GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 23: Peter Lawwell (L) and Michael Nicholson at full time during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Livingston at Celtic Park, on August 23, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Ryan McGinlay thinks that Celtic are a well run business.
On Twitter that claim was quickly shot down, like the club/company the man from The Celtic Way failed badly to read the room.
McGinlay repeated a claim popular in the Scottish media bubble, yes compared to the 13-year-old club at Ibrox Celtic are a well run business but supporters now have a horizon that stretches beyond the SPFL.
Celtic are actually a football club, UEFA provides a yearly option to measure development and success, this year Celtic have opted out thanks to a CEO who has taken managed decline too far by selling off Kyogo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah without bothering with replacements.
Only Michael Nicholson knows why he has taken this path.
The Celtic Way is caught between two stools- fan media and legacy as part of the Newsquest group led by big Jonny McFarlane.
There is a clear contradiction there, the legacy side lives off the O** F*** rivalry, fan media sees a bigger picture where clubs like Copenhagen, PSV Eindhoven, Club Brugge and others are well run businesses. They live up to their potential, they maximise their assets.
Celtic are a well-run business, as shown in their annual financial results.
However, with £77.3 million in the bank BEFORE the summer window, more questions will be asked of the board regarding the running of the football club.https://t.co/AUNq4foi1p
— Ryan McGinlay (@TheRyanMcGinlay) September 19, 2025
The purpose of a business isn’t to collect and hoard money, it is to invest and grow. To expand into new areas, build on the core and make every area as strong as possible.
McGinlay might think that Celtic are a well run business, not many fans would go along with that.
Celtic Park has barely been touched in the last 25 years bar installing disco lights, the South Stand is well past its best with no hot water outside of the executive areas.
The club academy barely produces professional players let alone Champions League players, Aaron Hickey and Lennon Miller haven’t regretted opting out, none of their Celtic team-mates have got close to matching their development.
By selling assets and not replacing them the bank account has increased as the quality of the team is weakened- not a well run business by any means.
Season Ticket prices increase while the club donates £11.75m to HMRC in Corporation Tax, there is no justification for that, no-one in business or with a basic grasp of economics would try to defend that.
Nicholson spoke two years ago about being ‘world class in everything that we do’ it seems that only applies to delivering delusions.
Celtic are not a well-run business, paying 11M in Corporation Tax is criminally negligent, especially when the main stand is creaking like a wreck in the surf. Managing Tax liabilities looks to be as much a board problem, as the transfer windows.
— Joe (@JGS1888) September 19, 2025
These no questions to ask .. their recent statement answered all questions when they admitted they cannot run a modern football club.
— stewart m (@stewartnextday) September 19, 2025
They could have even more money in the bank if they actually done their jobs properly.
— Gary Lennon (@GaryLennon16) September 19, 2025
Not convinced they do anything well, reality is Celtic have been in a very unique position, effectively being in a one horse race the last 10-15 years, this board have done little to nothing to maximise on this
— kieronmethven (@cieronfraser) September 19, 2025
“Record profits again this year boys here Brendan here’s a £1.5m striker and a £350k left back from Japan, good luck in the qualifiers”
— The Brodge (@Brodge67) September 19, 2025
theyre not a well run business, they get 50m in donations from the fans every season, and they only need to beat aberdeen and sevco to get 40m from the champions league
were a horrendously run club, incompetent in every aspect of football
operating at 15% of our potential max
— Salvia Bucket (@salviabucket) September 19, 2025
If a private postal firm has £77M in the bank and record profits but terrible customer reviews and employs zero hour contract casual staff and other has £20M in the bank but has great customers reviews and pays their staff a living wage and benefits which company is better run?
— Mark Nicholas (@joydivision61_h) September 20, 2025
They just blew £40m+ by their failures in the transfer window. Absolutely shocking performance and certainly not what anyone would call a well-run business. Heads would roll for that disaster in a well-run business
— A J N ??????????? (@AJN1967) September 19, 2025
Wouldn’t even give them the courtesy of calling them a well run business. Being able to hoard the money we all pile in is hardly good business
— Jock Stalin (@JockStalin1967) September 19, 2025
Lawell wants to level the playing field with the other lot. It is a dereliction of duty for a club not to sign a recognised and quality striker and a right winger. They are all left wingers.
How can this happen?
Someone needs sacking.— denismcfadden (@dendo18) September 19, 2025
So there you have it. Celtic is a business, not a football club.
I want my football club back.
I feel exactly the same Tony.
“We are world class at everything we do”
Bloody Hell – No wonder that The Sevco fans call him Liewell…
I’ve no time for The Sevco Hun Hoards but 100% kudos to them for coming up with that one for sure !