PLZ Soccer, results like this can help Celtic rediscover a ‘feel-good factor’, despite unhappiness off the pitch.

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He said: “Yes, we like to play some good football, but ultimately there’s wee certain games where the result is more important than the performance – Champions League qualifiers are one of those.

“Unfortunately that didn’t happen for us, but the feel-good factor is about on the football field, and what the results are.

“Everything works off of us getting good results, whether it’s domestically or away in European football. But that’s how the club is successful, and that’s what it’s judged on.”

Will Celtic fans keep protesting if the team keeps winning?

With Europa League fixtures set to commence, attendances will be a telling indicator of the mood among Hoops supporters.

Many fans have vowed not to attend the games in protest at the side’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.

Other pundits have said that protests will diminish if results continue to come, especially in joyous circumstances such as Sunday’s.

But others have said that there is a different feel around it, and the anti-board sentiment among many fans will not go away. Time will tell, for both results and fan attitudes.