CELTIC CONFIDENTIAL: Green Brigade’s NEXT apology should be to the club for costing them thousands of pounds in UEFA fines

A group of Celtic ultras have apologised to their fellow supporters for their recent behaviour.

The controversial Green Brigade are known for their inflammatory banners, which are often political in nature, and their pyrotechnic displays.

Celtic have received numerous fines from UEFA in recent seasons due to fan behaviour and have a ban on travelling supporters hanging over their heads at present.

Now, however, the ultras group have released a statement apologising for their actions at recent games – although failing to specify which ‘incidents’ they are actually referring to.

The statement from the fans’ group read: ‘In recent weeks, we have created incidents at matches that have regrettably impacted the experience of other supporters.

‘These incidents have then been made worse by our poor handling of the situations.

Brendan Rodgers and his players at full-time, with banner still visible in the background

‘We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all fans impacted by our conduct. We acknowledge that our support style isn’t to everyone’s preference.

‘Going forward, we will be more mindful of this and be more respectful to other supporters.’

Mail Sport understands that the statement may be in response to the unveiling of a ‘Show Israel The Red Card’ banner during the first leg of the Champions League play-off with Bayern Munich at Parkhead earlier this month. 

Other fans were unhappy at being unable to see the action on the pitch after the massive banner was unveiled at the start of the second half.

There also appeared to be problems during the return match in Munich a week later as Celtic supporters fought with one another in a section of the stadium bedecked in Green Brigade flags and banners.

The ultras statement was released after the Parkhead club learned they have escaped a UEFA sanction for the anti-Israel banner at Celtic Park

At least the Green Brigade have seen fit to issue an apology of sorts to their fellow supporters.

Maybe their next one will be to the Celtic hierarchy for costing them thousands of pounds in UEFA fines over the years.

Rodgers and Vincent Kompany on the touchline during Champions League clash at Parkhead

Rodgers needs far more options than he had on bench in Munich   

For all Celtic produced an outstanding display in the 1-1 draw away to Bayern Munich, the prevailing feeling was that Brendan Rodgers’ side might well have eliminated the German giants if they’d just had a little more depth to their squad. 

Would Kyogo Furuhashi – or a suitable replacement for the Japanese – have taken one of the four clear-cut opportunities the visitors created early on in the Allianz Arena? We shall never know.

What is clear is that Rodgers simply didn’t trust what he had on his bench. Despite his players flagging in the closing stages as extra time beckoned, he made just two substitutions – introducing Adam Idah and Yang-Hyun-jun.

Given the manager had to fill his bench with youngsters like Dane Murray and Jude Bonnar, his options in a game of this magnitude were just too limited.

The idea that men like Rodgers set out to make a point to their paymasters in such circumstances is patently ludicrous. They’ll always play the best hand they have to try and win the game.

But a look at the seven other play-off games taking place last week does illustrate that Rodgers’ was seriously impeded by a lack of first-team ready options on his bench. PSV Eindhoven and Juventus both made six substitutions as their tie in the Netherlands went to extra-time.

Real Madrid, PSG, Brest, Atalanta, Borussia Dortmund and Sporting Lisbon each made five. Benfica, Monaco and AC Milan made four. Manchester City, Club Brugge and Feyenoord all made three.

It’s a 16-man game these days – make that 17 if you go the full distance. Celtic can’t afford to go in so light next season and hope to progress.

Celtic’s bench in Munich was so light it included youngsters like Dane Murray and Jude Bonnar

Brendan Rodgers needs greater resources to take Celtic further in Champions League 

A floored Daizen Maeda rues a missed opportunity against the German giants in Munich

Johnston looks to be in the right place now with Mowbray’s West Brom

If he was in any doubt as to the wisdom of leaving Celtic last summer, Mikey Johnston surely has no regrets now.

It cannot have been easy to concede defeat at the club where he spent 16 years coming through the ranks and trying to establish himself in the first team.

But persistent injury problems counted against him, together with the perception among many that he wasn’t strong enough, mentally or physically, to be relied upon.

There was never any question about the winger’s technical ability, or indeed his potential. However, successive Celtic managers were not convinced that he had what it took to be a player of substance.

Brendan Rodgers’ frustration with Johnston was apparent last year when he said: ‘Mikey needs to do more. He’s not young, he’s 24. At some point he has to grab the bull by the horns.’

At that time, Johnston was on loan at West Bromwich Albion, who were sufficiently impressed to sign him on a permanent deal for a fee reported to be around £3million.

