Heading: Celtic’s Summer Tour to South Korea in Chaos as Wolves Pull Out
Celtic’s highly anticipated summer tour to South Korea has been thrown into chaos after English Premier League side Wolves informed the Hoops that they would not be able to fulfill their planned fixture next month. The proposed game on July 26 would have seen Celtic’s Korean striker, Oh Hyeon Gyu, face his fellow countryman, Hwang Hee Chan, who plays for Wolves.
Heading: Wolves Cite ‘Weeks of Delay’ as Reason for Tour Withdrawal
Wolves have decided to pull the plug on their tour to South Korea altogether, citing ‘weeks of delay’ from the promoters as the reason behind their withdrawal. The Premier League side had been scheduled to play friendly matches against AS Roma and Celtic, but due to financial and logistical obligations not being met by the tour’s promoter, Stadium X/USG, Wolves made the difficult decision to terminate the contract and cancel the tour.
Heading: Celtic Left Searching for Replacement Opponents
With their fixture against Roma also cancelled, Celtic is now left searching for replacement opponents for their summer tour. The club is currently liaising with match organizers to find suitable alternatives and will update supporters as soon as possible.
Heading: Disappointment and Frustration for Wolves and Celtic
Both Wolves and Celtic expressed their disappointment and frustration over the cancellation of the tour. Wolves’ general manager for marketing and commercial growth, Russell Jones, expressed his huge disappointment that matters beyond the club’s control led to the cancellation of their first-ever visit to Korea. Similarly, Celtic’s spokesperson acknowledged the statement from Wolves and assured supporters that they are working on finding a solution.
Heading: Impact on Fans and Commercial Perspective
The cancellation of the tour has left many fans disappointed, especially those in Korea who were hoping to see Wolves play in their home country. Jones emphasized the impact that Korean striker Hwang Hee Chan has had on the club from a marketing perspective and expressed his gratitude to the suppliers and partners who worked tirelessly to prepare for the tour. Both clubs acknowledged the commercial blow caused by the cancellation but emphasized the importance of focusing on the team’s preparation for the upcoming season.
Heading: Alternative Plans and Operational Challenges
Despite hoping that the tour could still go ahead, Wolves had to prioritize the preparation of their first-team players and staff. Alternate long-distance tours were offered, but the operational challenges of arranging a different tour at such short notice would have significantly impacted the team’s preparations for the 2023/24 season. The focus now is on ensuring that the team’s preparation for the new season is as good as it can possibly be.
Heading: Conclusion
The cancellation of Wolves’ tour to South Korea has thrown Celtic’s summer tour into chaos. Both clubs expressed their disappointment and frustration over the situation, with Celtic now searching for replacement opponents. The impact on fans and the commercial perspective is significant, but the focus remains on preparing the team for the upcoming season. Despite the setback, both clubs are committed to their respective markets and hope to find alternative ways to engage with their supporters.