May 2005

Sunday 1st Aberdeen, under the two Jimmys ('we're going to enjoy the occasion') continue to do their bit to dispel the myth that they only try against Rangers by capitulating to a 3:1 defeat at Pittodrie against the Orcs. They still haven't beaten Rangers in a league game since 1989. During the game Fernando Ricksen is hit on the head by a coin. 'This has to stop,' he told reporters. 'Just before I took the corner I got a coin in the head again. I would say to people 'just don't do it, you are ruining a beautiful game'.

Monday 2nd John Hartson is announced as the Scottish Football Writers' Association player of the year. Ex-Celt Tony Mowbray is named Tennent's manager of the year. SFWA president Jim Black said: 'Hartson epitomises the modern-day professional with his total contribution on the field. He has also scored many important goals this season for Celtic and he is a worthy winner.'

Tuesday 3rd Media sources are relaying reports from German football magazine Kicker's correspondents claiming that the German champions Bayern Munich still want to buy Bobo Balde. Bayern need a new central defender big Bobo 'tops the wish-list'. Uli Hoeness is quoted as saying: 'We remember a lot about him and so does Felix Magath. He is very strong in the air and we are monitoring him closely.' Can't help but wonder if the Bundesliga's ready for Bobo yet.

The 'FTP Brigade' (c D. Murray 2005) could soon have another target to aim potatoes at as David McCarthy reports in the Daily Rectum that, 'Irish FA chiefs want young Glasgow-born Celtic starlet James O'Brien to be the next Aiden McGeady.' Young O'Brien scored the two goals that won Celtic the Scottish Youth Cup last week and has figured for the Scotland Under-17 team but is considering playing for the Republic Ireland where his grandfather comes from. According to McCarthy, the Irish FA youth manager, 'accepts the SFA will be raging at another defection (interesting word choice there - Ed) but insisted it isn't his concern.'

Wednesday 4th In a bid to rally the troops for the big push following the Hibs debacle, Martin O'Neill is calling for 'total commitment' from everyone concerned: 'It is up to us now to have a massive go for the final three games. The game on Sunday is our final home match of this season and it needs a big, big effort from everyone, from the players, myself the supporters, everyone here. Nobody said that winning championships was easy. I said there would be plenty of twists and turns and I think I have been proved correct and it doesn't matter on Sunday whether we are behind on points or not going into the game. The fact is we have to beat Aberdeen. Sunday is about one thing and that is total commitment. Total commitment to try to win this game. The season is now condensed to three games and if we win those three matches we will win the league.'

Motherwell chairman John Boyle has said that his club will allow Celtic to parade the SPL title at Fir Park if the Hoops are confirmed champions after the teams meet on the final day of the season. Compare and contrast with Hearts.

Motherwell supporters, on the other hand, are not exactly laying out the welcome mat. A spokesman for the Well Supporters Trust stated: 'Why can't they all board their buses and make the 10 minute trip to Parkhead for the presentation? We want the chance to say thank you to our team and not be ushered away so another team can celebrate.'

The legend that is Henrik Larsson is back in town to accept an honorary doctorate from Strathclyde University. Asked about the fortunes of the Hoops Henke said: 'I've been following the results and speaking with a few of the lads so I'm well up to date.'

Another former Celt, Morten Wieghorst, has announced his decision to retire at the end of the Danish Superliga season in June. The 34 year-old has just returned to action with Br¿ndby IF after almost a year on the sidelines. 'The knee has not been well for a year and now the time has come.' Big Morten overcame a rare brain disease in 2000 to prolong his career, even making an international comeback to finish with 30 caps and three goals. A half-time Paradise Windfall draw surely beckons in the near future.

