GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Celtic Chief executive Officer Michael Nicholson (L) and Chief Financial Officer Chistopher McKay during a UEFA Europa League Play-Off First Leg match between Celtic and VFB Stuttgart at Celtic Park, on February 19, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Chris Sutton has called on Michael Nicholson to stand up and provide some leadership.
Not a word has been heard in public from the Celtic CEO during 2026.
In December he broke cover to deliver two interviews with Gerry McCulloch to discuss Wilfried Nancy.
The enthusiasm was all there for the in-house interview but tellingly Nicholson was posted missing when the Frenchman was introduced to the media.
That image spoke volumes.
Nancy was on his own. After six matches in 33 days he was sacked.
Nicholson offered no explanation. He wasn’t in front of the cameras when Martin O’Neill returned, he hasn’t been heard of since.
Sutton knows the business across Scotland and England, he sees how other clubs operate.
The leadership chain is very clear. Responsibilities are laid out.
At Celtic fans try to interpret the meanings of what is going on, it doesn’t feel like a properly functioning club.
Following news that Martin O’Neill is about to sign a 12 month deal Sutton told Daily Record readers:
We all know Desmond calls the shots when it comes to the big decisions and he has been in the thick of it over these last two weeks.
But Michael Nicholson is chief executive and the one fronting up the business.
No one has heard from him in months. Interim chairman Brian Wilson has popped up a couple of times on club media – and even said communication has to be better?
What do they plan to start?
O’Neill was left to represent the club all last season, from everything from fan controversies to transfers. It wasn’t fair and he’ll have enough on his plate this coming season.
Nicholson and the board need to back the boss and come out of the shadows.
It is two weeks since Celtic completed the double by winning the Scottish Cup at Hampden.
It isn’t known how the O’Neill announcement will be handled.
Will it only be a statement on the club website or will there be a full media conference outlining plans for the next 12 months.
As Sutton highlights communication is a major problem at Celtic.
When nothing is said it leads to suspicions.
All week the talk was about Robbie Keane.
At 5pm on Friday the Daily Record, Sun and Herald all broke the same news that O’Neill is staying on.
The Keane chat could easily have been avoided with the squad rebuild two weeks down the line.
Sutton and the Celtic support waits on word from the elusive CEO.
Got that sinking feeling over the next couple of months we’ll all be shouting where’s the new signings and telling them to pull the finger out
The lack of activity around signings says it all, fans buy their season tickets on promises from the Board that they will strengthen the squad, but if the rumours on signings are correct, the quality will go down.