Celtic's Decline Was Years in the Making

Many supporters feel that Celtic's decline in the 2025/26 season did not appear out of nowhere. It had been developing for some time as the club repeatedly sold key players and either failed to replace them or brought in players who were viewed by many fans as inferior.

The moment that still stands out for a lot of supporters was the sale of Kyogo in January. Losing a player of that importance was always going to hurt, but the fact that no meaningful replacement arrived pushed an already shaky relationship between Brendan Rodgers and the board into deeper trouble. When the summer 2025 window arrived and Rodgers again appeared not to receive the backing he expected, the deterioration was there for everyone to see.

Looking back, many supporters now believe the club should probably have parted ways with Rodgers in the summer. He was not the only reason the situation became toxic, but his relationship with the board and the tone of his public comments contributed to the sense of drift. At the same time, the board's communication and leadership have been heavily criticised by fans who feel they have been left in the dark for too long. When a club communicates rarely, vaguely or too defensively, supporters naturally begin filling the gaps themselves, and frustration turns into something more hostile.

Recruitment has been the clearest fault line throughout this period. No one outside the club truly knows whether the issue is flawed scouting, an inability to identify suitable players, a lack of investment, a strategic downsizing, or simply a series of deals that collapsed late because the club could not get replacements lined up. Supporters regularly debate whether financial caution is playing too large a role. The real problem is that with such poor communication from above, fans are left guessing, and when performances drop, speculation hardens into anger.

This negativity has undoubtedly affected the players. Confidence has dipped, basic mistakes have increased and the unity that once characterised the squad has faded. Several players were widely reported to be close to moves away in the summer, only for those moves to fall apart because the club could not secure replacements in time. This has contributed to a sense of disharmony, where players feel unsettled, unsupported or simply worn down by the wider atmosphere.

The appointment of Nancy, a relatively inexperienced manager at this level, has intensified the situation further. He has tried to introduce a system that the squad does not currently appear suited for, and with limited training time the team has often looked uncertain and disjointed. Most supporters do not blame him personally, but they see his appointment as another example of the board making decisions that do not align with the playing squad or the expectations of the support.

The tension was heightened even further by Ross Desmond's comments at the AGM, which many supporters interpreted as dismissive of fan concerns. Whether that was his intention or not, the reaction among the fanbase has been severe. A large number of supporters now feel that those remarks have made it extremely difficult for the board to rebuild trust. For many, bridges that were already cracked now seem close to impossible to repair.

There is also real fear about what another defeat, especially in a high pressure fixture like the one coming on Sunday, would do to both the players' confidence and the already fragile relationship between the supporters and the board. The atmosphere is heavy enough already, and another setback could push the club into an even deeper crisis of belief and unity.

What makes it all the more frustrating for many fans is the feeling that this decline could have been avoided. A clearer transfer strategy, better replacements when selling key players, stronger leadership, more transparent communication and a more decisive approach in the summer of 2025 might have prevented the situation from unravelling in the way it has.

Rodgers also carries his share of responsibility. Many supporters feel that his second spell lacked the conviction and clarity of his first, and that his attitude during difficult moments accelerated the breakdown. For a number of fans, whatever legacy he built previously has been badly damaged, if not completely lost.

The sad truth is that Celtic now feels like a club caught between poor planning at board level, failed recruitment, damaged trust with supporters, confused tactical direction and a squad drained of confidence. A more coherent strategy could have avoided much of this, and unless the club finds a way to re-establish unity, things may get worse before they get better.

Written by Weejoe December 12 2025 22:42:40