Celtic AGM: fans must show restraint to get answers, says Martin
The Journos panel discuss the Celtic AGM, the future of Scottish football, Derek McInnes leaving Hearts for Rangers and refereeing standards.
By PLZ Soccer,
Celtic supporters will need discipline at the club's AGM if they want answers from the board, according to Peter Martin. On The Journos, Martin said all supporter groups at Celtic will have to show restraint and have a clear line of questioning, put in an orderly manner, to have any hope of getting answers from the Celtic board.
Stephen McGowan disputed whether anything will change at Celtic until everything changes. The panel, completed by Gordon Parks, also marked a year since Brendan Rodgers left Celtic and discussed whether the club is "worse off" after 12 months.
Warning over the future of the Scottish game
Parks warned that the pathway for Scottish players to first-team football and the structure of Scottish football must change, or there are dark times ahead.
The panel considered where Scottish football will be in 10 years. The view that "academy football has destroyed Scottish football" was put on the table, along with Craig Mulholland's under-21 proposals and the figure of "38 out of 132" in relation to Scottish starters and under-21s. Brighton signing a Motherwell under-17, a points system for foreign players, B team games and "job creation" academies were also covered.
The discussion moved on to the UEFA coefficient, which is down to 21st, the size of the league and the four Old Firm games. The panel looked at cross-border leagues and whether Celtic and Rangers will find "another platform", as well as Deloitte's review and the TV deal, with a comparison between 60 games and 240.
The BBC's cuts and their effect on Championship coverage were discussed, alongside how people consume football now, the DAZN pay-per-game blueprint and the idea of a Scottish football subscription. The panel weighed up whether this is "the death throes of Scottish football".
McInnes, referees and managers under pressure
Earlier in the episode, the panel debated whether Derek McInnes should feel any guilt about leaving Hearts for Rangers. That led into a wider conversation about players, managers and money, taking in Kieran Tierney, Ally McCoist, Mo Johnston and Figo.
Refereeing standards came under the spotlight once again. The panel discussed Willie Collum and the "duty of care" of the SFA, before turning to VAR, with the comment "I am an absolute sceptic" made during that section.
The panel also assessed the managers under pressure at Hibs, Aberdeen and Motherwell, and discussed Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or.