Luck runs out for Celtic, exit play-offs

However, after drawing 1-1 away at Slovenian champions NK Maribor last week, they lost Tuesday’s home match 1-0 and will now play in the Europa League instead of the highly lucrative Champions League group stages. Rubbing salt into the wounds of elimination is the fact that Norwegian manager Ronny Deila and his team have achieved the unwanted distinction of being knocked out of the same competition twice in three weeks. “I think they’re stockpiling cash,” former Scottish international winger Andy Walker said.

“They’re not prepared to pay serious money for anyone with pedigree. They’re very much a selling club.” Former hero Charlie Nicholas was equally critical, claiming of the 45-time Scottish champions and 1967 European Cup winners: “The only interest of board members is cash and finance. That’s why they spend $3.31 million on budget players who don’t have any experience of the Champions League.

“The quality they’ve brought in is very, very poor. In the cold light of day what’s going to happen is that fans won’t be turning up and Celtic can write off the trust that the fans were giving them.” Terry Butcher, the former England international, added: “They’re not even half the side they were. It’s really disappointing for Scottish football.”