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i'm not sure my game playing future lies solely with FM 2005 as i'm enjoying playing CM01/02 so much at the moment. and, as such, i want to have another shot at a challenge which i really enjoyed, the lisbon lions.
News broke last night that Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has walked out of the club after a cataclysmic argument with Chairman Brian Quinn. A meeting with his manager had been called by Quinn and it is thought that the subject to be discussed was the club's transfer policy. It is widely believed that Quinn wants a far higher Scottish contingent within the Celtic squad to help further the chances of the struggling national side. It now seems obvious that O'Neill is strongly against such a plan as it would undoubtedly undermine the strong position that the Irishman has built for the club in European football. With one of the game's most highly sought after managers leaving the club, and a certain player revolt to follow, there is already a feeling that this could spell the end of Celtic's recent domination of Scottish football. Rangers fans will be rubbing their hands with glee.
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To say i was shocked at the news would have been an understatement. I couldn't believe that Martin would walk out on us, especially without a farewell word to anyone. We had all been brought to the club by Martin and the sight of our mentor storming out of the ground in the middle of the night and driving off never to be seen on our doorstep again was something which no one had contemplated. As a coach of the club, i was now in an awkward position. Keep my principles and walk out in support of Martin, or stay in the comfort zone i now called home, with a well paid job and a happy family.
There was never any difficulty in the choice, really. And any lingering doubt i had vanished when i received a phone call the very next day.
Celtic chairman Brian Quinn today announced that, along with the club's new policy of only signing Scottish players, coaches Bill Wallace and Bob Bruce will take charge of first team affairs as manager and assistant manager respectively. The two were brought into the club as first team coaches during the first days of Martin O'Neill's reign, and many expected them to leave the club in a show of solidarity with O'Neill.
Both have signed one year contracts, which indicates a possible lack of trust in their abilities from the Celtic board. The suggestion has already been made that they were only offered the roles after numerous available manaers turned the post down on account of the 'Scots Only' sign now hanging proudly above the door.
Quinn; however, was quick to deny such claims at the press conference called to announce the appointments. "It's absolutely ridiculous to suggest that we have anything other than total faith in the ability of Bill and Bob to do the job at hand. We are in the business of doing what is best for Celtic Football Club and, as such, felt that the appointment of two men who stood firmly behind the transfer policy implemented at celtic Park was the best thing to do. Bill and Bob have the absolute respect of the players, something they have earned during their years as coaches here and we fully believe that they have what it takes to make Celtic a great club again."
It remains to be seen whether such confidence in two men completely untested at this level is misplaced, or whether Celtic can truly move on and make Scotland a great footballing nation.
cheers, D_S the comparisons are inevitable. i just hope i blow the old man's achievements out of the water
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It was like i was living in a dream. The first few days of my tenure at Celtic Park passed as if in seconds. The task ahead of me was gigantic. Win the title and bring in as many Scottish players as possible. And that was just this season. Long term my objective (should i be offered an extended contract, of course) was to take Celtic to Champions League glory with a squad entirely of Scottish players, with no 'johnny foreigner' to even make the subs bench during said season. It was a task that even the most talented of manager would think unattainable. But if agreeing to give it a shot got me the manager's job then i was only to happy to say it had always been my ambition.
When your parents name you William Wallace i guess it's expected that you'll achieve great things. That great symbol of Scottishness (no, not the Australian midget who played him in the film) had been held up to me as an example throughout my entire life. So when i was given the opportunity to shine, i was going to make sure that i did a job befitting of my name.
My first job, or should i say the first that both Bob and I had to contend with, was identifying decent Scots available at a decent price, and those foreign boys at the club who could first be sent packing. Henri Camara was the first out of the door. The useless Senegalese striker was costing a fortune in wages and as he was only on a loan contract, the termination of it was easily done. Magnus Hedman quickly followed him out of the door. The big Swede had struggled with his form since arriving in Glasgow, and the £2M that Partizan offered was more than a fair price in our eyes.
The far more difficult job was bringing Scots in. Not only was there a dearth of quality Scots at the time, but all the good ones were vastly out of our price bracket. And that's why we had to resort to bringing ageing ex-Rangers defender Stephen Wright in on a free transfer. At 32, he didn't have many years left, and he was pretty crap, but being Scottish benefitted him considerably as he was our first signing. Next in was another 32 year old ex Hun. Duncan 'Disorderly' Ferguson cost £1M to bring in from Everton, but as our strikers consisted of an Englishman, a Welshman and 2 young Scots (one of whom was out for until October), he was a player we couldn't afford not to bring in. Just as long as he didn't go headbutting anyone and ending up in jail again then we'd be fine.
