GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Rangers at Celtic Park, on September 01, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Michael Nicholson is ‘busy enough as it is’ to investigate which senior figures at Celtic are telling a friend of Roger Hannah that Brendan Rodgers is trying to engineer his way out of Celtic.
Judging by his actions over the last couple of months some might conclude that the CEO is trying to find a way of being dismissed. That however is highly unlikely.
After four years in hiding Nicholson held a meeting with supporters groups headed by the Celtic Fans Collective on Monday with nothing emerging to show the Celtic CEO in a positive light.
Nervous, cautious and unconvincing was the overall verdict of the ‘leading sports lawyer’ as he delivered a paper thin defence of what is considered internally as being the best run club in Europe.
Anyone laughing at Celtic’s performances in Europe will be pointed towards the treasured Balance Sheet. Look at the profits, look at the £11.75m paid in Corporation Tax last season.
THE RAPID DECLINE
After playing 10 Champions League matches last season Kairat Almaty prevented a repeat.
In two Europa League ties Celtic have picked up one point, tougher fixtures lie ahead.
Against all this senior figures inside Celtic have been deflecting failings onto the manager. To a Sun reporter.
Reacting to the story Rodgers described it as a cowardly act. He expects those involved to be removed from the club.
After a quick chat over prawn sandwiches Nicholson has established that no directors were involved. No further investigation is required.
“We are busy enough as it is.”
Our CEO on why a robust investigation has not been undertaken to establish the identity of the tabloid leak.
Was this our approach when a cleaner leaked a recruitment agenda? https://t.co/4YxCMbcJ8B
— Paul John Dykes (@PaulJohnDykes) October 9, 2025
The Happy Clappers Loyal were quickly on to that tweet. Their man deflector was that the story has no basis while Celtic continue their close media link up with their friends at The Sun.
The exact passage from the Minutes read:
MGe raised serious concerns regarding the alleged leak to The Sun, and it was suggested this was a grave breach of trust and professionalism. The Club was asked to address this following the summer transfer window, which the Football Manager had commented on publicly.
When asked why no formal investigation had been launched. MN noted that allegation was based on an unnamed source allegedly speaking to an unnamed source at the Club. There is a lot of speculation printed in the tabloid press. The matter had been discussed with the Board and with the Football Manager and the matter was closed.
CMcK said all board members had been asked about the article, and there was no basis for further investigation. CMcK also mentioned that the newspaper source was a ‘senior figure’ which may not necessarily have been a board member.
The Football Manager confirmed that the matter was closed in his next press conference. MN noted that the Board understands the importance of confidentiality. When asked why the Club had not taken legal action against the newspaper, MN confirmed that the Club would not take legal action in relation to speculation and said that the Club was “busy enough as it is”.
CFC reps argued that this approach was dismissive of a concern of fans.
They suffer from a hierarchical cultist ideology and simply obey.
— Paul John Dykes (@PaulJohnDykes) October 9, 2025
Throughout the two and a half hour meeting Nicholson was on the back foot.
Almost every probing question, such as multiple transfer failings was met with the answer that the club was reviewing that issue.
A few questions were met with a promise to take on board. It is the same tactic that he uses to deflect at the AGM.
NICHOLSON AND THE COLLECTIVE
The in-actions of Nicholson have created the Celtic Fans Collective.
From the transfer failings and Kairat the seeds were sown. The Sun interview and 1030 statement on September 6 turned it into a movement.
After his smug performance on Monday Nicholson can sit back and prepare for the consequences.
The Collective will meet up on October 15, the following day Celtic will be pushing their latest exciting new Adidas lifestyle range.
The backlash will be financial, the only language that Nicholson understands.
A little bit of digging is all that’s required here Jim.
I’ve done the legwork so you don’t have to.
Direct source meets middle man in a random ?? location.
Middle man passes the info on to the journo.
Journo prints story and protects source.
— Paul John Dykes (@PaulJohnDykes) October 9, 2025
Merely a lowlight.
I could compile a top 25.
— Paul John Dykes (@PaulJohnDykes) October 9, 2025
Yes, PJD, not a leak. A private conversation in a social setting – a bit of bitching – that the ‘Celtic source’ who has nothing to do with Celtic, tells to a journalist. What is to investigate? All the conversations had by the Celtic hierarchy with acquaintances? Tabloid froth.
— Andrew H Smith (@AndrewH_CelticU) October 9, 2025
Like Trump quashing any investigation that will find against him. The board in 2025 are tired old men incapable of timely responses instead preferring unimaginative decision making. Rangers off-field incompetence and our player trading profits hides their otherwise ineptitude
— Vincent C (@Vincent32418497) October 9, 2025
This guy is in TOTAL Denial mode PJ ……a waster of a man , and all the stops MUST be pulled to remove him from his position, OR We are on one MASSIVE slippery slope , …Now that IS a certainty
— Robert Johnston (@RobertJ90427282) October 9, 2025
Should the Celtic Fans Collective call for a full boycott of merchandise?
No, we must keep their income flowing
Yes, money is all that they understand
Its not getting investigated cos he knows who it is, and doesn’t wanna go there.
Yet another reason to add to the list of reasons for change at the top, intransigence.
Its not that difficult a situation to comprehend, fans don’t want kneejerk reactions to protests etc, why not just keep it simple, if your selling key players in key positions, fill the space with similar.
Bottom line is, there would be no board, no club, no fans, no money if there wasn’t a team worth watching on the park, its the squad and that squads success that glues the whole thing together, the kit sales, the pie sales, the ticket sales….everything.
So why would you go out of your way to harm that by being complacent or just plain nasty to prove a point?
It is that attention to detail that makes him such a fine legal eagle. Disgraceful excuse for a CEO of Celtic
We all know who the rat is . As long as his driveway is heated he’ll be fine.
They can fuck off with any merchandise money of mine this season…
Clachnacuddin FC can get it !