Regardless of how this season ends, change must come. The period from 2012–2016 was an opportunity missed to motor away from these mutants without looking back. We still can, but that will require new leadership, new goals and a clear plan to realise the club's potential.

Granted, the board backed the manager this summer. NL has been backed to the tune of c. £32m (excluding loan fees) since returning to the club last year. The recruitment has been slow at times – a key factor in our recent failure to reach the CL – but the investment is there.

In this year of all years, they cannot be accused of dealing the manager a bad hand. Squad strengthened, key players retained. That said, there is a history of big spending when the pressure is on – it's the default reaction, be that O'Neill (2000), NL (2010) or Rodgers (2016).

Why was Rodgers appointed with such haste? A result of Aberdeen's challenge that season? No. Because we lost to Rangers on penalties? Partially. The primary reason is that the process of downsizing that began in 2013 had reached its natural end point.

The board had inadvertently engineered real competition – or so they thought. The core of Deila's squad achieved the unthinkable just one year later. Is history repeating itself in that respect? A talented squad with a manager who can't get the best out of them?

Maybe, but that's not my point. This season is important, but so is the future. Whether we win the 10 or not, history indicates that we are heading for another downsizing exercise next summer.

2000–05:
2005–10:
2010–13:
2013–16:
2016–20:

We need to break the cycle of upsizing, then downsizing. It is a reactionary strategy with no guarantee of success, especially when you acknowledge the recent improvement across the city.

Irrespective of where the league ends up in May, my concern is that the cycle will continue for two reasons:

1.

• If we win the league, the board takes advantage of the jubilant atmosphere in the hope that the fans will be too distracted to notice or even care.

OR

• If not, they assess that we've had it good for a few years, so feel comfortable beginning the downsizing process.

2.

• There is no clear plan for the future

In fairness, we have had it really good over the past few years – domestic bliss since 2016. But that shouldn't stop us asking for more and demanding that the club be the very best it can be.

Next year, there will be another opportunity to begin a new chapter. A time to reset our focus, with a strong emphasis on Europe. Fundamentally, I do not believe that this board has the vision or will to move Celtic forward in the long term.

And that's why change is needed. It's an opportunity we simply cannot miss.