John Reid has promised the Celtic support that every effort will be made to return the club to winning ways.
There wasn't much to celebrate when the club chairman addressed an audience of sponsors and supporters on Sunday night at the club's annual Player of the Year Awards ceremony.
Reid's speach is available on the club's channel 67 service as well as interviews with the individual awards winners.
Robbie Keane won the supporters Player of the Year Award with Aiden McGeady getting the award from his team-mates but it was Reid's words that were of most interest.
No-one needs reminding of the disasters of this season with Reid speaking out for the first time following the humiliating Scottish Cup exit from Ross County.
The club chairman said: "We aim to reinstate this club to it's pre-eminent position in Scottish football as quickly as possible.
"We've had a false start this year- I regret that- but I can assure you that we respect the loyalty that you have shown to us and we will do everything in our power to repay that loyalty.
"I can assure you that this club from the top down will be doing all that it can to once again bring you the success which your support deserves and which this great club of ours ought to have year in year out."
Knowing the backdrop to the ceremony Reid acknowledged the frustrations of the season that are being felt by every Celtic supporter.
He added: "Your continued support this year in such numbers means a lot to me and more importantly to Celtic Football Club.
"It's always easy to support a club when things are going well, it's easy when it's fashionable. But when times are difficult it's easier to sit on the sidelines and criticise rather than in the stands and cheer the team on.
"Clearly this year has not been easiest or the best for everyone involved. It's been a difficult year and there's no point trying to put that any other way.
"It's been a difficult and challenging year, clearly the club has experienced a very difficult season. To put it simply things have not turned out the way that we would have wanted.
"Despite a very promising start- and it was a promising start- I remember the opening game at Aberdeen, the pre-season matches, the football that we watched, the results and the excitement that it brought.
"We had high hopes and a degree of optimism but despite that it didn't work out as we all would have wanted for Tony Mowbray and his team.
"I say that with a great deal of sadness and disappointment, I think that all of us would have liked a happier ending especially given the affection that Tony is held in."
Reid added: "When times are difficult the character of a club is tested, it's tested in every single one of us, from the board, through the management and players to the supporters.
"Our capacity to recover from the trials and tribulations; our strength, endurance, commitment and resilience are tested."
The club chairman said: "We aim to reinstate this club to it's pre-eminent position in Scottish football as quickly as possible.
"We've had a false start this year- I regret that- but I can assure you that we respect the loyalty that you have shown to us and we will do everything in our power to repay that loyalty.
"I can assure you that this club from the top down will be doing all that it can to once again bring you the success which your support deserves and which this great club of ours ought to have year in year out."
Knowing the backdrop to the ceremony Reid acknowledged the frustrations of the season that are being felt by every Celtic supporter.
He added: "Your continued support this year in such numbers means a lot to me and more importantly to Celtic Football Club.
"It's always easy to support a club when things are going well, it's easy when it's fashionable. But when times are difficult it's easier to sit on the sidelines and criticise rather than in the stands and cheer the team on.
"Clearly this year has not been easiest or the best for everyone involved. It's been a difficult year and there's no point trying to put that any other way.
"It's been a difficult and challenging year, clearly the club has experienced a very difficult season. To put it simply things have not turned out the way that we would have wanted.
"Despite a very promising start- and it was a promising start- I remember the opening game at Aberdeen, the pre-season matches, the football that we watched, the results and the excitement that it brought.
"We had high hopes and a degree of optimism but despite that it didn't work out as we all would have wanted for Tony Mowbray and his team.
"I say that with a great deal of sadness and disappointment, I think that all of us would have liked a happier ending especially given the affection that Tony is held in."
Reid added: "When times are difficult the character of a club is tested, it's tested in every single one of us, from the board, through the management and players to the supporters.
"Our capacity to recover from the trials and tribulations; our strength, endurance, commitment and resilience are tested."
2 comments:
So Joe - whats your opinion on this?
Is this another " promise " to get renewals in or can you see some determination from reid to prove this?
It's easy to be cynical on this but I think everyone at Celtic knows the current mood of supporters and that actions speak louder than words.
Supporters want to see a strong management appointment backed up by serious backing.
The £6m deals that Martin O'Neill got are history but giving a new manager scope to bring in three or four strong first teamers, added to some of the current squad will make an impact.
The club faces a major challenge to get season tickets renewed but know that the support is willing.
There was 60,000 paying supporters at the Arsenal Champions League match in August, getting that 60,000 believing and backing requires action to back up the soundbites.
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