Facebook Instagram Tiktok Youtube

Celtic

Our Writers Predict the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership

The William Hill Premiership is looming, with the opening weekend starting with Killie hosting the newly promoted side of Livingston on Saturday and concluding with the blockbuster clash on Monday when Aberdeen visit Hearts. Fresh optimism, big questions and plenty of intrigue await. Will Celtic continue their domestic dominance? Can Hearts, Hibs, or Aberdeen close the Old Firm gap? And who’s facing a scrap at the bottom? The transfer window is still open, and predictions may hinge on late window shenanigans. However, our team of journalists has examined all 12 clubs and offered their early predictions for this season. Aberdeen Callum Hart – 4th I’m tipping them to finish 4th. Cameron Caldwell – 7th Guaranteed European football until January will be a double-edged sword for Jimmy Thelin’s squad. Balancing these demands with the busy domestic calendar will be a struggle. Jack Cranmer – 5th Jimmy Thelin pulled off a shock by guiding Aberdeen to Scottish Cup glory and European group stage qualification. However, that European run could become a burden. The squad is decent, but its depth is questionable. Thursday-Sunday football has hurt clubs like Hearts, and Aberdeen may suffer similarly. Recruitment has been shrewd, but whether it’s enough to maintain a top-four challenge remains to be seen. Mack Kelly – 5th They have had a lot of activity in the transfer window this season, and Thelin is now properly putting his stamp on the squad. I think European football this season will act as a derailer for the Dons and hold them back in the table. That said, I can see the Reds going on a run in the Conference League. Michael Shuel – 5th The Dons have been busy in the transfer market, but losing Jamie McGrath on a free is a blow. Hopefully, their recruits can prove effective. The extension of Alfie Dorrington’s loan is a good move, as he will continue to develop into a top defender. They hope to continue last season’s success, which saw them pick up silverware. Ryan Niven – 5th Inconsistent last season, and with the addition of European football, I feel the Pittodrie club will struggle. Scott Bradley – 5th Despite the historic Scottish Cup win against Celtic last season, we can’t forget the Dons had a poor second half of the season, only managing to win five of their last 26 league games. The Dandies played in Europe under former boss Barry Robson, and they struggled to cope with that Thursday-to-Sunday schedule; the same could happen this season. Celtic Callum Hart – 1st Celtic still seems to be the better team between them and the Rangers; however, I think the gap will be closer this year than last. Cameron Caldwell – 1st While there’s still work to do in the transfer market, Celtic’s established core should be consistent enough to secure their fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title. Jack Cranmer – 2nd Celtic remain favourites, but a storm may be brewing. Brendan Rodgers’ recent comments hint at dissatisfaction with the club’s backing during the summer window. Nicolas Kühn’s departure is a blow, and while Benjamin Nygren appears a capable replacement, it’s hard to argue he’s an upgrade on an in-form Kühn. If he stays fit, Kieran Tierney will be an improvement on Greg Taylor, but that’s a big ‘if’ across a 50+ game season. Up front, serious concerns remain: Jota won’t be fully fit until late in the campaign, Adam Idah is still unconvincing, Kyogo Furuhashi still hasn’t been truly replaced, and the new options lack the quality Celtic have had in recent years. Rodgers has a track record of third-season stagnation, and if he’s not backed, he could walk. If that happens, chaos could open the door to a Rangers resurgence. Mack Kelly – 1st It will be much tighter at the top end of the table this season, but I think the squad’s quality and experience will deliver the Celtics’ fifth consecutive title by no more than six points. Michael Shuel – 1st With the Rangers experiencing a tactical revolution (or mess, as some could call it) and the mastermind Russell Martin joining, the Celtics should be scared. Not really. It will take time for Rangers to gel, and the Hoops have too much quality in all areas of their squad. Could they do with more wingers now? Sure. But that’ll come. Are there question marks around Adam Idah? Look, he will still get 15-20 goals this season. If that’s what you call a flop (even at a staggering £9m), then so be it. Ryan Niven – 1st With the Rangers being rebuilt, Celtic will bring home another title. However, their lack of transfer business so far makes me believe it’ll be a closer title race than last season. Scott Bradley – 2nd Despite winning a double last season, Brendan Rodgers’ men have dropped in form and standards over the last few months. There doesn’t seem to be a real buzz and excitement surrounding the Scottish champions at this moment in time, and the lack of transfer business is a concern, especially amongst the Celtic faithful. I believe this will be Rodgers’ last season, and if he loses the first Old Firm game at Ibrox, the alarm bells will start ringing. Dundee Callum Hart – 12th After Dundee’s poor start to the campaign, I think it’ll continue into the league season. Cameron Caldwell – 12th Steven Pressley hasn’t been a manager since 2019. This lack of recent experience could prove problematic for a Dundee team that only narrowly avoided relegation last year. Jack Cranmer – 12th I don’t want to be too harsh on Steven Pressley; he’s done his homework at Brentford, but alarm bells are already ringing. Losses to Airdrieonians and Alloa in the League Cup, plus a narrow win over Lowland League Bonnyrigg Rose, don’t inspire confidence. Their recruitment, mainly from English lower leagues and loans from Brentford youth, looks risky. Pressley’s man-management has also been questioned, and losing Josh Mulligan and Lyall Cameron won’t help. If results don’t pick up soon, the

