It’s starting to become something of a habit with Charlie

Former Celtic player Charlie Mulgrew has once again found himself in the spotlight, and again, not for reasons that will endear him to the support. But that’s starting to become something of a habit with Charlie…

Known for his amusing takes, Mulgrew perhaps recently mis-read his audience after he weighed in on Celtic’s transfer dealings last week, with a take more peculiar than funny. Now he appears to be testing the waters with his thoughts on potential future managers. And the approach is following a similar path. Once is a mistake. Twice is a habit.

Last week, Mulgrew defended Celtic’s handling of the transfer window, dismissing criticism of the club’s board, saying –

“No, I don’t think we can criticise the same group of people that have run such a great business model for years now… They’re bringing players in for a certain price and selling them on, and that’s why the club is in such a stable position. Obviously, Celtic are hard negotiators, maybe harder than other teams. And that’s why they’re getting a bit of stick. But listen, that’s the way they negotiate. It’s the way they’ve always done it. We can sit and moan about it, but it’s just the way Celtic operate.”

Those comments drew a mix of bemusement and frustration from fans, many of whom felt that Mulgrew’s take was crawlingly board friendly. We covered that one on The Celtic Star back on 5 September in this article titled Celtic’s great 25 year business model – More myth than magic.

Now, speaking on Go Radio Mulgrew has offered his opinion on Shaun Maloney as a potential future Celtic manager. Sigh.

“It would be unfair to start saying people or touting people for the job, but I think Shaun Maloney’s a really good coach, and would be a good manager. He’s worked at a high level, at the national team with Belgium, worked closely with Roberto Martinez. A right good coach. John Kennedy’s an unbelievable coach. But Brendan Rodgers is in the job just now, and it’s up to him to get the team playing, and back to more of a threat in the final third.”

While Maloney is apparently widely respected as a coach, many Celtic supporters would likely blow a gasket at the idea of him stepping straight into a head coach role at a club of Celtic’s stature, especially as he’s just taken on a role as a player pathways manager that needs a long term commitment, not a placeholder.

Experience, proven success, and the ability to handle the intense scrutiny of the club are critical factors for any Celtic manager, and few would argue that Maloney has yet to tick all those boxes.

Management gigs at Hibs, then Wigan, neither of which were successful is not the sort of upward trajectory Celtic should be demanding of any potential boss. No matter how some behind the scenes may view such a project.

Mulgrew’s comments come across as yet another example of him sucking up while the club tries to beat down supporter ambitions.

Whether he genuinely believes Maloney could succeed at the helm, or whether he’s simply engaging in a bit of wishful thinking for an old pal, it leaves me thinking Charlie, saw an Open Goal and couldn’t miss an opportunity to curry favour with some, and troll the support as an acceptable hazard. It is not a good look.

Celtic fans are accustomed to high management standards and significant investment in the most important role at the club, as the appointments of both Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers have shown.

And while Mulgrew may have enjoyed a good career with the club, his recent commentary is out of step with the realities and frustrations of those of us who are currently navigating the Celtic board’s downsizing of our ambitions, and could do with help rather than hinderance from former players.

If this was designed to test the water, he can report back the temperature is inclement.

The boot-licking, Charlie, is starting to wear thin.

Niall J

Read this from Niall J on the next page…Step forward, Michael. Answer the questions your supporters are demanding…