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 will have an especially smug smile today when Celtic Park hosts its first match of 2026.
There will be an element of sadness for the Celtic CEO. His hero and mentor steppED down as Chairman but the show must go on. Big Peter will always be just a text message away, just like between September 2021 and January 2023.
Nicholson will be able to look to his right to see 2,400 Ibrox fans and listen as they spew out their poisonous anthems.
BANNED BY UEFA, WELCOMED BY NICHOLSON
The songs, chants and banners that UEFA no longer tolerate. But very welcome at Celtic Park.
In 2018 UEFA twice closed sections of Ibrox due to the racism inside the stadium.
Last year UEFA imposed a suspended closure of the Copland Stand for two years due to the racist banners on show.
Under Nicholson Celtic have no problem with that sort of behaviour.
After support from Celtic’s media partners away fans get an allocation of 2.5% to attend the Glasgow Derby.
It is the major achievement on Nicholson’s CV. His attempt to export the Derby fixture to Sydney in 2022 failed spectacularly.
Increasing the away support whilst simultaneously collectively banning a multitude of innocent and uninvolved fans says it all.
Another nail in the Celtic boards metaphorical coffin. Tomorrow will be another dreadful atmosphere. https://t.co/iF64di7hze
— ?? ? (@p_bov1) January 2, 2026
As Nicholson looks around the stadium towards the North Stand he will take a special pride in seeing the front section of the standing section closed.
NICHOLSON AND ATTACK DOG HARGREAVES
Alongside his newly appointed Head of Safety, Security and Operations, Mark Hargreaves, Nicholson has stepped up the attack on the Green Brigade.
There was increased levels of security imposed around section 111, ridiculous levels. The most heavily policed and stewarded area in Scotland.
A grainy video of 80 fans leaving the standing area for the concourse is the reason for the current ban.
Apparently five supporters have been hit with minor charges. Police Scotland appealed for video coverage of the incident. It seems that body-cam and CCTV coverage failed to pick up sufficient evidence.
There will be absolutely no comment from Nicholson about the songs and chants of the away fans today.
Supporters hand picked from over 40,000 Season Ticket holders by Nicholson’s business partners at Ibrox.
The Celtic CEO will be inviting them all back again in a post-split fixture in April or May.
And then again at the start of next season. Nicholson, truly a CEO like no other.
Tomorrow the Celtic board will happily invite in people who will vandalise the stadium, throw things at the players and home support and chant sectarian bile, all while banning Celtic’s most vocal supporters. More self sabotage from our “custodians”!
— Dr Mark Gillespie (@MarkGilles5627) January 2, 2026
100% Joe it’s a total disgrace how that prick Nicholson is treating Celtic fans and then inviting them lowlife scumbag bigots to roll out their song book, trash the toilets and tear up seats, Celtic is a total shit show thanks to Nicholson and his pals.
Michael after all we have seen and you have done!!
Whose side are you on
You are confusing the bejezzuz out of us
The fastest that parasite has got anything done as ceo was the day after title celebrations a couple of seasons ago, when he got the builders in to make new stairs for entrance and exit and install the new nets for segregation to make sure the zombies could get in with cost not a problem.
Is that the agreement he reached; 2.5%, which gives them more tickets than they give us. Another sell out of Celtic fans. He and the rest of the board really are contemptible. Not only contemptible, but shit scared of the huns.
Boycott televised games,let TV show empty stands,it’s the only thing that will make this bunch of charlatans take heed.Oh and obviously don’t buy any merchandise and take a pause before rushing in to hand over ST monies.This clown Nicholson is getting worse than big liewell.I never thought I’d say this but I hope sevco pump us today,it may well be the catalyst we need for change.
Culloden feel to it all today. Going into battle under a hopeless and out of his depth French leader.
Nicholsons adage to the Huns must be like,
“Why Stand Up To Them, When We Can Lie Down And Let them Walk All Over The Top Of Us”,
like?
It was well worth Lucan’s letting The Sevco Hun Hoards In…
They sang Keep The Board after all !
One look at this moron in an idiots suit tells you all you need to know…
Only a total kow-towing, Bluenose bastard would have allowed the Huns into Paradise again. Thanks a bunch Peter Lawwell. I cannot say that I will miss you.
Hail Hail.