Celtic Supporters Limited has reacted to the resignation of Tom Allison.
At the age of 78 the former Clydeport accountant has followed Peter Lawwell off the Celtic gravy train.
His 25 year stint as a Non Executive Director sums up everything that is wrong with the club. Dermot Desmond and Brian Wilson have had similar stints on the Celtic Board.
Good practice for a PLC would see a non-Executive Director serve for 5-8 years. After that they become part of the furniture.
A non-Executive Director is supposed to supply checks and balances to ensure that the firm is being effectively run.
In recent times it seems that Allison was comfortable with the appointments of Michael Nicholson, Mark Lawwell, Paul Tisdale and Wilfried Nancy.
CELTIC- SILENCE FROM THE BOARDROOM
Going further back he raised no concerns over Celtic being denied trophies for over a decade by a club fielding ineligible players.
In July 2012 the SFA and SPL passed the Five Way Agreement which gave Scotland’s newest club their own legislation within Scottish football.
Allison appears comfortable with all of that as well as the undermining of Brendan Rodgers while Neil Lennon has twice been promoted from Caretaker Manager.
This is symptomatic of having a dictator running the club. The official office holders with executive power – Nicholson, McKay and Wilson are just there to ensure the club meets its legal responsibilities. Those three have zero power and zero authority to make decisions.
— EM (@EdBhoy1888) April 16, 2026
The full Tweet from CSL read:
Tom Allison’s departure from the Celtic board is another clear sign of why governance reform is now non-negotiable. A Non-Executive Director is there to provide independent challenge, oversight and accountability.
Not to sit in place for 25 years. Basic UK corporate governance standards widely point to a maximum 9-year tenure for NED independence. Allison joined in 2001. That is nearly 25 years. Independence is impossible at that point.
The same questions now apply to the rest of the board:
• Dermot Desmond, board influence stretching close to 30 years
• Brian Wilson, over 20 years
• Peter Lawwell, until his recent exit
• other long-standing appointees who have presided over decline, drift and zero accountability
Where is the challenge? Where is the scrutiny? Where is the independent thought? This is how boards become echo chambers.
This is how “puppets” are kept in place to rubber-stamp rather than challenge. Dermot Desmond, as principal shareholder and power broker, should not be occupying the role or function of an effective NED.
A true NED must be independent from executive influence and controlling shareholder interests. By definition, he is neither.
This is exactly the governance failure CSL exists to address. Fresh voices. Term limits. True independence. Real accountability. Celtic deserves a modern board, not a closed circle.
No replacement has been announced for Allison.
Much like with Lawwell who resigned as Chairman in December. Interim Chairman Brian Wilson has become the face and voice of the club with Michael Nicholson in hiding.
There seems to be a level of expectation among supporters that change is coming in the summer.
Four months after it was clear that Nancy was a complete disaster there is nothing to suggest that his successor is about to be announced. There is nothing to suggest that a process to appoint a manager is in place.
Tisdale was equally disastrous but did have the role of Head of Football Operations. Again, like the Chairman and Manager there is nothing to suggest that a replacement is in the pipeline.
