Robbie Keane’s links to the Celtic job have already prompted a public split in the support. A joint letter on behalf of more than 50 supporters groups, including the Green Brigade, has come out against the appointment, while North Curve Celtic published a list of 67 groups that had apparently endorsed the statement. The club has not made a decision yet, but the message from those groups is plain enough.

Why the backlash has gathered pace

The statement says the appointment would be "deeply divisive among the support" and "a predictable and uninspiring choice". It also says Keane's decision to manage Maccabi Tel Aviv makes him unacceptable to many fans. That is the centre of the dispute, and it is why the story has moved beyond a routine managerial link-up.

The groups are not claiming to speak for every Celtic supporter, and that matters. This is a large section of the support, not the whole fanbase, but 67 groups backing one position is still a serious warning sign for any board considering the appointment. If Celtic do move for Keane, they will be doing it knowing the backlash is organised and public.

Jordan's defence of a football decision

Simon Jordan is taking the opposite view. He called the backlash "preposterous" and said Keane should be judged as a football manager, not treated as if he were making a political statement. Jordan also said the Celtic board should make the decision based on a football manager.

That argument has a clear logic. Celtic are weighing up a managerial appointment, not voting on a wider cause, and Jordan's point is that the job should be decided on footballing merit. The problem for the board is that the fan reaction is already part of the appointment, whether they like it or not.

The decision is still unresolved, and that is the key detail. Celtic have to choose between a candidate facing a loud and organised backlash and the idea that the next manager should be judged on the job alone. If they go ahead, the reaction will follow Keane into the first week of the job.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →