The narrative emerging from Hampden Park should have been a straightforward celebration of an underdog's glory. Instead, St Mirren's Scottish League Cup final victory has been utterly eclipsed by the spectacular, self-inflicted implosion of the defeated giants, Celtic. While the Buddies secured a famous win, the post-mortem focuses relentlessly on a Celtic board accused of staggering incompetence and a profound disconnect from its support.
A Rivalry Fueled by Pettiness and Self-Sabotage
The age-old rivalry between Celtic and Rangers is famously intense, rooted in deep social and historical divisions. Yet, the current season has revealed a new layer of absurdity. Observers have watched with a mix of horror and fascination as Celtic's hierarchy, seemingly not content with Rangers' own well-documented troubles, has embarked on a campaign of utterly avoidable self-harm that has left the club in turmoil.
The catalogue of missteps is extensive. It begins with a miserly summer transfer window that failed to strengthen the squad, followed by an embarrassingly early exit from the Champions League. The situation deteriorated rapidly with the sudden resignation of manager Brendan Rodgers. The club's response, a statement from majority shareholder Dermot Desmond labelling Rodgers as "divisive" and "self-serving", was seen by many as a breathtaking act of hypocrisy that only deepened the rift with fans.
AGM Fury and a Managerial Miscalculation
The anger boiled over at the club's Annual General Meeting, an event that had to be abandoned shortly after it began. Shareholders and fans present were treated with what was widely perceived as condescending disdain by Desmond's son, Ross, and chief executive Peter Lawwell. The atmosphere turned toxic, a clear signal that the board had lost the trust of its core support.
In a belated attempt at appeasement, the club turned to a familiar face, bringing back Martin O'Neill as interim manager. The popular figure steadied the ship, both on and off the pitch. However, in a decision that has since backfired spectacularly, the board opted not to retain O'Neill permanently. Instead, they appointed a new manager, Wilfried Nancy, immediately before a crucial trio of matches against Hearts, Roma, and St Mirren in the cup final.
A New Boss Thrown to the Wolves
The result was a disastrous week of three consecutive defeats. The timing now looks calamitous. This morning, the club's top brass had to listen as O'Neill, on national radio, diplomatically revealed he would have been happy to stay longer, while fielding calls from distraught fans begging for his return.
This sequence of events has left new boss Wilfried Nancy in an almost impossible position. Through no fault of his own, he appears a dead man walking after just eight days and three games, his authority undermined before he could even start. The board's impatience and poor planning have potentially crippled another reign before it began.
And yet, amidst this chaos, a football match was won. St Mirren were indeed absolutely marvellous, securing a historic triumph that deserved its own spotlight—a spotlight stolen by the ongoing bin-fire at Celtic Park.