Read More »
August 2, 2025

Celtic Close In on Shin Yamada Signing from Kawasaki Frontale

Celtic Close In on Shin Yamada Signing from Kawasaki Frontale Kawasaki Frontale have confirmed that striker Shin Yamada is leaving the club, with the 21-year-old Japan international set to join Celtic in a deal reportedly worth around £1.5 million. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has also confirmed that Yamada will undergo a medical ahead of completing the transfer, but noted the club are still looking to strengthen their attacking options further before the window closes.

Read More »
July 17, 2025

Greg Taylor departs Celtic to join Greek outift PAOK FC

Greg Taylor leaves Celtic on a free transfer after six years to join greek outfit PAOK. The left-back knocked back the opportunity to stay at the Hoops as game time was likely to be limited due to the return of Kieran Tierney. Taylor joined the Parkhead club from Kilmarnock in 2019 and had a successful spell winning five league titles and 11 trophies in total. The Scottish champions posted a statement on the club website wishing the 27-year-old well and regarded him as a ‘key figure’ over the years. Brendan Rodgers was keen on keeping the Scotland international and believed Taylor and Tierney could have ‘dovetail perfectly’ together. As Taylor embarks on a new chapter in Greece, Rodgers will no doubt be looking to bring in another left-back to fill the shoes of Taylor.

Read More »
July 2, 2025

Former Celtic Hero Leigh Griffiths Continues Australian Journey

Former Celtic and Hibernian striker Leigh Griffiths has found a new club this week, and has already made a scoring start. The 22-times capped Scotland international, who famously netted a pair of stunning free kicks against England at Hampden, has continued his late-career adventure in Australia by signing for National Premier Leagues Western Australia side Stirling Macedonia. A Career of Goals Griffiths, who turns 35 in August, enjoyed a fruitful career in the British Isles. He began as a youngster at Livingston before productive spells with Dundee, Wolves and Hibs, eventually joining Celtic in January 2014. During his eight years with the Hoops, he became a firm fan favourite and was the main man in attack during his first two and a half seasons at Celtic Park. Celtic Highs and Changing Roles However, the arrival of Brendan Rodgers, along with big-name signings such as Moussa Dembélé and Odsonne Édouard in 2016 and 2017 respectively, pushed him down the pecking order. Still, the Leith-born striker contributed significantly, finishing his Celtic career with an impressive 123 goals in just 261 appearances and an incredible 14 major honours, adding to a League One title with Wolves and a Scottish Challenge Cup with Livingston. The End of the Road in Scotland Following Celtic’s failed bid for 10-in-a-row under Neil Lennon in 2021, it appeared his time in green was over, as new boss Ange Postecoglou began reshaping the squad. Despite this, Postecoglou handed Griffiths a one-year contract extension early in his tenure. But after off-field issues emerged, the striker was quickly side lined in favour of new arrivals Kyogo Furuhashi and Giorgos Giakoumakis. A brief pre-season appearance in a defeat to West Ham at Celtic Park was followed by a loan move back to Dundee. His second spell at Dens Park failed to match the success of his first, and by January his loan was cut short, his Celtic contract was terminated, and he dropped down to League One with Falkirk. His stint with Falkirk was also underwhelming, bringing a torrid season for the forward to a close. Without a club and seemingly without direction, Griffiths found himself in the footballing wilderness. A Fresh Chapter Down Under But in August 2022, he found a fresh start and a new lease of life, joining Australian side Mandurah City in the third tier. Although a step down in quality, the move brought a better lifestyle for him and his family, sparking an Indian summer in his career. Griffiths went on to score 27 goals in 46 appearances over three years with the Dolphins, while also beginning his coaching journey. He briefly considered a return to Scotland with Livingston, but no deal came to fruition. He also added to his trophy haul with Top Four Cup wins in 2022 and 2023. Early Impact at Stirling Macedonia With this latest move, Griffiths seems settled and content with his life Down Under. Stirling Macedonia are already in the Football West State Cup Final, where they will face rivals Olympic Kingsway. Their recent victory over Inglewood has also secured a spot in next season’s Australia Cup, giving Griffiths the chance to test himself against the nation’s top sides. Griffiths seems to have already made a scoring start, with reports showing a goal in his debut appearance for his new side. Looking Ahead with Purpose His time in Scotland was filled with goals and silverware but also marred by controversy and a difficult end. Now, however, the former Celtic hero appears to have finally found maturity, purpose, and happiness in a new chapter on the other side of the world.

Read More »
June 29, 2025
Graphic comparing Dundee and Dundee United's opening six fixtures for the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership season. Dundee are shown to have the toughest start, while Dundee United have the easiest, based on opponents' average league position last season. Club crests and fixture opponents are included.

Dundee Face Toughest Start as Fixture Difficulty Ranked Across SPFL Clubs

An analysis of the 2025/26 Premiership openers reveals contrasting fortunes for the Dundee clubs — and how each team’s early schedule could shape their season. With the fixtures published last Friday, Dundee face the most challenging opening six games of the 2025/26 Premiership season, based on the average league position of their first six opponents from last season (5.33). In contrast, city rivals Dundee United have the easiest run (7.83), offering a smoother start to top-flight football. Dundee couldn’t have been handed a more challenging test as they look to improve on last season’s 10th-place finish under new manager Steven Pressley, who succeeded Tony Docherty in the summer. Their daunting schedule begins with Hibernian at Dens Park, followed by a trip to Ibrox to face Rangers. A fiery Dundee derby arrives early, also at home, and is sandwiched between a visit to Kilmarnock and a clash with Motherwell. They round off the run with an away trip to St Mirren — a real test for Pressley’s new era. On the flip side, the Tangerines kick off with a trip to fellow newly promoted side Falkirk, followed by a home double header against Hearts and Aberdeen. That leads into the eagerly anticipated derby at Dens Park, before an away day at Easter Road to face Hibs and a home tie against Kilmarnock to round out their first six fixtures. With Dundee facing the toughest start and Dundee United the easiest, our statisticians analysed all 12 SPFL clubs based on the average league position of their first six opponents from last season. Unlike a recent BBC Sport article using Opta’s Power Rankings, this approach is more straightforward — but the takeaway is the same: some clubs face far tougher openings. It’s worth noting this method does not account for home or away advantage, which can also shape early-season momentum. Aberdeen share the same opening fixture difficulty rating (7.83) as Jim Goodwin’s Dundee United. Despite a testing Matchday 2 meeting with Celtic at Pittodrie, they will likely back themselves for a strong start. At the other end of the scale, St Mirren and Livingston (6.17) aren’t far behind Dundee regarding fixture difficulty. Livingston, promoted via the play-offs against Ross County and St Mirren, faces challenging opening blocks, with Celtic and Rangers among their first six opponents. As for the Glasgow giants, Celtic face a trickier start (6.5) than Rangers (7.67). In Edinburgh, Hibs hope to build on last season’s momentum with a relatively favourable opening run (7.17), while city rivals Hearts have a slightly easier stretch (7.68). Falkirk and Motherwell sit mid-table in terms of difficulty (6.5), with Kilmarnock not far behind on 6.67 — potentially benefiting from a softer start on paper. As the 2025/26 Premiership kicks off on the weekend of 2nd August, it’s contrasting emotions on either side of Tannadice Street — with Dundee bracing for impact, and United looking to hit the ground running. Across the league, early momentum could be crucial in shaping the season ahead.

