Celtic today announced that the club will tackle head on slurs against Scottish football’s greatest ever manager, Jock Stein:
“As the club stated at the recent AGM, this is a poisonous, repugnant, despicable and cowardly campaign. Jock Stein was a great of Scottish football and this campaign is absolutely disgraceful.
“The club did not want to dignify the issue with a detailed response and, having discussed this fully with the Stein family, they have been content to let us deal with it.
“However, it is necessary for Celtic Football Club to respond publicly and assure our supporters that this is something we take extremely seriously.”
This has been going on long enough - I have even seen printed stickers in various locations in the city and it has been noted that the Ibrox band pipes up the tune that prompts the swarming hordes.
For years, Celtic have taken the dignified approach and unfortunately that only works where there is some sort of reciprocal respect. Sadly, that atmosphere doesn't exist in Scotland, especially with regard to the media.
With the vile attacks on Mr Stein’s memory, originating with and largely perpetuated by Rangers fans, we have tried everything: ignoring it, turning it around, considered calls for action and reason, gentle pressure on the club to act. What do we get? DJs using the insult as a cheap gag and now one of Scotland's top selling newspapers using it to sneer at a very dignified type of protest – a wholly positive image of the great man.
For years I have watched Celtic take this sort of behaviour crying out for them to stand up for the club and the people who support it. Far too often, it has resulted in insult being piled upon indignity.
Well, this time enough is enough. Jock Stein gave his life to Celtic and for Scottish football. The least we can do for him and his family is to defend his memory. The club has vowed to do that, notably through talks with the Daily Record management who have promised action:
“Clearly, we abhor this poisonous campaign which is merely a sickening attempt to tarnish the name of one of the greatest figures in Scottish football history. Celtic Football Club will continue to tackle this issue whenever it arises.
“With regard to the newspaper involved, the club has discussed this issue with their senior management, who have assured us that they are regretful as to what has happened and that they will be taking action.”
If that action is not swift and meaningful, the club should use every influence at its disposal: no sponsorship - no advertising - no commercial partnerships of any kind. And direct and public challenges to any behaviour of this sort wherever it comes from.
4 comments:
I hear on sat at the game against motherwell there will be maga banners calling for the boycott of this rag of a paper ....ABOUT TIME!..jim traynor MUST BE SACKED.
The club can start this itself, because the Celtic View is porinted by the same tabloids printing press in Cardonald!
Over to you Celtic FC.
The Celtic View is actually printed down in England by a very respectable and professional print company that have nothing whatsoever to do with the Daily Record
THE POOREST MEMBER OF JOCK STEINS FAMILY MUST RAISE AN ACTION (LEGAL AID) AGAINST RANGERS FC IN A EUROPEAN COURT FOR THE BEHAVIOUR OF RANGERS FANS IN SINGING THIS SONG, THE WORDS OF WHICH ARE FOUND EASILY ON YOUTUBE. I WOULD RATHER THE ACTION CAME FROM SOMEONE WITH NOTHING TO LOSE, THAN CELTIC FC BUT IF I WAS A GRANDSON OF THE GREAT MAN OR SOME KIND OF RELATION, I WOULD DO IT - IT'S A DISGRACE.
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