GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 11: Celtic Chief Executive Michael Nicholson during a UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD6 match between Celtic and AS Roma at Celtic Park, on December 11, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Paul Larkin has claimed that Ross Desmond was/is being prepared for a hands on role at Celtic.
Whether his disastrous performance at the aborted 2025 AGM has put that idea on hold remains to be seen.
After the disastrous appointment of Mark Lawwell as Head of Recruitment and Scouting the arrival of Desmond Mini would create uproar.
Larkin has produced a couple of books and documentaries about the underside of Scottish football. The influence of the Lanarkshire Refereeing Association being a prime example.
Now Celtic fans are looking more and more in-house to view the problems facing the club.
While Celtic are technically a Public Limited Company it is very clear that major decisions, and perhaps minor ones too have to be approved by Dermot Desmond.
This season Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill have both referenced the influence of the Non Executive Director.
DESMOND & DESMOND- THE FUTURE FOR CELTIC?
Desmond hasn’t appeared at a Celtic AGM since 2008.
The last match that he attended in person was the Europa League defeat from Romain December.
One of the eight games where Wilfried Nancy was in charge. Within a month Nancy and Paul Tisdale had left Celtic.
Digging under the surface at matters around the club, in his substack website Larkin reflects:
It was clear Brendan Rodgers wasn’t happy but I was constantly told it wasn’t down to Peter Lawwell this time and I found that hard to believe but it was true. Lawwell had been stood down by Dermot Desmond and his power allotted to Paul Tisdale (and we know how that worked out)
I won’t bore you with what you’ve already seen this season but the key moment was the AGM when Ross Desmond, the chosen son, read out statement berating the fans. Dermot has been laying the groundwork for years to have Ross take over even allowing Lawwell to give his boy the director of Fitba role to make it look like it was perfectly normal to have an under qualified nepo baby in such a huge role.
Since the heckling of the speech, Ross Desmond has been in “the big boys and girls won’t play with me” mode. He’s the one who watches the podcasts and insists to Pa Desmond that these fan media folk must not be seen again as they say bad words and don’t believe everything we say.
Anyone monitoring Celtic fan media will know that giving Ross a job would be as popular as making John Beaton CEO. Not that Beaton could do any more harm that Michael Nicholson.
There has been no follow up statement or comment from either of the Desmond’s following the AGM in November.
Fans anticipating a summer of change are likely to be disappointed with zero sign of anyone inside of Celtic taking responsibility for a horrific run that can be traced back to the decision to sell Kyogo in January 2025 with Shin Yamada the replacement declined by Rodgers.
CLICK HERE for Paul Larkin’s substack site.
The moment the AGM got a straight Red. #CelticAGM pic.twitter.com/8Ei4nzbfbn
— Glasgow Dave (@glasgowdave571) November 21, 2025
Anyone surprised by this has not been paying attention
This appointment if completed really would lead to open rebellion and would be the death of the club as we know it. If this happens how about FC Celtic Glasgow who could be the best supported team in Scotland.
That clip just reignited my hatred of these shameless bastard’s running OUR CLUB !
Nothing would surprise me now.
Not Anther Penny
This will deffo not happen,the club would then be heading towards a sevco not a penny more that thought went out the window at the AGM,also some of the fans ruined our best chance to get our feelings noted hail hail this club is in the biggest crisis since Fergus saved us.???
Friday morning and I’m worried about going to poxy Dundee
Do you think this prick is feeling the same ?
I’m just surprised that Dermot has not asked his boy to ‘ caddy ‘ for him as he traverses the cream of the world’s golf courses rather than being at Celtic Park ! Talking business tactics down the front and back nine with the heir to the throne getting a nice sun tan into the bargain …… premier Lobster anyone ?
Look! This is simple.
They have us down as MUGS! This is NOT Celtic anymore. This is a family business with – quote” “folk who don’t contribute to society”. Can it be any plainer how much they hold the ordinary fans in disgust. If we continue to put up with this, then we deserve all we get. We need to stand up for ourselves and the real club by showing that we will not support a corrupt empire.
I have come to a decision, not to take part in the home cup scheme this coming season. Also, I will NOT renew my season book unless there is a seismic change, which looks extremely unlikely.
I would not presume to tell others what to do, but I am not prepared to fund this kind of personal greed. We fans need to show our mettle and I sincerely hope that many others are thinking the same way. They believe that we will not have the guts.
Such a ridiculous idea, that it’s perfectly believable with our dysfunctional Board.
Why not make The Boy Ross CEO & DoF combined – and be done with it?
At least then it would be a more transparent leadership?
Nothing different is going to happen this summer with the
appointment of a new manager and player transfers in and out.
Just more disappointment.
No lessons learned from a stupid / spineless Board…
Regardless of this latest shock and horror possibility it’s clear our supporters are not doing anywhere near enough to force change. They’re kicking sand in our faces and if we don’t go nuclear, radical they’ll carry on doing this and worse. The new CFC need to change tack big-style. Investigate the 5 Way Agreement and how it may be used. I’ll gladly assist
PICKET CP, publish every director’s home addresses, phone numbers, email and PICKET their homes including Lawwell’s. In fact especially Lawwell’s. As the chief architect his stench is still around and will remain until we effect a root and branch clear-out. I’m in my ‘twilight years’ but I’m still happy to participate, maybe help gridlock a road or two and stand with any true rebels to picket them out of CP. I was a shop steward and for my unremitting committment to our guys welfare I got blacked from Engineering a long time ago when they had a central index of persona non grata. I had to change my whole direction and successfully did so. The current board needs that sort of attack on them to be forced likewise.
Hail! Hail! The Glasgow Celtic, Supporters like no other. Or are they?
Ross County wouldn’t put with Ross Desmond !