This Celtic board will push and push. Will Callum McGregor be the straw that broke the camel’s back?

From the news that is circulating since yesterday, it seems that Celtic seem intent on continuing to dismantle the current squad, rather than rebuilding it.

In a press conference at the club’s training camp in Portugal, Martin O’Neill only seemed to speak about the possibility of players leaving.

There was very little talk, if any, of players joining the club.

As Celtic fans, we’re now conditioned to always look at the worst case scenario at our club.

So, at this moment in time, what is the worst case scenario?

What is ground zero for Celtic?

Well, to understand that fully, you would have to focus on the questions Martin O’Neill was asked yesterday, and the answers he gave.

All they really did was leave Celtic fans with total uncertainty with regard to the direction of the club.

Look, we all understand that the departures of Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda, and Reo Hatate are most likely imminent.

Most of us have resigned ourselves to that fact.

But in addition to that, O’Neill didn’t give much reassurance when it came to the prospect of losing Benjamin Nygren either.

Essentially, every one of last season’s top performing Celtic players is in the shop window.

What was most alarming though, were O’Neill’s comments on Callum McGregor.

I have provided the links to all of the Celtic manager’s comments from yesterday.

Many other sites have written about them too.

But in this article, what I want to do is focus on what I stated earlier, if ground zero happens, what will it look like?

By ground zero, I mean that the spine of our midfield is sold off, along with Daizen Maeda on top of that.

That is the loss of Engels, Hatate, Nygren, and Callum McGregor.

The reality here is that all of this could happen.

Simply because the manager isn’t coming out and stating vehemently that it won’t happen.

Nor is he stating that a rebuild to counteract the likelihood of this is anywhere near under way.

Our season kicks off this day three weeks from now.

At any normal football club, a rebuild would be well under way.

In fact, at this point, it would be close to completion.

For examples of this, just look towards the rest of the clubs in the Scottish Premiership.

The Ibrox side, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts have all engaged in extensive recruitment.

The Ibrox side have 6 signings in the door and don’t appear to be slowing down on their recruitment drive.

Hearts have brought in 7, and Aberdeen as many as 9.

Hibs have 3 in the door.

We have 1.

Yes 1.

Celtic is in the strongest position to make signings due to our financial strength, and we have a solitary signing.

All the talk at our club is about departures.

There is little or no talk about players coming in.

The board’s relationship with the fanbase is non-existent.

They will not communicate, unless of course they want to sell you something, like a flash Swiss Celtic watch.

Or a 3rd kit inspired by the decorative tile and mosaic patterns at the entrance to the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon.

It seems, whether they are aware of it or not, that they are pushing the Celtic fan base to its limit.

I strongly suspect that they are totally aware of it.

You’d want to be incredibly thick not to be.

Last summer was a shambles which culminated in the failure to qualify for the Champions League after losing to the team that finished rock bottom in the CL group stage.

This time last year, we at least had Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand, Shin Yamada, Hayato Inamura and Ross Doohan in the door.

They weren’t awe inspiring, but at least we had 5 players in.

We were actively recruiting.

But this summer?

With what’s at stake?

One single signing.

And all the talk is surrounding departures in the midst of the biggest required rebuild of the 21st century for this club.

Makes sense of that for me.

Because I certainly can’t, and anybody who thinks that this is normal needs their head checked.

The – ‘there’s still time’, ‘have patience’, and ‘the transfer window is open for 7 more weeks’ – excuses don’t cut it anymore.

Nothing can excuse the level of inaction at Celtic at this point in time.

Especially when every other club in the Scottish Premiership is having no issues getting deals done throughout the summer.

So what does rock bottom, ground zero, and the worst case scenario look like?

We sell our top assets, and then as a result of this, Callum McGregor decides he’s had enough.

Because listening to the manager speaking yesterday, his comments were indicative of this being a very likely scenario.

So the next question is this, would the loss of our legendary captain be the straw that broke the camel’s back?

Because let’s be fair here, the board keeps piling the straws on.

They’re doing this because they sold the full allocation of season tickets for next season.

Now that they have the fans’ money, they don’t care about how they treat us.

Brian Wilson’s lies about recruitment were just a ruse to get people to buy their season tickets.

The sad thing about it is that his lies worked.

Coming off the back of an unlikely double and the feel good factor involved with that, all Wilson had to do was promise a busy summer of recruitment, and it was like shooting fish in a barrel.

Supporters went out in their droves and season books sold out in quick time.

What have the board given in return?

One single, solitary signing, uncertainty about our entire midfield, and the possibility we could lose our captain.

Last week I wrote an article on Callum McGregor.

In it, I highlighted the fact he outlined that if his ambitions weren’t met, he have to consider his options.

Well, it’s clear those ambitions are NOT being met.

A huge amount of time to get this club ready for the season ahead, and our CL qualifier, has been squandered thus far.

If Callum McGregor decides he’s had enough, I certainly would not hold it against him.

I don’t think many would.

The blame would lie entirely at the feet of the board.

They still have time to pull this out of the fire, but not much.

Because if they don’t, and they thought last season’s protests were unwarranted?

They ain’t seen nothing yet.

Losing our captain would definitely be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

I honestly don’t see how the board survives that.

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