Hugh Keevins has said he cannot accept that Celtic's board have sold the club's soul by allowing Celtic Park to host an Oasis concert on May 25 next year, the 60th anniversary of the European Cup triumph in Lisbon.
The Mail Sport columnist, who is among a growing number of people who believe it would be a challenge for the board to run a bath, never mind a football club, said he still cannot bring himself to accept the decision.
Frank McAvennie criticism
Frank McAvennie, the former Celtic striker, has publicly taken the club to task, expressing his opinion that the ground should have been given over to the fans on that date for a more suitable commemoration of the Lions.
McAvennie said: "Celtic Football Club is the Lisbon Lions. The Lions put Celtic on the map."
Keevins said he would not disagree with a single word of that sentiment, having interviewed all of the Lions individually over a working lifetime and felt privileged to have known them.
Memories of the Lions
Keevins recalled that Tommy Gemmell, scorer of the equaliser against Inter Milan in Lisbon, sold private pension plans after retiring from the game, and that he bought one over a liquid-assisted lunch.
He also remembered a meal with Bobby Murdoch, who broke down and wept at the table as he recalled being unable to look back at the main door of the ground on the day he left for the last time to sign for Middlesbrough.
Despite these memories, Keevins said he still cannot accuse the board of desecrating the memory of the club's greatest side. He added that Jimmy Johnstone, if he was still with us, would have been among the crowd next May.
Lisbon test ahead
The question of Celtic's image will be addressed on October 14, when Martin O'Neill's team face Benfica in the Europa League in Lisbon, a precise measure of Celtic's standing in European football circles.
Celtic will return from the break created by Scotland's participation in the Nations League to face Motherwell and Hibs away, with Hearts at home in between, plus Benfica and Celta Vigo in Europe.
O'Neill's side are on the rebound from defeats by Rangers and Ferencvaros, and the board have publicly backed the manager. O'Neill has said nothing in public about his status since sparking speculation by talking about taking time out to reflect after the two Old Firm maulings.