Read More »
June 26, 2025

Celtic Legend John Clark Passes Away Aged 84

Celtic legend John Clark has today sadly passed away at the age of 84. Clark was part of the iconic ‘Lisbon Lion’ squad, as he started in Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Internazionale in May of 1967, ethching his name into Parkhead folklore. He also shares the rarer accolade of playing in every match of the 66/67 season with Tommy Gemmell, as the Glasgow side won every competition they competed in. He would become part of the furniture at Celtic Park, spending thirteen years as a player, some time as reserves coach, five years as assistant manager to former centre-half partner Billy McNeill, before returning as a kitman in 1997, a role he would occupy for 20 years, making him the longest accumulated serving member of staff at the club after Willie Maley. Clark would make four appearances for the Scottish national team, as well a two year spell at Morton, before hanging up his boots and getting into the dugouts of Cowdenbeath, Stranrear and Clyde, but will forever be remembered for his twelves trophies won at Parkhead. Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell shared his feelings for Clark: “John was actually a hero to me and so many others, someone who achieved the greatest feat of all club football but did so, along with his great team mates with such grace and humility. “That famous day in Lisbon, which John was such an integral part of, changed our club forever. Ever since, each player who has passed through our club has stood on the shoulders of giants, and John was certainly one of those giants. “John gave his life to Celtic both as a player and on our staff in a variety of roles and his contribution to our great club over so many decades is immeasurable.” Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers, who worked with Clark during his first spell, also had time to reflect on his passing: “John’s continued presence at Celtic across so many decades I know served as an aspiration to so many players, managers and staff, including myself very much. “To have him with us, as part of the club for so long has been a tremendous privilege for us all, it meant so much to us. Through his knowledge, his wisdom and his true love for Celtic, John made such an important contribution to the club.”

Read More »
June 23, 2025

Celtic officially announce the return of Kieran Tierney

Celtic announce the return of Kieran Tierney on a pre-contract deal from Arsenal. Tierney left the Parkhead club in 2019 for a fee of £25 million and spent six years at the Gunners. The 28-year-old has put pen to paper on a five-year deal, which will keep him at the Celts until 2030. During his time in London he managed to win the FA Cup in 2020 and was loaned out in 2023 to Real Sociedad. The left-back had a successful time in Glasgow winning 8 major honours with the Scottish champions. The Scotland international spoke of his delight to return to his boyhood club: “Everybody’s known for a few months and just to be here with the Celtic strip on again just feels amazing. “I spoke with the manager, and obviously I had worked with him before and I’ve always kept in touch with him. He’s one of the best so I’m so lucky and grateful that he’s given me the chance to come back again. “When you move away from home, you grow up, you learn different things. I was in Spain for a year, learning a different language and playing in a different league, so I’m definitely a different person. “Player-wise, it’s the same as I always say – I’ll try and work my hardest, I’ll do my best for the club and that’s all I can do. “My ambition is just for Celtic to be as successful as possible, retain our place at the top and continue to win trophies and do well for Celtic.”

