Celtic assistant Shaun Maloney has called for a truce between the club and the Green Brigade, as the ultras group prepares to boycott Thursday night's Europa League showdown with Celta Vigo. The stayaway fans have announced they will sit out all home Europa League and Scottish Cup fixtures.
Maloney, standing in for manager Martin O'Neill during media duties, admitted the Scottish champions will miss the colour and noise from the North Curve corner as they look to revive their European campaign. He also acknowledged the ongoing dispute between fans and the board is not helping the team.
Maloney's plea for unity
Speaking about the atmosphere, Maloney said: "From when we stepped in a year ago to then feel and see how the stadium was in the last weeks of the season when everyone was together, all of us as staff, fans - everyone - are desperate to get that all the time."
He added: "It's really difficult to comment too much on that but if we can get to that place again that'd be amazing. I think the atmosphere against Hearts was really good. I think the travelling support at both Motherwell and Benfica were the same and the difference it makes is huge for the players and the staff. I'm not sure how we get there, I think that's for the key people not me."
Maloney stressed the importance of a united stadium, saying: "But we're all desperate to get to the point we were at in the last two or three weeks of last season. Because when the atmosphere in the stadium is like that, it's a difficult place to go and play and it drives the players on."
No end in sight
He acknowledged the difficulty of the situation: "It's a tough time again. Hopefully that can get resolved but it will be more senior people than me who will do that."
Maloney was on media duties as O'Neill dealt with a personal matter, though the manager is expected to be in the dugout on Thursday. Asked if a win against Celta Vigo could fast-track a peace deal, Maloney said: "I hope so. I'm not sure. We had an amazing result in the last game. The atmosphere in the stadium was really good and we need it because we've obviously got challenges within the team trying to improve certain areas."
He added: "The fans make such a huge difference. I'm not sure the result of a game will change that side of things. But we'll still have a really big crowd. But it's a tough time. It's difficult to talk about it."
Injury updates
Maloney also revealed Cameron Carter-Vickers and Alistair Johnston could return for Sunday's trip to Easter Road. Carter-Vickers has been out since the international break with a muscle issue, while Johnston suffered a hamstring injury in August.
He said: "Alistair's been back training a little bit longer, Cameron just started this week. Both won't make tomorrow but they should, if it goes well in the next couple of days, be available for the squad on Sunday."
Maloney also confirmed: "Auston Trusty has got a private matter, so he won't make tomorrow. Oliver Sorensen was pretty similar but he's back in the country today so he'll be in the squad tomorrow."
