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The Journos · 5 August 2026
"Nothing serious will change at Celtic until everything changes - until the ownership changes, until the senior executives change." That is Stephen McGowan's verdict as The Journos return for a new season, and it frames a fractious few weeks at Celtic Park.
Host Peter Martin is joined by Stephen McGowan and Hugh MacDonald to unpack the growing anger among Celtic supporters: a transfer window they see as too slow, a lack of trust between the board and the fans, and questions over Dermot Desmond, chief executive Michael Nicholson and a recruitment strategy that has left Martin O'Neill's side chasing signings before the Champions League play-off against LASK. With Brendan Rodgers gone and big earners like Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston the subject of interest, is the club spending enough - and is the board, not the manager, the real problem?
Across the Old Firm divide, Hugh MacDonald argues it is already win-or-bust for Rangers boss Derek McInnes: nine new signings, no transition, and Graeme Souness warning he will be judged on the title alone. The panel debate whether McInnes has the width and service for Lawrence Shankland, whether Nicolas Raskin should be sold, and Thursday's European tie against Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Also in this episode: a tribute to the late Franco Baresi and the greatest AC Milan side ever; Motherwell's promising start; Scotland's alarming European decline after Hearts' 6-0 loss to Sturm Graz and Hibs' exit to Kosovan minnows; whether Scottish football is still producing young players like Aaron Hickey and Ben Doak; and Gianni Infantino's 50/50 fight for FIFA survival amid the UEFA-FIFA fault line and a 64-team World Cup.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro: 15 seasons of The Journos
1:29 Tribute: Franco Baresi and the greatest AC Milan side
6:42 Scottish Premiership opening weekend & Motherwell's start
8:24 Rangers: is Derek McInnes already win-or-bust?
20:03 PLZ Predictor: win a car or £10,000 (how to play)
21:26 Celtic: the board & ownership 'time bomb'
35:10 Why Celtic are really a Europa League club
39:10 Scotland's European collapse: Hearts, Hibs & Sturm Graz
42:41 Are we producing enough young Scottish football players?
48:55 Win a full Hummel team kit
50:59 The Legends Tour
54:48 FIFA & Infantino under pressure to resign
PLAY PLZ PREDICTOR - predict all six Scottish Premiership games each week and you could win a car or £10,000. Link in the pinned comment.
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