Celtic's pre-season friendly against Middlesbrough at Parkhead this weekend is set to be anything but friendly, with a sparse crowd expected and fan frustration boiling over. While 5,000 Middlesbrough supporters are anticipated to travel to Glasgow, the number of Celtic fans attending remains uncertain, and the mood among those who do is likely to be tense.
With just days to go before kick-off, tickets are readily available in all open sections, and the top tier may remain closed due to low demand. The match is not included in season tickets, and many supporters are angry about the club's lack of transfer activity. Only one new signing, Camilo Duran, has been made so far this summer.
Fan Protests Could Return
Last season, protests against the club's management were put on hold during the run-in, but they could resume with force. Many fans are voting with their feet by refusing to pay £20 for a friendly, especially given the minimal squad investment. Manager Martin O'Neill has publicly stated he is calm about the situation, but behind the scenes, tensions may be higher.
A late ticket rush is possible, as some supporters cannot resist watching their team, but a significant portion feel their anger rising weekly. They have invested in season tickets but are yet to see a return on their money.
Transfer Woes Continue
O'Neill has only signed Duran, who scored on his debut in a lacklustre defeat to Sporting Lisbon. The lack of other business has alarmed fans. Celtic extended Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's contract by 12 months but only after letting his extension option lapse, meaning the 33-year-old missed the first two weeks of pre-season. Similarly, talks are ongoing to bring back Kelechi Iheanacho, whose contract extension was not triggered, despite O'Neill admitting last season that the player needed a full pre-season. Iheanacho has been training alone in Nigeria and Manchester instead of with the squad.
Celtic also want Marcelo Saracchi to return, but the full-back, who had injury issues last season, is training alone with Boca Juniors. This comes after it took a month to finalise O'Neill's coaching staff.
Promises Unfulfilled
Interim chairman Brian Wilson promised a busy few weeks a month ago, but the only busy department has been marketing. O'Neill has used words like 'optimistic', 'confident', and 'hopeful' regarding new recruits, but fans want 'confirmed'. The friendly against Middlesbrough will be a test of whether online discontent translates to real-world protest, with the atmosphere and attendance closely watched.
