As thousands of Celtic fans stream towards Parkhead for today’s SPFL opener and flag unfurling against St Mirren, a surprising sight is greeting them — and not in a good way.

Large sections of the iconic banners draped around Celtic Park are conspicuously absent, leaving parts of the stadium looking bare and unfinished. The issue dates back to last winter when storm damage tore and lifted the massive display materials that decorate the exterior of the ground. Yet, despite an entire summer without home fixtures, the club has failed to restore or replace the damaged areas.

It’s a visual letdown on what should be a celebratory afternoon. The flag day tradition is one of the most cherished in the Celtic calendar, as fans gather to watch the league-winning flag raised high over Paradise. But today, instead of being met with a pristine stadium ready to mark the start of the 2025/26 campaign in style, fans are left wondering why the club hasn’t done the basics.

While it’s not the end of the world, the optics are poor — especially when the lack of activity mirrors Celtic’s slow movement in the transfer market this summer. Supporters have grown increasingly vocal in recent weeks, urging the board to back Brendan Rodgers with the reinforcements needed for another title push and a credible run in Europe.

Now, with even the stadium showing signs of neglect, the discontent isn’t just about who’s missing from the team sheet.

The club had months to address the storm damage, and the decision — or failure — not to have the banners restored in time for the big kickoff feels symbolic.

Hopefully, the team on the pitch will offer more of a statement than the setting off it.