Celtic supremos in 'stalemate' with council over plans for trophy parties to come as MSP makes weighty appeal

An MSP has urged Glasgow City Council chiefs to take the lead for future organised title parties after revealing Celtic directors have been left frustrated by the “stalemate” in talks over who should be responsible for arranging it.

Scottish Labour MSP Paul Sweeney represents the Glasgow region for the area where Hoops legions now gather to celebrate success but which has seen them criticised for their behaviour in recent seasons, including after this season’t Scottish Premiership title win when tens of thousands descended on the Merchant City.

Sweeney told The Celtic Way that he spoke to directors of Celtic and claimed they are open to having an organised fan zone event but the stumbling block is who should take the lead, with Parkhead a logistical issue plus the fact they aren’t permitted to sell alcohol. Sweeney has spoken with Hoops chief executive Michael Nicholson and fellow board members and said: “It is quite frustrating when you hear from the major players on this. It seems to me that there isn’t any leadership being displayed from the city about trying to facilitate this.

“I was at the Celtic women’s team game at Celtic Park when they won the Scottish title and talked to a number of their directors. I raised this issue with them and asked what the situation in regards to more organised events was and what the club’s appetite for them would be. They said they had had significant conversations with Glasgow City Council about it and basically there was a bit of a stalemate about who is going to take the lead in organising it.

“I spoke to the CEO and some of the other directors. They were eager for it. They were all very open-minded, very keen to do it. But they were saying they needed the city to take the lead on