Celtic still 'a million miles' from genuine crisis as fans sent reminder of how bad it COULD be

Gary Gillespie reckons Celtic are a victim of their own success. And the former Parkhead defender says the club are a million miles away from the days 30 years ago when he could see Sack The Board messages on the crumbling old terraces.

Last weekend’s 2-0 loss to Hearts following a collapse at KIlmarnock brought an outburst of anger amongst some angry punters. Despite a lengthy and sustained period of success for the club over the past 20 years and £70 million in the bank, there was chanting for the removal of the hierarchy. On this week in 1993, the same mantra was heard. When Celtic faced Hibs at home, 28 fans stood together in t-shirts spelling out Sack The Board instead of having a banner to overcome the board’s efforts to stop protest at the ground.

Under 17,000 were at the game where Paul McStay hit the winner with the club and team in turmoil. Celtic were deep in the midst of a six-year barren spell without a single trophy having previously seen silverware in 1989 when Joe Miller’s strike beat Rangers in Scottish Cup Final and not handling any again until Pierre van Hooijdonk’s header beat Airdrie in the 1995 showpiece.

At the same time, their oldest rivals from across the city were enjoying complete dominance of the domestic game and making waves in the Champions League as Celtic, under Lou Macari after the sacking of Liam Brady, toiled.

It would be four more months from that day until Fergus McCann ousted the old regime with the club in peril and success subsequently flowed.

Under the current leadership, Celtic has collected five Trebles since 2017 including one last term under Ange Postecoglou and have been Invincibles under boss Brendan Rodgers during his first spell. Rodgers is now back facing-up to two