In yet another rash late-night statement, Celtic Football Club, almost certainly at the behest of minority shareholder Dermot Desmond, sought to attack the Celtic Fans Collective. Similar interventions in recent years have tended to appear whenever the notoriously thin-skinned Desmond feels personally slighted. Yet when Celtic endure disastrous transfer windows, failed managerial appointments, supporters being attacked or kettled by police, or humiliating performances on the park that have actually damaged Celtic’s reputation, the same urgency is nowhere to be seen.
This tells Celtic supporters everything they need to know about Dermot Desmond and his priorities. He appears furious that ordinary working-class fans have dared to air their grievances in the safe, elitist world of golf, embarrassing him in front of the network of people whose opinions he appears to value far more than those of Celtic supporters.
We will respond in greater detail to the disgraceful mischaracterisation of our organisation, and of Celtic supporters who have lost confidence in this board, in due course. For now, if Dermot Desmond believes threats and bluster will silence opposition and allow him to return to presiding over Celtic’s decline undisturbed from the golf course, he is sadly mistaken.