Since agreeing a four-year contract, Johnston has been a regular in the Championship side, gaining confidence with his frequent assists and largely avoiding injury. It helps that the team have been faring well. Manager Carlos Corberan left in December, to be replaced by former Celtic boss Tony Mowbray, who has guided them to fifth in the table.

In a 2-0 victory against Oxford United at the weekend, Johnston clocked up his 50th appearance. He will have high hopes of reaching the playoffs and maybe even the Premier League. The Republic of Ireland international is one of several wingers at West Brom, and it would be wise not to go overboard, but his consistency with a promotion-seeking team is just what he needed at this decisive stage of his career.

Former Celtic winger Mikey Johnston has been catching the eye with West Bromwich Albion

Johnston became frustrated at Celtic but is clearly enjoying life at The Hawthorns

Slim pickings for armchair viewers who want to see Celtic in their natural habitat 

Celtic Park is home to the champions, the league leaders and the club who dominate Scottish football, but its matches are not chosen for live broadcast any more frequently than those at Scotland’s other grounds.

Under the terms of the SPFL’s contract with Sky Sports, only five games in a season can be shown live from each of the Premiership’s 12 stadia — one more than used to be the case.

By the time two visits by Rangers are factored in, together with a flag day and perhaps a trophy presentation in May, there is only one Celtic home game left for the broadcaster to choose.

There should be more due to the additional contract with Premier Sports, but Celtic opted out of that arrangement earlier this season as they were concerned that the kick-off times would inconvenience supporters.

So there is effectively only one free date for Sky Sports to play with. Anxious to pick out a competitive clash that would appeal to the broadest possible audience, they plumped for Tuesday night’s visit by Aberdeen.

A midweek league game broadcast live from Celtic Park is something of a novelty, but it was not the crucial showdown some might have hoped for earlier in the season.

Back then, Jimmy Thelin’s side were being identified as potential title challengers. 

Now they will be happy if they can finish the season third. 

Sky Sports can show only five games in a season from each of the Premiership’s 12 stadia

Promising boss Davies is showing he learned plenty from Rodgers

Former Celtic No 2 Chris Davies is thriving after striking out on his own at Birmingham City.

Davies has worked under Brendan Rodgers at Swansea, Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester and also had a spell assisting Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham.

The 39-year-old took charge at St Andrews last summer and so far has taken to management like a duck to water.

With Birmingham sitting pretty at the top of League One, it’s clear Davies has picked up plenty of knowhow from Rodgers and Co.

In fact, Davies has been tipped to shatter the League One points record set by Wolves back in 2014.

Birmingham, who defeated Leyton Orient 2-0 on Tuesday night, are on course to better the 103 points accumulated by Kenny Jackett’s side 11 years ago.

Chris Davies, centre, applauds the Birmingham fans after FA Cup clash with Newcastle

Davies has clearly learned so much from his spell assisting Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead

Lawton has taken just five months to make her mark with Celtic … and Scotland

What a season it has been for Emma Lawton, who could not have imagined that she would take her game to a whole new level in such a short space of time.

Only five months ago, the Wishaw-born defender was playing part-time with Partick Thistle, where she had been player of the year last season.

Then came a move last September to Celtic, where she settled in so quickly that she was soon starting — and scoring — in their Champions League qualifier against Vorskla Poltava.

The 23-year-old quickly established herself in Elena Sadiku’s team and made a telling contribution to the run that has taken them joint top of the Premier Division table.

As if that wasn’t enough, Lawton’s form with Celtic earned her a call-up to the full Scotland squad for the two Nations League matches during the current international break.

She made her full debut in the first of them, a 1-0 defeat by Austria in Linz last Friday night, and scored her first goal for her country in Tuesday night’s 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands at Hampden.

While they were not the results she had been hoping for, Lawton admitted that her debut been another special experience in a season full of them.

Emma Lawton has helped Celtic go joint top of the SWPL after some fine contributions

Lawton is also loving the fact she has forced her way into the Scotland national team

Celtic’s Lawton celebrates scoring her first goal for Scotland in 2-1 defeat to the Dutch

‘It was definitely a proud moment for me to get my first start but disappointed with the result,’ she said.

‘I was actually thinking about it on the bus here that, six months ago, I was playing part-time football and now I’ve played in the Champions League, I’m at a full-time club and now I’m playing for Scotland. It’s been surreal, but I’m just loving every minute of it.’