Celtic fans are probably more angry at this point in time than they have ever been in recent memory.
Transfer deadline day promised so much, but delivered so little as Celtic suffered humiliating rejection after rejection as they tried to scramble about for new additions.
Kasper Dolberg said no to Celtic as Ajax came in at the 11th hour to scupper a deal that looked high on the Parkhead club’s agenda.
David Fofana also rejected Celtic as he decided to opt for Charlton and, as fate would have it, that move broke down and he is now stuck at Chelsea.
With millions and millions of pounds available to Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, the board have had plenty of funds to invest in the first-team.
And after what Peter Lawwell and Michael Nicholson previously said about investing in the Celtic first-team, both now look like they have egg on their faces after a shocking end to a summer transfer window on deadline day.
Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty ImagesCeltic chairman Peter Lawwell’s past comments on maintaining ‘domestic dominance’
Peter Lawwell is a non-executive chairman at Celtic, however he once did say that the club were committed to maintaining domestic dominance by ‘continuous improvement’ in the Hoops first-team.
Lawwell said at Celtic’s 2024 AGM, “The challenge is to keep maintaining our domestic dominance and improve in Europe.
“The opportunities all centre around European competition. We need to make sure it goes the way we want it to go, maybe expansion, and potentially make more money.
“Thanks to everyone for their support over the years. It’s been vital to the success of this club and rest assured this board will be doing all they can to bring more success.”
The Celtic chairman then said when he announced the 2025 accounts back in February, “Our commitment as always is to invest in continuous improvement in all areas of the club and, most importantly, in the first team squad.
“The success of our model has ensured that funding is available to acquire players who will contribute to ongoing success.”
Michael Nicholson’s 2023 ‘world-class’ Celtic statement looks foolish now
Michael Nicholson is Celtic’s current CEO and largely anonymous when it comes to talking to the Parkhead support.
However when Celtic unveiled Brendan Rodgers, Nicholson said in 2023, “I think from our perspective, the strategy has always been clear, and that’s to be a world class football club in whatever we do.
“As Brendan mentioned, we want to dominate in Scotland and compete in the Champions League, and that has been clearly stated for many, many years. So there’s no change in that regard.
“What we have done over many years is to continuously improve as a football club, to invest. We’ve got a sustainable model, a self-financing model, so we invest when we can for today, tomorrow and the long-term.
“So there’s no significant change there. And we all want the same thing, which is to win.”
Both men now need to come out and explain to the Celtic supporters exactly why the investment they said that would be put into the team, has not this summer.
Because with Europa League football ahead and Rangers looking like they are closer to getting their act together, this could turn out to be a long season ahead for the Celtic supporters.