The Celtic Fans Collective have today announced a march will take place this coming Sunday before the Hearts game.
The march will begin at St.Mary’s and finish at Parkhead.
A further step in the collective’s attempts to keep focus on the incompetents in charge of the club and the division sown at the club’s controversial AGM.
The subject of much particular ire was the pre-prepared, seemingly unedited, spite-filled tirade read by Ross Desmond.
You may be asking why the son of the major – not majority – shareholder is holding court.
That’s an excellent question.
Desmond Jnr isn’t an appointed Non Executive Director(NED) at Celtic.
His involvement encapsulates the most pronounced problem at the club.
The nepotism.
This was the first time he has been given the floor and hopefully it will be his last.
He just about stopped short of referring to us as the proles.
The gaslighting and demonisation of the support was wildly inappropriate for the setting.
It may be hard to decipher if he was reading solely on behalf of his father, who only a month back, took to the club’s website at 9:30 on a Monday night.
In this rare and ill advised moment of fan communication from the billionaire, he did not discuss, the pertinent questions needing addressed.
No
He decided instead to launch a personal on attack Brendan Rodgers.
Celtic: Reflecting on Dermot Desmond’s Ideas – Read Celtic
The whole thing had the flavour of some sort of initiation for Ross Desmond.
A test to see if he had the mettle, to take the big seat when the time calls.
Eyes boring through his notes, trembling away, he did eventually get there in the end.
What stings is the realisation that this is where the club is now at.
Are these people really in charge of what we cherish?
Why is there no consequence for their failings?
Whilst we love the club it’s impossible to like at the minute.
He had little to no right to be sitting at the top table.
The most telling portion of his monologue was this one below. In which he attributed all conflict to the fans of the club and not those in charge who actually make decisions.
We will not be rail roaded by people whose only vocation in life is to be anti-establishment and by those who try to degrade the club. Our board led by Peter and our executive led by Michael are dedicated Celtic people. The attempts the dehumanise and vilify them is shameful. These people have families.
I’m pretty sure Brendan Rodgers has a family as well.
Celtic: Reflecting on Dermot Desmond’s Ideas – Read Celtic
Are members of the Green Brigade not being vilified?
The usual answers
Fans who didn’t feel offended, directed their frustration at the disruption of the AGM.
Citing it as an opportunity lost, to hold those in charge to account.
Our focus is on all matters: improving this club step by step, systematically, without ever risking its future. Improving recruitment, investing in data analytics, upgrading facilities, enhancing the stadium and trying to make Celtic stronger in every way.
These are the vague words of Desmond Jnr.
Forgive me for not feeling reassured.
There’s been plenty of opportunity for Celtic to allay our fears. Michael Nicholson recently engaged with fans at a meeting where he gave the usual mealy-mouthed, corporate word soup answer we’ve heard for years now.
We even got a shrug into the bargain.
Indeed, on the night of the AGM we got two statements from Celtic.
One was a further statement regarding the behaviour of the Green Brigade.
The second, a further attempt to steal the narrative and point the finger at those who disrupted the proceedings.
There has been no apology regarding the statement by Ross Desmond.
We now have a situation were the responsibility for communication is Martin O’Neill’s.
When all is said and done O’Neill is a temporary employee.
Having been quick to tear into Rodgers, the fans and the collective via the official website, they have not deemed the managerial situation worthy of communication or update.
Their contempt and disregard for the fans hold no bounds.
Key Takeaways
- The Celtic Fans Collective plans a march this Sunday before the Hearts game to protest club management.
- Ross Desmond’s recent AGM speech sparked criticism for its tone and content, highlighting nepotism within the club.
- Supporters feel frustrated by the lack of accountability from club leadership and their disregard for fans’ concerns.
- Fans express dissatisfaction with the usual corporate responses from officials like Michael Nicholson, labeling them as insincere.
- Overall, there’s a growing sentiment that Celtic management is out of touch with the fans and their values.
