Keep The Faith THE BATTLE OF THE BHOYS BEGINS By Craig Burns McAughtrie The Battle For The Bhoys has begun – and far earlier than anyone in Timdom might have expected. In the green and white corner: Martin O'Neill. And, in the grey and greyer still corner: Celtic Chairman, Brian Quinn, and his PLC Board. For the souls, hearts and minds of The Faithful, there can be only one winner, but for the future of Paradise , it's anyone's game. In one direction lies trophies, continuing domestic domination, yet more European adventures, building from strength, investment in “players of Champions League calibre that will immediately challenge for the first team”, shopping “at the quality end of the transfer market” to replace Henrik Larsson during the summer of succession, a genuine Champions League challenge and many, many more Hoopy days for Celtic. And, in the other direction lies ‘downsizing', treading water, ultimately stagnation, then sinking and reduction of Celtic power until, finally, the day comes when we, The Faithful, will look back on the last few seasons and sigh, “That was the pinnacle – it was all downhill thereafter!” And, of course, in the former path to glory, we are marching with O'Neill, while in the latter, we will probably not be. Martin O'Neill and Celtic Chairman, Brian Quinn, have each begun to deliberate publicly as to their visions of Celtic's future. Are they singing from the same hymn sheet, or is there a rebellion brewing? For over a week now, Brian Quinn has hardly been absent from the wires, giving views and interviews. You hear nothing from our Chairman for months and then he appears in the sports news more often than David Beckham. Was this frequency of dialogue merely coincidence, or did Brian want to ‘retaliate first' knowing that Our Blessed Martin would, sooner or later, be waxing lyrical about his and our ambitions for Celtic? Regardless, there have been words aplenty from our usually reticent Chairman. However, it must be said that some of Brian's rhetoric has been positively joyous, by his standards anyway (normally, you want to hide in a bomb shelter when our Chairman appears), promising funds will be made available for Martin O'Neill, acknowledging the PLC's desire to assist the manager as much as they possibly can, even conceding the Celtic conundrum – the replacing of Henrik Larsson – WILL need a definite solution. Of course, as we might expect from Brian, the positive has been laced with the pragmatic; it's in his nature to be cautious, conservative and fiscally prudent. It's what he does - it's what he is! And then Our Blessed Martin gave voice - and the corporate walls of Paradise , they did shudder! Speaking in the aftermath of Celtic's European exit to Villarreal, the always meticulous Martin O'Neill was more candid than ever with his assessment of where Celtic need to go now, what needs to be done and where he wants to lead us. His words are both invigorating for The Faithful, and simultaneously deeply troubling, should Martin's wishes, which are identical to ours, be not fulfilled. There is no need to decipher the wisdom of Martin O'Neill. There is, however, every need to read carefully every syllable of the teachings of this learned man, our managerial messiah. “We have had some fantastic games in Europe and taken some great scalps – and that brings its own demands. You don't want to just occupy a place in the Champions League - you want to really contest it. That's what the fans are looking for – and the whole Club is.” “We have had a collection of players who have been around for the last 3 or 4 seasons, and it has been very good. Henrik Larsson will leave in the summer and there may be a few other changes. But it's not about getting replacements, but getting replacements of quality.” Asked about Celtic needing as many as five or six new signings, Martin answered: “Yes, I think if you assess our situation, then that would not be far off the mark. We need new blood and we know it. I've said before I could go and fill the side up with any sort of player at all, but that's not what we want.” “Where we are trying to push it is into a position where the players are good enough to contest the European scene. That's the point!” Martin then recalled his arrival in Paradise and the initial work that he had to do in order to create the beginnings of a Celtic Dynasty. “We obviously needed to do something big in the first season, because Rangers were miles better than us. We had just lost Mark Viduka, so we had to make some kind of investment at that stage.” “Now, a couple of years on and with some European experience under the belt, we know what is needed to go further – and that's quality players!” “It's important we really start thinking more clearly than ever before about what we are going to do and which players we are seeking. It's very obvious we'll be wanting to get a few players in because we cannot possibly keep things going domestically and in Europe without a reasonable squad – it just can't happen.” “With respect, the quality players in European football will NOT be available on Bosman transfers this summer.” “Sometimes, you need to invest simply to stand still.” “This side has been together now for a couple of seasons and that's fine, because I didn't think the players were too old last year. But, Henrik Larsson is leaving us and we have to find an adequate replacement. You don't find them growing on trees.” “Also, one or two of the lads here might think they've had four great years and might be looking to move on, so we will have changes to make.” “Last season, I used the phrase ‘freshen things up', but now, after 31 games in European football, we have a fair idea of what it takes to get to the next stage. We now face a dilemma in that we know where we'd like to go, but it's about having the wherewithal to do it. That's a problem considering the financial climate in this country and I think there is a general realisation from everyone connected with the Club.” “But, sometimes you have to make some sort of investment even just to stand still. I never used to believe that, but I've realised now it's absolutely true. We will need some sort of investment this summer just to stand still or to keep moving along the lines we are just now.” “This is not an excuse, but we'll play 60 competitive games again this season – just as we did last year – and that's a lot of matches. Eventually, the squad needs to be added to. You have been able to see the threads of it during the past five, six or seven games, because the same side has been doing it week in, week out, for some time.” “We need to try to get what I would call a more substantial squad – and that takes a bit of investment.” “If we win the SPL title, we are automatically into the Champions League and that's great – but what we want to try to do from here is make progress. There has been a flurry of European activity in the past couple of seasons, whereas the Club lay dormant for about 20-odd years before that. The expectation is now very high. That's not a problem, but you need the wherewithall to go with that.” “We know the financial state of the game in Scotland is not the best it's ever been, but you still want to get a side together that's capable of going further in the Champions League – not just making up the numbers.” “But, since the Club house 60,000 people every fortnight, it would be nice to think you would have a chance to do it.” Martin O'Neil is, therefore, asking his PLC Board to not just talk about Celtic being a giant Club, but for the first time ever in our history, to act like one! Depending on your viewpoint, however, Celtic Chairman, Brian Quinn is either backing his manager to the hilt, fighting a retreat, introducing caution and pragmatism OR indicating that Martin O'Neill and our ambitions are to be thwarted for the second summer. Brian Quinn: “We very much want to keep Martin. We will do all in our power, with all the resources available to us, to ensure he is given support for his efforts as team manager. We will do all we can.” Martin O'Neill has been a revelation to Celtic. He has given us so much and he wants to give us so much more. On the park, Our Blessed Martin has worked miracles, given that his net spend in the last four seasons has been circa £17m. However, will Martin O'Neill's magic be matched by wizardry in the PLC Boardroom? The answer, Bhoys and Ghirls, is fundamental to the future health, welfare, prosperity and success of Celtic Football Club. Will it be the one road to Paradise ? Or, God forbid, will it be something far less adventurous?
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