Celtic’s Annual General Meeting, typically a formal affair, exploded into rancour and disorder, laying bare the profound rift between the club's hierarchy and its supporter base. The event, held in the Kerrydale Suite, was overshadowed by vocal protests and red cards, transforming it from a forum for discussion into a stark display of internal conflict.
A Meeting Descends Into Chaos
From the moment the directors, including chairman Peter Lawwell and interim manager Martin O'Neill, took their seats at 10.30am, they were met with a chorus of boos. Dozens of shareholders immediately brandished red cards, with chants of ‘Sack the Board’ echoing around the room. The atmosphere turned febrile before the meeting could properly begin, as Jeanette Findlay of the Celtic Trust approached the stage, forcing Lawwell to demand respect to no avail.
The chairman’s attempts to proceed were futile. After just four minutes and 37 seconds, he was compelled to announce a half-hour adjournment. Upon resuming at 11.01am, the hostility had only intensified. Lawwell issued a stern warning that he would close the meeting if the disruptions continued, a threat that did little to quell the anger.
Financial Firepower and Fan Frustration
The core of the discontent stems from a perceived failure to invest the club's substantial resources. With £77.3 million reported in the bank, fans are furious that the first-team squad appears weakened, struggling both in the Scottish Premiership and the Europa League. Finance director Chris McKay’s explanation that the cash reserve was a guard against ‘volatility’ was met with open scorn from the audience.
While the board, including chief executive Michael Nicholson, acknowledged mistakes and the legitimacy of fan grievances, their apologies fell on deaf ears. The interim manager, Martin O'Neill, later reflected on the scene with sadness, stating, ‘I thought it was a really sad, sad morning. I just wonder what the great Jock Stein would have thought of it all, who preached unity.’
Desmond's Explosive Intervention
The most extraordinary moment came when Ross Desmond, son of major shareholder Dermot Desmond, took the floor. What many anticipated might be a significant announcement quickly turned into a fierce rebuttal of the protestors. In a pre-prepared speech, Desmond labelled a section of the support as ‘bullies’ who ‘try to hijack the behaviour of Celtic supporters.’
He launched a staunch defence of the board, accusing critics of stirring up ‘toxicity’ and stated the club would ‘not be railroaded by those whose only vocation in life is to be anti-establishment.’ His comments triggered uproar in the room, with dozens of attendees rising to shout him down, prompting Lawwell to abruptly end this section of the meeting after just 24 minutes.
The formal business of the AGM was later concluded via proxy voting, meaning there will be no rescheduled meeting. This leaves a full year before shareholders can again directly question the club's custodians, a prospect that clearly does not trouble the most vocal protestors. The sledgehammer diplomacy on display has shattered any immediate hope for reconciliation, leaving Celtic Football Club looking more divided than it has in three decades.
