As much as we always go on about how we feel as supporters, what on earth is going through the mind of the current Celtic stars at Parkhead?
You have to imagine many of them are just as frustrated as we are. Frustrated with the lack of clarity that surrounds the club. Frustrated with the lack of direction that’s being laid out for us. Perhaps even concerned that many of them are due to return to work in two weeks without a new manager in place.
Many of them will have to get on with it regardless. The likes of Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas and so many more have to just brush it off. They’re contracted to Celtic for the long-term and won’t be going anywhere. It’s down to them to be as professional as possible and try to be as patient as they can.
However, there are others Celtic fans still want to see tied down. Players who look set to depart this summer with no new contract on the horizon. Players such as Odsonne Edouard, Kris Ajer, and Ryan Christie come to mind. Perhaps even Olivier Ntcham now that he’s back from a dismal loan spell in France.
Celtic fans have always held hope, as we would, that they could still sign a new deal. But as unlikely as that is, Celtic aren’t showing themselves off as a good sell at the moment. In fact, the board’s actions will only encourage those in a position to leave this summer to jump as soon as they can.
Not one player wants to come into pre-season training without a leader. They don’t want the club to still be trying to figure out which direction it’s heading in for that coming campaign. They want clarity.
No reason for top Celtic stars to stay
In the case of Edouard, Ajer, Christie, and Ntcham, we’re not giving them any reason to stay. There’s absolutely nothing attractive about the football club at the moment. If these players can bag moves to one of the top leagues in Europe, why would they stay here? What’s truly on offer for them?
The Eddie Howe embarrassment was just the latest blow. How can you expect to keep players the calibre of Edouard and Ajer if you can’t attract a manager like Howe? Unfortunately these players will have ambitions greater than what Celtic can offer them. But there’s no knowing what an exciting new direction for the club could’ve done.
Think back to when Brendan Rodgers was appointed in May. Plenty of players who were unhappy and set for the exit door started committing their futures to the club. James Forrest, for example, had rejected a new Celtic deal before Rodgers arrived. Six months later, only two after Rodgers arrived, he was penning a new three-year deal after being transformed in pre-season.
Stuart Armstrong was another who committed his future to the club after a season under Rodgers when he looked destined to leave for England 12 months prior.
Celtic dallying has left us directionless
The fact is, players see managers come in that excite them. Managers they believe can take both the football club and their own individual ability to the next level. So far, Celtic haven’t managed to secure that. We don’t even have a Director of Football in place, leaving huge question marks out there about what the culture of the club will be like in the long-term.
With such a massive lack of clarity in how Celtic will operate going forward, why commit your future to it? Especially when there are bigger leagues and opportunities available for you to explore.
There were no guarantees that bagging Howe would’ve saw any of the above quartet commit to the club. But we’ve done absolutely nothing in recent months that would convince any to stay.
In other news, I discuss the case for diving into the Celtic unknown with Ange Postecoglou.
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