Celtic PLC statement - Down, down, timmies lie down?

In the latest effort to even up the score the BBC news programme Reporting Scotland showed Celtic fans singing "Ooh Ahh Samaras" in praise of the Greek striker Georgios Samaras while a subtitle below showed the words "Ooh Ahh Up The Ra".

In a campaign which Joseph Goebbels, the Reich Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda in Nazi Germany, would have been proud of, it seems the victims have again become just as bad as the perpetrators of the race hate crime.

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it" said Goebbels - and Mr Murray's media army are proving that this strategy works just as well in today's Scotland as it did in yesterday's Germany.

But finally there was an official reponse to all of this from Celtic PLC:

"Celtic FC calls for continued positive support"

CELTIC take on Kilmarnock this Sunday at Rugby Park and ahead of the game, the Club has called on fans to continue their positive support of the team.

A statement from the Club reads: "We are proud to have such a magnificent support, renowned across Europe for excellent behaviour and clearly, it is important that we preserve this great reputation and maintain these high standards.

"We recognise that there have been reports of elements of inappropriate behaviour at last weekend's match at Fir Park, and clearly this is something which the Club opposes completely.

"We have worked tirelessly to encourage positive support for the Club, we have taken action against individuals in the past when offensive behaviour has arisen and we will continue to treat this matter very seriously.

"At this weekend's match against Kilmarnock, we would once again urge any small minority not to tarnish the great name of Celtic Football Club and the great reputation of the vast majority of our fans.

"Let's keep our high standards which set us apart - get behind the team with positive support as we go for four league titles in a row and continued success in Europe."

There we have it then - Celtic fans should not act inappropriately!

In the wake of discussions between the Irish and Scottish governments regarding racist behaviour in our stadium I'm expecting a public statement from our club regarding this international incident.

In the wake of Martin Bain's allegations about our support I'm looking for a public statement from the club about the inappropriate behaviour of 7000 racist rangers fans.

And in the wake of the predictable media backlash against us I'd expected our club would be prepared. I'd expected that they would be ready to fight back against the lies and half-truths being peddled about our support.

I thought we had a Rottweiler but after reading that statement I think maybe we've been sold a pup.