Communication, Communication, Communication.
Time for a rethink on how the club updates the supporters.
It’s rare that a football support will unite on a single subject. Whether its recruitment, players, manager, there will always be differing points of view. However at this moment in time it seems there aren’t too many Celtic fans who are happy about the lack of communication coming out the club on key issues. Of course, some will always be happy as long as the club are winning and domestically thats certainly the case. At the end of the day that’s what football’s about. Yet with the club cementing itself to the top of the SPFL table for a couple of decades, it’s natural for the fanbase to wonder how we continue building. How do we grow the club, how do we keep moving forward to keep our place at the top of Scottish football and challenge ourselves in European competition at the same time.
For whatever reason the club have decided the best form of communication is to say as little as possible no matter the subject. A strategy that seems to have tightened somewhat after Peter Lawwell left the club as CEO. On occasion Peter would do update videos and answer questions from the media. The fact that no longer happens must be a conscious decision.
Instead of improving of patchy communication things have got considerably worse in that department. Simply saying nothing on key issues at the club should not be an option. The fans will simply not accept that as a strategy over the longterm. The club will know that if you say nothing then that’s when rumours spread, speculation grows, frustration builds. All are avoidable with strong direct communication to a ready and waiting fan base. Do any of us know where the club plans to be in five, ten, twenty years time? What are their plan to help try and combat low level teams from English football disappearing over the hill with eye watering revenues. Shouldn’t they at least try and combat that in someway? If you do nothing then the club is effectively getting smaller and smaller year on year.
The Celtic board seem to want the fans to put the money in but then leave them to their own devices, taking any path they see fit. The supporters understand that not everything can be shared with the fanbase and nor do they expect that. However, for too long it’s seemed like a one way relationship between the club and the people who pay their money. Put your money into the club and trust us seems to be the mantra. Well that no longer washes with large sections of the support. The clubs actions in the transfer market seem to confirm a malaise inside the walls of Celtic Park. Based on their actions we can only assume the club are happy to sit at top of the SPFL and risk European progress each year. Right now the fans can only base their opinions on what they see.
Ultimately a change in their communication strategy is badly needed. Brian Wilson has said several times that the club has learnt from previous mistakes. They must now show this by giving the fans an idea on their plans for the club moving forward. Don’t dismiss fan groups. Give them an idea on how key decisions are made at the club. Whether it’s the stadium development plans, transfer strategy, ticketing issues or other long term issues affecting the club. Where do they stand on these key issues? The fans have a right to know what direction the club is taking longer term.
There is no doubt the clubs main strength is the support. When the club and fans are united the team is in a place to achieve positive results on the field. We saw that towards the end of last season when bad feeling was put aside for the good of the league. If the Celtic fanbase feel invested then they’ll back you on the pitch, they’ll back you in the club shop and they’ll travel in great numbers, all for the love of Celtic. Take them for granted at your peril.
My message to the Celtic board made in good faith would be this. If you want the privilege of continuing as custodians of our great club, then fundamental change in how you communicate with the Celtic support is needed. Tell us what you are doing well and what your plan is to improve in the areas that need it. There has to be a progressive and forward thinking plan in place and shared with the fans. Or we’ll find the bad feeling of last season returns over and over. No one wants that.
Ultimately it’s about respect. Respect the people who put the money into the club Celtic on a yearly basis. The lifeblood of the club. The Celtic support. Start to rebuild the trust, start to rebuild the relationship with the Celtic faithful or find those who are willing and able then step aside. Alot of good has been done the last couple of decades and the people at the top need commended for that. Now let’s put an ambitious plan in place, get the buy in from the Celtic support and see where it takes us.
We never stop. Tim Lisbon