NafisaCeltic’s problems have gone from bad to worse in the space of just a few days.
After being thrashed 3-0 by Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday, the Hoops were desperate for a response when Ferencvaros arrived at Celtic Park on Thursday night for the opening game of their Europa League campaign.
Instead, another miserable evening followed.
Celtic suffered a 3-1 home defeat to the Hungarian champions, meaning Martin O’Neill’s side have now suffered back-to-back defeats in two major matches just days apart.
The result was particularly painful because Celtic had gone into the match knowing exactly what was expected of them.
The 3-0 defeat to Rangers had already left supporters demanding a reaction. O’Neill himself had spoken before the Ferencvaros game about getting the team back on track, but what followed at Celtic Park only intensified the concerns surrounding the manager and his players.
Ferencvaros struck first through Bamidele Yusuf’s effort, which deflected off Liam Scales, before Mika Baur restored parity just before half-time.
But Celtic were unable to build on that equaliser.
Kristoffer Zachariassen restored the visitors’ advantage in first-half stoppage time before former Celtic forward Daniel Arzani produced a stunning strike shortly after the restart to make it 3-1. Celtic ultimately failed to find a way back into the contest.
For a club that had just been embarrassed by its biggest domestic rivals, another defeat on home soil was always going to bring further scrutiny.
And that is exactly what happened.
Supporters’ frustration spilled over during and after the match, with some fans openly calling for O’Neill and his coaching staff to leave following another performance that failed to convince.
The pressure has therefore shifted beyond simply questioning individual performances.
Questions are now being asked about the direction of the team, the manager’s decisions and whether Celtic can quickly recover before Sunday’s return meeting with Rangers.
O’Neill, for his part, acknowledged that Celtic had been taught a lesson by Ferencvaros and accepted that his team had not done enough to prevent another damaging result.
But while the football department was dealing with the fallout from another difficult night, Celtic’s boardroom produced a major development of its own on Friday morning.
And this is where the latest announcement becomes particularly interesting.
Celtic have officially confirmed the appointment of two new Non-Executive Directors, with one taking up the position immediately. The club says the appointments are part of an ongoing process of board refreshment following vacancies created by the retirements of Peter Lawwell and Tom Allison.
The first appointment is a name already familiar to Celtic supporters.
Mark Keane has been appointed as a new Non-Executive Director with immediate effect.
Keane is the founder of Slievemore, a Scotland-based family investment office with interests across property, retail, leisure, development and investment. Celtic’s announcement also describes him as a significant shareholder in the club, with more than 25 years of professional experience in the sector.
The second appointment is Raymond Buchanan, whose position will begin after he concludes his current role as Director of Corporate Affairs at Scottish Water.
Buchanan previously held senior communications and public affairs positions at SSE and Weir, having earlier worked as a BBC correspondent and presenter.
The timing of the announcement will inevitably attract attention.
Celtic made the appointments public on Friday morning, just hours after the club’s 3-1 Europa League defeat and with Rangers due to arrive at Celtic Park again on Sunday.
That does not mean Keane has been brought in as a replacement for O’Neill, nor is this a football-management appointment. His role is firmly within the Celtic boardroom.
However, the timing means the announcement arrives at a moment when virtually every major part of the club is under the microscope.
Celtic interim chairman Brian Wilson said the two new directors would bring “new ideas and insights” to the board and help strengthen its oversight of the club and relationships across the wider Celtic family.
For Keane, the appointment is particularly significant given his long-standing connection with Celtic.
He described joining the board as “a tremendous honour”, explaining that he has attended Celtic matches for more than 45 years and hopes to make a positive contribution to the club’s continued growth and success.
So, less than 24 hours after another damaging night on the pitch, Celtic have made a significant move off it.
The immediate football problem, however, remains untouched.
The new directors arrive as Celtic attempt to steady a club facing intense scrutiny, while O’Neill and his players now have another Old Firm meeting waiting for them on Sunday.
After the 3-0 defeat to Rangers and Thursday’s 3-1 European loss, the atmosphere around Celtic has changed dramatically in the space of one week.
And with supporters demanding answers, Sunday’s response will now take place against the backdrop of a club undergoing change both on and off the pitch.
Nafisa
