The general secretary of the Celtic Supporters’ Association Joe O’Rourke has issued a rallying call to fans to get behind the club to show that the absence of Rangers will not hit the Hoops this season.
Mr O’Rourke was speaking as supporters of the remaining SPL teams new team Dundee have been behind a groundswell of sentiment towards the league with hopes that first weekend games in August will be sold out.
If they are, it will more than make up from revenue lost from travelling Rangers fans.
“We will do what we have always done, which is approach as many people as possible and encourage them to come and support Celtic Football Club,” he told celticfc.net.
“The best way to do that is by buying a ticket and walking through the turnstiles.”
The vast majority of Celtic fans wanted the club to vote against the parachuting of newco Rangers into the SPL and O’Rourke hopes those fans now turn up for games.
He said: “What I would say to the Celtic support now is that you asked the club to behave in a certain way and conduct business in a certain manner. The vast majority of supporters asked the club to oppose a Newco parachuting straight into the SPL.
“The club has done that, the club has fulfilled your wishes and, obviously, that means that Celtic will have to take a big financial hit from this, losing the guaranteed income that comes from the derby games.
“We cannot ask the club to do that and then not support them ourselves.”
Mr O’Rourke said that personally speaking he was shocked at the level of support for clubs from fans opposed to Rangers entering the SPL.
“I have been very surprised and encouraged by just how many supporters from different clubs accepted and argued that we had to do what was right and I really hope it bodes well for the future,” he said.
“I have been surprised by the level of opposition to the Newco and I genuinely didn’t expect it.
“I think a lot of clubs were forced to take their strong positions on the matter by their supporters. I don’t think that’s how they would have voted had they not been told to do what was right.
“I have been delighted with Celtic’s position on this and I think that the club has played a blinder. They have acted 100 per cent correctly, right throughout.”
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