Friday 6th Celtic have told the media that the club attempted to prevent the appointment of Andy 'Two Hands' Davis for the Scottish Cup final, although I can't for the life of me think why. 'It's an extraordinary decision and that's not a criticism of Mr. Davis,' a 'Celtic spokesman' is quoted in the Daily Rectum. 'We feel it's a risk that did not need to be taken and in fact we made representation to try to ensure this situation would not arise... The Scottish Cup final is an extremely important and high-profile fixture that does not need more pressure heaped upon it. Indeed you would have to consider whether this is fair to Mr Davis himself.' Sadly for Davis he won't be able to resume his double act with Hugh Dallas as John Rowbotham has been given the final, with Willie Young as fourth official.

Momo Sylla is training at Leicester City. Craig Levein has moved to take the player to the Walkers Stadium for assessment with a view to signing him. He still has one year left on his current deal at Parkhead, but Celtic have made it clear they will let him leave for nothing. According to the Rectum's Gordon Parks: 'Top Bayern Munich official Uli Hoeness is expected to fly into Glasgow in time for tomorrow's Celtic-Aberdeen match as the Germans step up their interest in Parkhead defender Bobo Balde. The Bundesliga giants could be set to table a £3 million offer for Balde after being impressed by the 29-year-old during his side's recent Old Firm victory. Record Sport understands general manager Hoeness will be in the Parkhead stand to make a final assessment. Celtic boss Martin O'Neill may be tempted to cash in on a player who signed a new four-year deal in February as this would give him much-needed cash to fund summer transfers.'

Saturday 7th AZ Alkmaar coach Co Adriaanse plays down media reports linking him with the manager's job at Celtic. The Dutch coach is leaving the Alkmaarder Hout at the end of the season despite leading AZ to the UEFA Cup semi-finals. Adriaanse told Dutch newspaper AD Sportwereld: 'Celtic are a very nice club but I haven't signed anything. It is possible that I won't have a club next season.' Adriaanse will be replaced by Louis van Gaal and has since held talks with Cologne and Porto but has denied that Celtic have been in touch.

Now playing back in Brazil for Palmeiras, Juninho has offered a perfectly rational explanation for his inability to perform in the SPL: 'I had two negative experiences in my life wearing the No.7. The first one was with Atletico Madrid and then also now with Celtic. But I didn't have any other option. I have played in and always liked the No.10, and if I had that I would have played better.'

Sunday 8th In an interview published in the Sunday Herald, UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson has revealed that he is not keen on Celtic or Rangers moving to The Premiership. 'I am not convinced they are drawing the correct conclusions,' Olsson told the newspaper.'I am not so convinced that the participation of Celtic and Rangers in The Premiership would give them the advantages they expect. I am not sure they would make more money for one thing. If after six, seven or ten years they had not qualified for European competition they wouldn't be so happy. It is easier for them to qualify in Scotland. If you look at the 'rich list' of clubs they are in the top 20 but that doesn't help them in winning the European competitions. So it is not only a question of finance.'

In the afternoon Celtic move back to the top of the league with a victory over Aberdeen at Celtic Park. John Hartson is the hooped hero with both goals. The match sees the introduction of the Celtic singing section and our first attempt a Serie A style display.

Tuesday 10th In a move that couldn't possibly be designed to ensure a quick sale, Newcastle announce that Craig Bellamy will be ordered to turn up for pre-season training on June 22. Bellamy will receive a letter next week telling him to report back and prepare for a possible Intertoto Cup campaign. Wonder if he'll reply by text.

Motherwell season-ticket holders have rejected a plan to move them from their usual seats so more Celtic fans can watch the final game of the season. A ballot of supporters in the Davie Cooper Stand appear to have disappointed John Boyle. 'We thought this was a sensible suggestion which would have generated more funds for Terry Butcher next season,' he said. Butcher had himself said he would be disappointed if the fans turned down the idea of moving out the Davie Cooper Stand, claiming that the plan could net up to £60,000, the equivalent of two players' wages for next season.

Wednesday 11th Co Adriaanse today again dismissed reports he has spoken to Celtic about becoming the next manager: 'I have had absolutely no contact with Celtic; the article was fantasy. I haven't been approached and I haven't agreed to anything. A Dutch journalist told me this after the match against Sporting Lisbon last Thursday that he had heard that Celtic had interest and I had spoken to them. I replied there was no contact and he still published it. So, what can I do about it?' Get the guy a job on the Daily record sports staff perhaps?

