Uilleam 5,940 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 It is said that in war the first casualty is truth. In today's Gherald, one Neil Cameron strikes a blow for all honest minded mankind in this piece on Mr Dermot Desmond, eminence verte at the piggery. It's incredible, but it's not. One can only admire Cameron's indefatigability, as he seems never to run out of puff. One can only wonder if he was paid twice for this twaddle.... Read on, if you have a strong stomach..... Neil Cameron: Dermot Desmond will run Celtic his way no matter who the manager is http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/16589029.neil-cameron-dermot-desmond-will-run-celtic-his-way-no-matter-who-the-manager-is/?ref=ebls ANY football writer who has plied their trade in Scotland can only claim to be worth their salt if they have had at least one knock-back in person from Dermot Desmond. Whether it’s been on the steps of Celtic Park as he is rushed through the front entrance before a (usually big) game or at a golf course, never a council one, when the Irish billionaire has just finished his round during a charity event. The rebuttal is always incredibly polite and, more often than not, the journalist is thanked for asking the question even if there was more chance of Satan skating to work than getting a quote. They are then sent on their way. There is no point in badgering the man. Indeed, a former colleague and old chum tells a story of how he approached Desmond at the Augusta National one year, introduced himself, and asked if he could have a minute or two to chat about the famous Glasgow Celtic. Desmond, with impeccable manners, said no, of course, and the would-be interrogator toddled off. Then he had a think, turned on heels, which are actually banned at Augusta, and marched back up to the man. It went something like this. “Mr Desmond, at the last five Masters I have asked you for an interview and you’ve said no every time.” “And I very much look forward to giving you the same answer next year.” You have to admit it’s a pretty good line. Desmond doesn’t need publicity nor does he desire it. I’m quite sure no journalist has his trust never mind a working phone number. When you have an estimated £2billion in the bank, why make time for the likes of myself. You could argue he should be more public about Celtic but that’s an argument you are never going to win. Ah, but he did just that back in April exactly at the time Arsene Wenger announced he was leaving Arsenal and almost immediately Brendan Rodgers was installed at the top of the list to replace the Frenchman. Desmond took time out of his putting practice, it was a Pro-Am of something such as that, to speak to a television camera about Rodgers, which he didn’t need to do and normally runs a mile from an interview. He said: “I’m glad that he’s the favourite because he deserves to be the favourite. He’s an outstanding person and we wouldn’t like him to leave. But we can’t force anybody to stay and hopefully his love for the club, and the set-up there, will induce him to stay at Celtic.” Desmond wouldn’t have spoken out like this about Martin O’Neill or Gordon Strachan. So why did he feel the need to go public about the current Celtic manager when, truth be told, there was zero chance of Rodgers being offered a job in north London. Was it a reminder about who the boss is at Celtic Park, about who really holds the power and makes the biggest decisions? For me, it was the big DD saying to all that Celtic is bigger than everyone, yes even a manager as popular and successful as Rodgers, and the club would carry on just find if the Northern Irishman did indeed move on to Arsenal. Desmond, I am sure, does not need to know the minor details of how Celtic is run, but the big decisions both financial and in terms of who the next manager is, comes under his remit. When you’ve pumped so much money into a business, including the £6m he reportedly spent on the training ground, you get to have a say in the big stuff. Peter Lawwell is an employee, albeit as powerful a chief executive as you will find in British football. However, he has bosses and it’s the rich bloke from Dublin, the largest individual shareholder at the football club, who sits top of the tree. What Dermot says, goes. It’s as simple as that at Celtic. And if Rodgers is unhappy with the way the transfers are done, it’s not Lawwell he’s fallen out with. Celtic fly out to Lithuania today and they would rather not. They want to be in the Champions League, not playing Suduva to then play Thursday-Sunday more or less until the end of this year for a pittance compared to what they made over the last two years. They will win this play-off and reach the group stage, which is part of the Celtic grand plan. This is not a club which budgets for the Champions League. They will not throw about money to earn some plus points from the supporters so they might get past the likes of AEK Athens. From Desmond to chairman Iain Bankier to Lawwell, this is the way Celtic are run and, so far, it’s worked pretty well, had it not? Why change because of a couple of badly defended set-pieces? The Celtic support don’t quite know what to make of their club right now. Sure, it’s been a wonderful couple of years but there is a frustration, which I understand, about why, in the words of the manager, they have not strengthened when in such a fantastic decision. The reason is that long after Rodgers goes, Desmond, the board, most likely Lawwell, and the club as an entity will remain and the structure won’t be bent even for a guy who has made so much history. If Rodgers does want to stay longer, and the rumblings from within suggest he does, then he would do well to remember there is a reason Celtic are in such a good position and it began long before Rodgers was even at Liverpool. And the Celtic fans, some of them at least, could do with a shake. Their team are going to be in Europe until Christmas, there are some excellent players in that squad, Rangers have been rejuvenated so beating them, if that’s what is going to happen, will be so much more fun. Rodgers can moan and get support for what he says but not a lot will change. What will is that deals such as the John McGinn one are taken care of quickly and successfully. Apart from that, a certain Irishman rather likes the way Celtic go about their business. Everyone would do well to remember that. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,724 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 All this will make 55 much better for Rangers & Rangers fans! TIMplosion on an enormous scale coming. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo79 15,294 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Never mind all that, Orlaith and Erin now have free tampons at the Piggery. ? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc 280 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Dd Dermot's PR people ghost write that pile of drivel or is he actually pretending that he believes it? It's extreme arse kissing and not even pretending to be journalism. No wonder the Herald is doomed. Spiers and this clown are clearly just holding on for a few more pay cheques before the ship hits the rocks. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster. 5,196 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Does the term 'Advertising Feature' come at the top of that article ? Puff piece for the PLC. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleam 5,940 Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 It is the Gherald taking sides in The War of Desmond's Ear. The article, itself, is sycophancy raised to an art form (presumably something to do with the Embra Festival), although it is also a whistle, and not one for dogs, but a referee's Acme Thunderer, aimed at St Brenda. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
der Berliner 3,744 Posted August 22, 2018 Share Posted August 22, 2018 Scottish Mhedia ... somehow reminds me of Deep Space 9, rooted on the edge of a trans-warp conduit to the Yahoo galaxis where everything is hoopish green-grey. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleam 5,940 Posted August 23, 2018 Author Share Posted August 23, 2018 It's life, der Berliner, but not as we know it....... 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster. 5,196 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 9 hours ago, der Berliner said: Scottish Mhedia ... somehow reminds me of Deep Space 9, rooted on the edge of a trans-warp conduit to the Yahoo galaxis where everything is hoopish green-grey. They are more like a cheap whore who has just turned 50. She knows she'll have to do anything asked of her for less money than when she used to say no. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooponthewing 1,139 Posted August 23, 2018 Share Posted August 23, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, buster. said: They are more like a cheap whore who has just turned 50. She knows she'll have to do anything asked of her for less money than when she used to say no. Good Grief buster I’m in the dentist with drills in the background. I was fine with that but I’m shaking like a leaf now? Edited August 23, 2018 by cooponthewing 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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