Within a couple of hours of Dom McKay stepping down as Celtic CEO it seems that a number of reporters have uncovered the real reasons for his exit. And it doesn’t seem to be personal reasons.
Remarkably the Daily Record, Herald/Glasgow Times/Celtic Way and The Scotsman all have very, very similar reasons for McKay’s appointment ending after 72 days.
Across social media there had been a few comments in the last few days about McKay’s situation but at 5pm on Friday the truth came out.
McKay was stepping down for personal reasons with Ian Bankier leading the enthusiasm for acting CEO Michael Nicholson, he is an absolute team player according to the veteran Celtic Chairman.
Celtic fans have reacted with a mixture of confusion and anger to McKay’s sharp exit.
Across the national newspapers there is a very similar tone, McKay wasn’t upto the task of following Peter Lawwell with little in the way of criticism of the club that is now looking for its third CEO in a year, or a fourth if Nicholson is included.
At the Daily Record, Michael Gannon claims:
But Record Sport understands McKay jumped before he was pushed after major players behind the scenes admitted the appointment was not working.
In the Herald/Glasgow Times, former Celtic View reporter Allison McConnell claims:
It is understood, however, that the reasons behind the departure came after what was regarded as an inauspicious impression in the opening months of McKay’s time in charge. The feeling within the club was that it would be best for all parties if ties were severed now rather than a continuation with an appointment that was deemed to have been an imperfect fit.
In a very similar tone, another former Celtic View reporter, Andrew Smith tells readers of The Scotsman:
It is understood that the “personal reasons” centre on a lack of conviction from the Celtic board that McKay, who left his role as chief operating officer at the Scottish Rugby Union to take on his now vacated post, was the right fit for the club.
Both former Celtic View reporters claim that further changes are likely in the boardroom.
Before 5pm on Friday none of those reporters had made any mention to difficulties involving McKay settling in at the club.
On June 25 Celtic arranged a media conference for fan websites and podcasters to meet McKay and Ange Postecoglou. Since that date there has been no follow up conferences while the Daily Record, Scotsman and Herald/Evening Times are given access to the Celtic manager before and after every match.
