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The Journos · 26 August 2026
Stephen McGowan believes there are many individuals, groups and board members that are to blame for Celtic's play-off exit from the Champions League. Hugh MacDonald ranks the defeat as Celtic's most calamitous result in their history. Peter Martin rules out any prospect of change in the boardroom or strategy from the majority shareholder. What are the prospects for the remaining Scottish clubs in European competition this week?
The Journos - Peter Martin, Hugh MacDonald and Stephen McGowan - dissect the fallout from Celtic's Champions League play-off collapse, a 5-1 defeat to LASK in Austria (5-4 on aggregate) that Hugh MacDonald ranks as the most calamitous result in the club's European history. Leading 4-0 on aggregate with 60 minutes to go, Celtic fell apart. The panel ask who is to blame - the board, Martin O'Neill or the players - and argue that an arrogant board and majority shareholder Dermot Desmond ignored the manager's calls for quality over quantity, leaving Celtic hopelessly under-prepared. Peter Martin rules out any change in strategy or the boardroom.
WHY DID CELTIC LOSE 5-1 TO LASK?
The panel point to a fragile back line (Auston Trusty and an injury-prone Cameron Carter-Vickers), individual errors from Benjamin Nygren and others, a baffling lack of substitutions, and a squad short of depth and quality - the board having failed to sign a number-six midfielder to replace Arne Engels, plus left-back and right-back cover.
WHO IS TO BLAME FOR CELTIC'S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT?
There is "enough blame to go around" - the board, Martin O'Neill and the players - but the panel's central charge is against the board: a 23-year strategy of running Celtic as a business, "rolling the dice" at the end of the window and failing eight of the last ten Champions League play-offs, while ignoring fans who want more ambition.
WILL ANYTHING CHANGE AT CELTIC?
Peter Martin says no - describing an arrogant, uncommunicative board under Dermot Desmond that "neither apologises nor explains." The panel call for a root-and-branch change: a real director of football, a transfer committee divorced from the board, and a modern football department.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SCOTTISH CLUBS?
With Motherwell out to Freiburg, Hearts up against Rapid Vienna and Rangers facing Jablonec, the panel fear a bruising European week - pinning Scotland's best hope on Hibernian at home to Gent - and look ahead to the September 4th Scottish football summit.
Chapters:
00:00 The worst night in Celtic's history?
02:16 Two schools of blame: the Celtic board or the manager?
04:06 Why didn't Celtic FC just shut up shop vs LASK?
09:13 Celtic player errors: Nygren, Trusty, McCowan
10:25 Celitc's 23-year Champions League "roll of the dice"
12:01 The balance sheet vs Celtic fans
15:02 Domestic dominance masks the European failure
17:36 Deila, Rodgers and an arrogant Celtic board
20:58 The signings: Gineitis and the Chelsea left-back
25:18 No communication - bans and silence
31:29 What should change: a real director of football
34:22 The Fergus McCann board vs today
37:06 Is Martin O'Neill's legacy tarnished?
39:49 The academy and Scotland's talent drain
41:41 The other clubs and the September 4th summit
48:28 The most miserable Journos ever?
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The Journos is PLZ Soccer's Scottish football panel show with Peter Martin, Hugh MacDonald and guests. Subscribe to PLZ Soccer for The Journos, The Football Show, PLZ Vault and more Scottish football every week.
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