Terk - I fully expect you to eclipse my modest achievements. But just to give you something to aim at in the 4 full seasons that I have completed I have won 2 SPL titles and been runner-up twice. I have also won the Scottish Cup twice, the League Cup three times and the UEFA Cup once. I don't want to give too much away about my current season but I have added one more Cup and I am on track to add two more trophies to the cabinet. Good luck and I'm really looking forward to following your progress.
i wouldn't call eight trophies in four years, including a european success a 'modest achievement', bob. if i could do that well i'd be mighty pleased. your support and confidence in appreciated though
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Herald on Sunday
29th July 2001
PEARSON RECUES POINT FOR CELTS
A late Stephen Pearson strike was all that Celtic could muster in their opening day encounter with Dundee United at Tannadice. And, if truth be told, it was the home side who controlled the game throughout. With new recruits Stephen Wright and Duncan Ferguson making their debuts in the starting XI, Celtic never entirely settled into the match and were continually trying to force things where we have become accustomed to the flowing football of O'Neill.
The first half; however, somehow remained goalless, thanks in no small part it should be said to rookie 'keeper David Marshall. The young Celt is very highly thought of in the Celtic ranks and today proved exactly why as time after time he thwarted United attacks, playing almost as a sweeper behind his back four and clearing Dundee's long ball attacks before their strikers had even got a sniff of the ball.
The move that brought about the home side's opener was a far better worked one, though. With holes appearing all across the Celtic defence, young midfielder Mark Kerr found the run of striker Collin Samuel with a perfectly placed through ball and the former Falkirk star rounded Marshall before slotting the ball home from the tightest of angles. It was a real surprise that it had taken almost an hour for United to breach the Celtic defence, perhaps if it had been a more composed side that Wallace's men were facing then there might have been a humiliating defeat, but as it was Dundee United showed an ineptitude in front of goal which saved the Bhoys' blushes.
When Pearson's chance came around, just eight minutes from time, it was almost the first shot on goal that Celtic had mustered in the match. Only a tame Craig Beattie shot had forced United 'keeper TOny Bullock into action before that, and it seemed evident as the home team 'keeper was easily wrong-footed by the swerve in Pearson's shot.
If Wallace's Scots only plan is to succeed, then it will be the likes of talented youngsters such as Beattie, Pearson and, when fit, Maloney and Kennedy who will guide them to trophies. Those boys; however, are still very wet behind the ears and the experience needed to win titles and progress in Europe is sadly lacking. On the basis of this performance, Celtic might have a struggle on their hands just to finish in the top six, let alone push clear title favourites Rangers into any kind of season long battle.
Final Score: Dundee United 1 - 1 Celtic Samuel 58"; Pearson 82"
With Henri Camara and Magnus Hedman already having been kicked out of Celtic Park, the exodus of non-Socts gained strangth today as the sales of David Fernandez and Didier Agathe were confirmed. Fernandez, who has struggled to find his way into the first team at Celtic and was loaned out to Livingston last season has been offloaded on a permanent basis to Spanish outfit Malaga. A £2M fee is, perhaps, more than Celtic expected to get for a player they consider to have little talent and his removal from the Glasgow side's squad will hardly have upset many of their loyal fans.
However, the sale of Agathe is a different matter altogether. Since his £50,000 move from Hibernian, Agathe has won many fans in the Celtic ranks with his outstanding displays down the right flank. Employed as either a winger or wingback by O'Neill, his sheer pace and excellent crossing ability have caused many a defence many a problem in Celtic's European adventures, and at SPL level he is simply a cut above most. So, to see him leave the club is hard for many fans to take, and a protest was organised outside the gates of the ground as the move was announced. As the first quality player to leave the club since Wallace took over, Agathe's sale is a real sign that they intend to stick with the Scottish player policy that has been recently implemented. Not even the £4M received from Lyon can heal the wound left in many a Celt's mind by Agathe's departure.
Celtic also confirmed today that recent signing Stephen Wright, who made an uninspiring debut against Dundee United at the weekend, will be out of the game for two months after suffering a groin strain during a routine training exercise. With players such as Baldé and Valgaeren in waiting, though, this is more likely to strengthen the Celtic XI, but is certainly a blow to the All-Scots regime.
I'm the biggest Evertonian ever note: You shouldn't have signed Funcan Dergousen "Big Func" (Duncan Fergousen). Anyway don't break into his house and then realise he's in you'll be dead as past people have found out.
Interesting and enjoyable. You may have your work cut out, with a Scots only team though. Of course you know that anyway, I'm just stating the obvious, obviously.
Alba gu Bràth 
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