Celtic fans warned over the prospect of an overnight change in ownership

David Lowe has warned Celtic fans that their club is vulnerable to a take-over from the Middle East or American speculators.

According to Market Screener Dermot Desmond owns 34.7% of the club shares but with upto 20% of the shares issued in 1995 effectively dormant the Irish businessman has around 50% of the active shares. Almost every motion at the AGM goes through on votes of 98 or 99%.

There is currently a frenzy of interest in takeovers at leading EPL clubs following the Saudi backed Newcastle United deal last season.

Manchester United’s American owners, the Glazer family are looking to sell their stake in the club with speculation about Middle East interest in Liverpool and Spurs.

Celtic would be a loose change purchase compared to Manchester United or Spurs with Lowe explaining to the Herald the situation that the Scottish champions are in:

Before money came in, it was the local butcher, baker and candlestick maker who owned clubs. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was local millionaires. Now, a further generation on, it is billionaires.

Now that Pandora’s Box has been opened, you have billionaires of every hue owning ‘franchises’. They are like trophies, assets, for them. I have worked for American owners. They are not really interested in success, they are interested in breaking even.

They know there are more billionaires than sports franchises in the world and if they break even they will get more for it than they did when they bought it. The Americans at Manchester United and Liverpool are now wanting to cash in their chips.

Anyone can wade in with money and buy any club at any time. In the UK it is a free for all. That is part of the Celtic concern. Nothing is not for sale forever, everything and everyone has a price. I know that from personal experience.

What the Celtic Trust are doing is about balance, equilibrium, co-ownership with corporate interest. It is a protective measure against a hostile takeover.

In over 20 years the Celtic Trust has failed to grab the imagination of the supporters or individual shareholders.

Lowe was involved with Fergus McCann’s takeover in 1994 and later became chairman of the Celtic Trust for a brief period, resigning in 2021.