GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 30: Celtic Non-Executive Chairman Peter Lawwell (L) and Celtic Chief Executive Michael Nicholson (R) during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Dundee at Celtic Park, on October 30, 2024, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Celtic Supporters Limited have responded to Willie Haughey’s initiative of the Celtic Season Ticket Alliance.
On the surface both schemes seem to have a fair amount of overlap although Haughey’s scheme is so far light on detail.
David Low, Duncan Smillie, Paul McGowan and Brian McLaughlin formed the CSL in the autumn.
Their goal is clearly set out to go down the governance route through acquiring shares and proxy votes to influence the club.
Having 5% entitles any group of shareholders to call an EGM with other privileges coming through an increased stake in the company.
One of their main thrusts is to revive dormant shares.
MYSTERY OVER THE CELTIC SHAREHOLDING
It is believed that as many as 20% of the shares in Celtic fall into that category. Most of them bought by fans in 1995 as Fergus McCann revived the club.
CSL has been formally set up as a Limited Company, has a fully functioning website, have held meeting with supporters groups and held Q and A sessions on social media.
So far, all we know about Haughey’s plan is what he discussed on Go Radio on Thursday night.
Agree with both strategies and understand competition is healthy but surely banging heads together and if both yourselves and ticket alliance can be aligned then between both you’d Potentially have the shares and money to maybe make a change
— Craig Walker (@Craigwalker_95) February 27, 2026
The full tweet read:
There has been coverage of a proposed Season Ticket Alliance involving Lord Willie Haughey.
Lord Haughey is a well known Celtic supporter with a long association with the club. Like many, he clearly cares about our clubs future. Different ideas will emerge when people are passionate about our club.
That is healthy. Our position remains consistent: Celtic is a publicly listed company. Lasting influence inside a plc comes through formal ownership, coordinated voting power and structured shareholder engagement. Informal access, publicity or goodwill alone do not change governance outcomes.
Any initiative that strengthens independent shareholder influence within the plc framework is a positive contribution to the wider conversation. CSL’s focus remains unchanged:
• Build organised supporter ownership
• Aggregate voting power
• Operate through formal governance mechanisms Sustainable change in a plc is structural, not symbolic.
Fans are keen to see exactly what is involved in the Season Ticket Holders Alliance.
The name suggests that it for Season Ticket holders only but Haughey contradicted that idea during his Go Radio appearance.
Shareholders, many who aren’t Season Ticket holders have an obvious interest in the club would seem an obvious target for the Alliance.
How exactly the Alliance operates needs to beset out soon.
The only detail given was that Haughey wanted email addresses and mobile phone numbers to form a list.
It seems that for every 10,000 members listed he will donate £2m. Whether that is cash or in shares is unclear. Shares require sellers with very little liquidity in that market.
Fans will wait for further details over a period of vital matches on the park.
With mid to late April the usual period for the club to launch their Season Ticket renewal campaign. Normally fronted by the first team manager.
Lord Haughey
Conditions of Membership:
Oath/Affirmation: You must take an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the Crown and sign the Code of Conduct.
I’m a shareholder, I could support this. If all small shareholders signed a proxy form for Haughey (or someone else) we’d build up a reasonable voting bloc to put pressure on the Desmonds
Sounds a bit suss. A bit Dave King like. A bit like the board using Haughey to sell season tickets.