Callum McGregor has apologised to Celtic fans – here’s why the club must do the same

Time is running out for those running the club. Change is inevitable

Celtic captain Callum McGregor faced the music Tuesday night by completing media duties after the catastrophic collapse his team made against LASK.

He did what you would expect, he faced the angry Celtic support and the criticism that was coming the team’s way after such a disastrous performance and result.

Here’s why those in charge of Celtic must do the same.

Celtic executives must face fans

The fans deserve to hear from those running the club on why they chose to gamble with qualification once again. Communication is non-existent but this is a time they cannot afford to stay quiet. If they say nothing then things will quickly escalate into the farce of last season. We simply cannot allow things to go down that route again.

The Celtic board should want to take the opportunity to update supporters and keep everyone onside as much as possible. The alternative option breads contempt. Someone from upper management, preferably the CEO, needs to come out and apologise for what went on this week. Things are that bad.

They need to clearly lay out the plan for the rest of the season to show the supporters they aren’t taking them for granted. The club should apologise and assure the fans they are going all out to deliver quality signings that can help achieve all their goals this season. They must deliver the additional signings O’Neill needs to try and stop this season going into a spiral of despair.

They simply must acknowledge their responsibility and tell the supporters what the club are going to do to make it right. They cannot leave it to MON and McGregor to face the negativity and questions every time there’s a press conference. That’s not leadership.

The players deserve criticism – but it’s the same old failings from above

There is no one person or group to blame for Tuesday night. The blame is a collective between the players, the management team and the executives. We need to see real accountability and strategy or there is serious risk of the season derailing again like last year. The new signings brought somewhat of a feel good factor back to the club but that appears to have been evaporated by one horrendous night in Linz.

Six failed qualifiers in a row is an embarrassment for the club and should trigger some sort of inquest into why this keeps happening over and over.

The fans deserve answers

Yes, the fans deserve an apology but more importantly they deserve answers. Ultimately though, the executive team are not coming forward. The optics of how they keep asking for the fans money but don’t show any long term plan for the club comes across as arrogant. They should look to control the narrative and address the fans directly, while highlighting what they are going to do to fix it. Show the fans the club are doing everything to head in the right direction long term. Right now it looks like the only plan is to keep risking Champions League qualification while winning the title domestically. Europe seems a complete afterthought in the club boardroom. Now is the time to step forward before the fans anger turns to apathy.

Leadership means taking responsibility

Fair play to the captain Callum McGregor. He faced up to this responsibility and made it clear that this wasn’t good enough from the players. Now it’s time for the Celtic CEO to do the same. The fans are hurting and feel like they are being taken for a ride. Time for the executive team to face this music and explain exactly what is going wrong and how they plan to do to rectify it. The Celtic fans won’t continue to let the club go down the same path it’s been heading down for years. This is the boards last chance to put forward a credible plan for change.

All views expressed on Celtic DNA are personal opinions and are for commentary and discussion purposes only

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