Last season, as Rangers became engulfed in the financial mire that would rock Scottish football to its foundations, Celtic purposefully went about their business, ultimately drifting towards the SPL championship as their great rivals lurched along, their very survival under threat.
Of course, Celtic supporters largely indulged themselves in the face of the Rangers crisis, taunting the Ibrox club’s desperate situation. However, now that the dust has settled somewhat, and Rangers prepare for a season within the fourth tier of Scottish league football, there remains an obvious question – what now for Celtic?
It’s tempting to answer that by simply stating the obvious. That is, the Parkhead club will stroll to several league titles, the next three at least, assuming that Rangers’ return to the SPL is achieved in as many consecutive seasons.
Indeed, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario whereby any other club will be able to sustain anything remotely resembling a challenge to Celtic’s inevitable SPL supremacy for the foreseeable future.
Hearts have lost most of their top players to a significant cost-cutting exercise over the summer, Dundee United have similar fiscal challenges, and Motherwell’s laudable consistency is unlikely to be reflected by way of a serious challenge to Celtic over a long, arduous season.
As for the rest? Forget it, the likes of Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Hibernian won’t waste their time with thoughts of league glory, in all likelihood focusing instead on rather more prosaic mid-table obscurity, safely out of reach of the relegation dogfight.
So, Celtic’s fans will be satisfied with their lot, then. Right? Well, probably not actually, on the basis that, like it or not, the Old Firm need each other.
In recent weeks, as it became clear that Rangers’ bid to re-enter the top flight was doomed to failure, the noises emanating from Celtic Park sought to re-assure supporters that Celtic’s success (or otherwise) was not necessarily linked to events across Glasgow.
This, of course, is perfectly understandable. The biggest fear for Celtic manager Neil Lennon and his players is that apathy sets in, as they assume their inescapable march to the title. Naturally, many will be preparing to maintain that such a title, devoid of a serious challenge, will be tainted as a consequence.
Neil Lennon’s immediate response has been to focus on his side’s European aspirations, which is pertinent as the qualifying round starts this week. The suspicion remains that a decent run in the Champions League – including participation in the lucrative group stages – will be a pre-requisite, in terms of boosting the club coffers, as well as holding the interest of those who fill the stands at home matches.
Talking of attendances, it’s been interesting to note the large swathes of empty seats which have been evident during Celtic’s two recent friendlies, against Norwich City and Inter Milan.
Normally this wouldn’t be of particular concern, of course, but Chief Executive Peter Lawwell was sufficiently moved to write to Celtic supporters last week, urging them to continue to purchase season tickets, and attend matches in continued support of the ‘Celtic family.’
It doesn’t take a genius to suggest that, whilst far from the actions of a desperate man, Lawwell and the top brass at Celtic are genuinely worried that Rangers’ problems will be acutely felt within their own confines. Whether Lawwell chooses to admit as much publicly remains to be seen, but he will know better than most that Celtic’s fortunes are inextricably linked to their Old Firm rivals.
It’s also worth noting that, at the time of writing, there has been precious little transfer activity at Celtic during the summer. Two million pounds was spent securing the services of goalkeeper Fraser Forster, but the big stopper has been with the club on loan for the past two seasons, so he can hardly be described as an addition to the playing squad.
The riposte to this, of course, is simple – why should Celtic recruit players when the ones they presently have will be more than able to win the league this term? No football club Board in their right mind would splash the cash unless they have to, and, whilst in relatively rude financial health at the moment, Celtic don’t have endless millions to spend unnecessarily.
Doubtless money would be released were funds from Champions League participation to be had, but there is no guarantee of this, given the poverty of Scottish clubs’ performances at Europe’s top table in recent seasons.
And there’s the rub. Celtic need a decent run in European football more than ever this season. Should they fail to deliver in that regard, a financial windfall will be missed. But, worse still, domestic attendance levels may suffer in light of a league title that may be wrapped up before winter is out.
Last season, Celtic fans regularly sang ‘We’re having a party when Rangers die.’ But now it appears that times, and attitudes, have changed. Whisper it, but you suspect they’ll miss their old adversaries as the season progresses.
More worrying still, so will Scottish football as a whole.