The Celtic Fans Collective have delivered an extended and uncompromising criticism of major shareholder Dermot Desmond as the club approaches its 2025 Annual General Meeting. Their statement, issued just days before the AGM, represents one of the most forceful public challenges to Desmond’s influence in recent years.
For a long time, many within the Celtic fanbase have argued that Desmond holds an excessive level of control over the club, especially given that he owns fewer than 35 percent of the total shares. Supporters have repeatedly questioned how a minority shareholder can effectively dictate so many major decisions at Parkhead. That concern intensified when reports emerged suggesting Desmond had personally “given permission” for a Celtic director to enter discussions with managerial candidate Wilfried Nancy, reinforcing perceptions that decisions revolve around him rather than around proper club governance.
Fans angered by Desmond’s conduct toward supporters
Matters escalated when Desmond issued what many fans considered an insulting and unnecessary public criticism following the summer transfer window, followed by a personal attack on former manager Brendan Rodgers published through the club’s official channels. To the Celtic Fans Collective, these incidents make it abundantly clear how Desmond views both his position and the supporters who help sustain the club.
In their statement, the Collective accuse the billionaire of operating without accountability and exercising a level of power that has spiralled beyond reasonable limits. They wrote:
“Dermot Desmond’s hold on Celtic has moved from strong to completely unchecked. His dominance over the board is now so overwhelming that any form of real oversight or scrutiny has disappeared.
“His recent comments—insulting supporters after the transfer window and using the club’s platform to launch a personal attack against a former manager—demonstrate just how dangerous it is when someone wields this much unrestrained influence.
“Those remarks were not made by a leader who respects the club or its supporters. They were the words of a man who views himself as above criticism and beyond challenge.”
Calls for an end to Desmond’s era of control
The Collective then widened their criticism to include the broader governance of the club, arguing that the Celtic board has become subservient to Desmond’s wishes rather than acting independently in Celtic’s long-term interests. They suggest the board has effectively relinquished its duty to safeguard accountability at Parkhead.
Their statement continues:
“His power goes totally unchecked, and the current board has allowed itself to become an extension of his will rather than a body that protects the club’s future.
“What Celtic requires now is leadership fit for the modern game—people who understand contemporary football structures, who embrace meaningful change, and who treat the supporters with respect.”
In short, the Celtic Fans Collective has issued a blistering denunciation of Dermot Desmond’s role at the club, warning that his era of near-absolute influence has run its course and calling for a dramatic shift in leadership to align the club with its values and ambitions moving forward.
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