In an interview in the Celtic View, Stephane Henchoz is as clear as mud about his future prospects at parkhead: 'It is definitely possible that I could stay next season but at the moment I don't know what's happening because no-one from the club has come to me and said 'yes we want to give you a new contract'. I read what the manager has said about wanting to keep me and I was pleased. But no-one's actually told me that they'd like me to stay and in that situation it's difficult for me to say too much.'

The Manchester Evening News reports that, 'Celtic are considering a request to play Manchester United in a testimonial for Roy Keane on Wednesday, August 3... Having apparently completed a U-turn over the idea of a testimonial, Celtic would be an automatic choice of opponent for Keane, who has never made any secret of his love for the Hoops, even though he grew up supporting Tottenham as a boy in Cork.'

Craig Levein admits he has made Celtic an offer for Rab Douglas: 'We have made the offer to Douglas and it is now up to him... The situation regarding Sylla is a bit different because he is still under contract and he is bound to have other offers to consider, but I am hopeful we can do something there. He can play in a number of different positions and that is what we are going to need next season.'

Thursday 12th speaking of his club's achievement in qualifying for a crack at the Champs League next season, Everton manager Davie Moyes tells reporters: 'It doesn't feel right celebrating getting 4th place after growing up and playing with Celtic'

Friday 13th Nantes 'keeper Mickael Landreau's agent claims that Celtic have dropped their interest in his client because Martin O'Neill wants David Marshall to be his No.1 next season. Bruno Satin claims he held talks with MON two weeks ago, but a possible move for France's No.3 goalkeeper has stalled because of the Celtic manager's faith in Marshall. Satin said: 'I spoke with Martin in Glasgow the week after the Glasgow derby and, from what I understood, Douglas could be going to a division one club in England, Hedman could also leave and he is keen to give Marshall a chance. He wants Marshall to be his No.1 next season so I don't think there's any chance of Micka‘l going to Celtic.'

Artur Boruc, the Legia Warsaw goalkeeper, has also been linked with Celtic this week, with some fans on the net claiming to have seen him at Celtic Park for his medical.

Martin O'Neill's refusal to discuss Bobo Balde's contract in public at the press conference and his usual blanking of speculation surrounding his own future at Celtic Park resulted in the following headline in the Daily Record (see previous page) There must be an important game coming up!

Saturday 14th Rangers have been the subject of criticism from MSPs today for launching a range of orange merchandise for sale in the shops. Donald Gorrie, Lib Dem MSP for Central Scotland said: 'These garments appear to contradict two points made by David Murray. This includes not selling merchandise which might be perceived to be related to the Orange Order.' A spokesperson for the Death Star replied that, 'The club has made its intentions perfectly clear.' Quite.

Sunday 15th An exclusive for the Sunday broadsheets for a change as Roddy Thomson reveals in the Herald that: 'Dermot Desmond has agreed to underwrite a £15 million cash boost to Celtic's impoverished operating funds this summer... Key investors have confirmed that the Irish financier has guaranteed the success of a new issue of preference shares... 'This is 100%, it's new money and it's coming in this summer,' said one of those investors. 'The manager has been making his play, and this will mean money for the team - that's the deal'...

Brian Quinn said: 'I've got no comment to make on this, which you can interpret as you will.'

In the afternoon Celtic go back to the top of the league table with one game to play after a 2:1 victory at Tynecastle, Thompson and Craig Beattie the scorers.

Wednesday 18th Club captain Paul Lambert will take over as manager of Livingston on June 1, the Pleasantville Select announced Today. Lambert, who retires as a player at the end of this season, will be joined by former St Mirren team mate Norrie McWhirter at Almondvale. He takes over from Richard Gough, who leaves after the final game of the season against Dundee on Saturday.

