The Celtic Trust has blamed Dermot Desmond for the "irrational and wild" statement issued by the club after protestors targeted the principal shareholder at the Dunhill Links Championship.
The Irishman was competing in the golf event at St Andrews on Saturday, but his round was disrupted by angry supporters wearing balaclavas. The Celtic Fans Collective published a statement and images of the incident in the hours that followed the protest, with the club then releasing a scathing statement criticising the group and ultras group the Green Brigade.
Trust backs Fans Collective
The Trust - who have already published three resolutions ahead of the club's AGM, including a demand for an apology for the speech made by Dermot Desmond's son at last year's summit - have now gone on the offensive over the statement. They said a "cloud hangs over the club" as they prepare to resume their title defence against Motherwell on Sunday, and showed support for the Fans Collective.
The statement read: "As the international break comes to an end, we look forward to the resumption of league action with a trip to Fir Park, a trip to Lisbon and a return to Celtic Park to host last years' league runners-up."
"By all accounts, it should be a week to excite all Celtic fans with important fixtures on all fronts coming thick and fast over the next month."
"Yet, a cloud hangs over the club. The good start to the league season in August has been dampened with the disaster in Austria, two dreadful performances and results in the Glasgow Derby and a poor start to our Europa League campaign."
Protest and club response
"Following the game at Celtic Park on 21st September, we entered a new 3-week international break. Many felt anger at that point; many felt apathy – but no one could predict how the next three weeks would go in terms of the mood of the support, and the continuing uneasy relationship with the Club hierarchy."
"During the international break, a peaceful and legitimate protest occurred at St Andrew's Golf Course specifically targeting Non-Executive Director and Minority Shareholder, Dermot Desmond. The reaction from Dermot Desmond was, predictably, irrational and wild."
"A statement published on the Club's official website after 10pm on a Saturday night, threatening to ban supporters and disengage with the Celtic Fans Collective epitomises the extent of Dermot Desmond's grip over the Club and the unwillingness of others within the Board of Directors to stand up to him. It is important to remember – this is the second time in the space of a year that control of Celtic's website has been handed over for an individual to make a personal attack on others."
"It is both unprofessional on the part of the Football Club and, given the content of both statements, illustrates how hyper-sensitive and reactionary Dermot Desmond is."
"We commend those who went to the effort of organising that peaceful and effective protest."
Commitment to Fans Collective
The Celtic Trust said it remains fully committed to the Celtic Fans Collective. The statement added: "The Celtic Fans Collective is a growing body of supporters – representing a broad spectrum of the support. It is not going away – irrespective of whatever threats emerge from the hierarchy at Celtic Park."