Read More »
June 10, 2025

Celtic must learn how to win but Hibs should fear us – Noonan

Celtic striker Saoirse Noonan believes the inability to close out games this season has been the difference between themselves and title chasing Hibs, whose dreams she hopes to dash this evening. Ahead of the penultimate game of the season, summer signing Noonan believes her side must balance their attacking verve with knowing how to manage games. “For me it’s just learning how to win and I think it’s actually really upsetting because some of the good football that we have played at times has gone unnoticed because you don’t win games,” said Noonan, ” I can go back to the game against Glasgow I think that first half we were well on top we played really well but they know how to win and we don’t.” “I think that’s what’s been the difference this season. No one cares if you play badly, everyone thinks you’re brilliant if you win games. I think that’s the hardest part is that we have done some things right it’s just we haven’t got the results.” With 23 league goals since arriving from English side Durham, Noonan has made an immediate impact in Glasgow such that the forward earned her first Ireland cap since 2021. “I’m obviously delighted that I was able to contribute that this season but look, we’re realistic, we’re all looking at the bigger picture and we didn’t win anything this year,” she said before adding “so those goals don’t really mean anything unfortunately but it’s definitely given me a bit of self-belief and a bit of a platform to work on for next season for sure.” Despite a recent goal drought that has now extended to six games, Noonan was praised by her manager Elena Sadiku. “I told Saoirse that I’m very proud of her. I’m proud of how she’s developed as a leader in the team. Listen, I didn’t expect Saoirse to be our top goal scorer in the first season. I don’t think that she did either,” said Sadiku. “She brings a lot to the team now more than just scoring goals.  I’m very proud of the journey she’s had at Celtic and I can’t wait to see more of her next season.” However before looking to next season, Noonan expressed both her and her teammates’ desire to make life difficult for Hibs tonight. “Part of the talk all week is that we can’t win it but we can still cause upsets and that’s so important in football you you want teams to fear you you want to leave your mark,” said Noonan. “If we’re going to look on to building for next season we need teams to fear us so we’re not going to roll over for anyone.”

Read More »
May 14, 2025

Pressure is on Hibs this time – Celtic boss Sadiku

Celtic boss Elena Sadiku believes her side can test the credentials of title hopefuls Hibs on Wednesday night, almost a year on from the Edinburgh side coming close to denying the Hoops a first league victory on the final day. Speaking to the media ahead of the clash at Meadowbank, Sadiku said there was much to play for despite a top three finish being impossible, with opportunities for fringe players to stake a claim after a disappointing loss to Rangers on Sunday. “I think I’ve made it clear after the game that I’m going to give players chances because I think they have done well in training,” said Sadiku. Having struggled to retain their first title this season, the manager is hoping to lay the foundations to come back stronger for the next campaign. “Nothing comes for free.  Maybe it was a little bit easier before when Hibs were not as good or Hearts were not as good, and you knew that there were a few games where we needed to be at the top. But for me, if you want to be a winning team, you need to be at the top even if you play Montrose, even if you play Partick Thistle or Motherwell.” “The performance against Rangers, was not good enough and I want a different attitude towards this game,” she said. “We’re not going to make it easy for them because they sure did not make it easy for us. If that is enough motivation for the players then I don’t think they’re at the right place.” Speaking on the signing of players to improve on the trophy-less campaign, albeit one which saw a first qualification for the Champions League, there was a sense a frustration at the lack of clarity concerning recruitment and the number of individuals involved in the process. “Right now it’s me and David Haley. That’s it,” said Sadiku, “I just need to know from the board exactly how it looks  because, obviously, I can’t go out and promise this contract and that contract when I don’t know the answers.” Having come under pressure from fans, the manager remained confident in her ability to take the team forward. “I can deal with pressure.  I can deal with fans not liking me. I’ve been through so much worse in my life so this is nothing for me.” “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I’ve done well with this club. Obviously, this season, domestically, has not been good enough and I know that, but the positive is I’ve learned so much and I know exactly what I need to bring in  to make sure that we are so successful next season.”  

Read More »
May 13, 2025