Newcastle United have denied media reports that they have agreed a combined fee with Aston Villa to sell striker Craig Bellamy and defender Aaron Hughes. Villa chairman Doug Ellis said on Wednesday that Freddy Shepherd had 'accepted our cash offer for both players'. But a statement on the Magpies website then claimed no fee had been agreed with any club for either player.

In Newcastle itself, a poll on a Magpies website to find the club's Player of the Season has been successfully hijacked by Hoops fans who have voted for Craig Bellamy. William Gordon, of Talk of the Tyne, said: 'The voting seems to have been more political than any we have experienced before, and certainly the number of votes cast is the highest for any poll we conducted. Bellamy took an early lead probably because many fans do genuinely see him as the best we've had this term. Then the Scottish vote grew increasingly by the day, with the Celtic fans latching on to a way to praise a player who has been a revelation north of the border.' The poll saw Bellamy poll 2,230 more votes than goalkeeper Shay Given.

Leicester City have confirmed the pre-season friendly against Celtic at the Walkers Stadium on Tuesday, July 19 (7.45pm)

Sunday 22nd both Sunday tabloids splash a story that Martin O'Neill is about to quit the Celtic job in order to spend more time with his wife during her illness. According to both of them Celtic have already lined up Gordon Strachan as MON's replacement.

In the afternoon the Hoops blow a first half lead to go down by 2:1 to Motherwell at Fir Park and hand the SPL title to Rangers.

Gutted doesn't begin to describe the feeling.

Wednesday 25th On a famous date for the club Martin O'Neill confirms that he is quitting as Celtic manager in order to spend more time with his sick wife. A momentous day saw O'Neill hand over to Gordon Strachan and signalled the end of an incredible five years.

He said: 'I am leaving Celtic purely for personal reasons and I am extremely sorry to be departing in such circumstances. It has been an honour and a privilege to have served the club and its supporters during that time.'

Brian Quinn told reporters had accepted O'Neill's resignation, 'with great reluctance.'

Saturday 28th MON signs off by winning his seventh trophy as Celtic boss as the Hoops beat Dundee United 1:0 in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden. While the occasion will be remembered for the emotional scenes at the end of the match, it's fair to say that it won't go down as one of our more illustrious cup victories.

Sunday 29th The last hurrah as O'Neill picks his final Celtic team to face the Republic of Ireland at Celtic Park in Jackie McNamara's Testimonial. A near capacity crowd sees Ireland win 1:0 with Dr. Larsson putting in a guest appearance for the Hoops, along with Professor Moravcik. Asked about his future at the post-match press conference McNamara said: 'I don't know what will happen... I'll have to wait and see like everybody else... I have always stated that I'd like to finish my career here but it's not down to me.'

Meanwhile, Bobo Balde - who has packed up his stuff and moved it to Marseille - has confirmed that he negotiated a clause in his last contract which would allow him to leave for free in the forthcoming transfer window and has let it be known that he reckons Bayern Munich are ready to sign him: 'I am delighted Bayern have said they are interested in signing me. They say they want to sign players and I am at the top of their list. I have the chance to move for free for the duration of this summer's transfer window. After that I'm under contract for four years. If Bayern come back and say they want me then I will go for free.'

Tuesday 31st New manager Gordon Strachan is unveiled to press and punters today and is given a warm welcome outside the Walfrid. Announcing Gary Pendry as his assistant, Strachan confirms that he has identified certain players as signing targets although he insists that he wants to keep the nucleus of the present squad: 'Neil Lennon and Jackie McNamara must stay at the club and I've spoken to the pair of them.'

Although he expressed his sympathy over the circumstances of his appointment, Strachan sounded well up for the job: 'Plenty of people asked me if I would like to come back to Scotland to be a manager and I always said no. Then I was asked if I wanted to manage Celtic and within seconds I said yes... This is a magnificent challenge, a magnificent club with good people and a fantastic opportunity to become a better manager.'

Diary compiled by SAMUEL PEPYS-SHOW and HACKWATCHER

 

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