ST. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - OCTOBER 03: Celtic Majority Shareholder Dermot Desmond (L) and Neal Elattrache during Day Three of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at the Old Course, on October 03, 2026, in St. Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Just after 10pm Celtic finally found their voice after a sequence of horrific events.
It wasn’t an explanation of a horrific summer transfer window
- It wasn’t a reaction to Martin O’Neill declaring that he would be self-reflecting after leading Celtic to three demoralising defeats on the bounce.
- Celtic had no comment to make on John Beaton’s refusal to send off Manny Fernandez 15 minutes into their last fixture.
- Nothing on the second successive exit from the Champions League at the Play Off stage to unseeded opponents.
Etc, etc, etc.
So called Interim Chairman Brian Wilson hasn’t delivered a Supporters Update since June 11.
£17,000 a week CEO Michael Nicholson hasn’t gone near a camera crew since December 17 when he drooled over the exciting January recruitment plans for Wilfried Nancy.
All of those incidents and many more have gone without comment from Celtic.
But it seems that a protest involving 20 or 30 tennis balls at a pro-am golf event in Fife was the trigger point for Celtic’s infamous Statement generator.
The throwing of tennis balls has been treated as a threat to the stability of Celtic. Malcontents crossing a dangerous line that threatens the foundations of the club.
Every possible angle is used to describe the most gentle form of protest.
No-one was physically hurt in the protest. No damage was caused. A point was made.
CELTIC STABILITY UNDER THREAT?
Celtic’s 10.07 statement elevated the protest to a whole new level.
It is an invite for Celtic’s cherished media partners to indulge in one of their favourite pastimes- putting the boot into the Celtic support.
Mark Pirie of the Daily Record published a bizarre shock horror report from his bedroom on the St Andrews protest.
Celtic chief Dermot Desmond was targeted by raging Celtic fans in balaclavas during shocking scenes at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
That intro should top up the Brownie Points earned by Michael Gannon and Ryan McDonald as they hit the sauce leading the Albufeira Four on team bonding exercises in July. The Herald/Celtic Way also took a full part in that jolly.
In the centre of a dull international break many columns will be published on the unacceptable scenes.
Meanwhile nothing moves, changes or evolves at Celtic.
DECLINE SPINS OUT OF CONTROL
Since the decision to offer Brendan Rodgers Shin Yamuda as a replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi in January 2025 the club has been determined to reign in ambition. In 2023 Nicholson declared that his ambition was for Celtic to be world class in everything that they do.
Three further transfer windows have seriously weakened the squad of players and ensured two more Champions League failures. Six in a row, eight failures to qualify out of 10.
Only Brendan Rodgers has bucked the trend. Twice, and we know how he was treated almost exactly a year ago.
Yesterday a few tennis balls thrown around 3pm prompted the 10pm statement, taking things completely out of context.
Meanwhile on Monday Celtic will be back to pushing their tired, jaded merch as they tarnish the legacies of the Lisbon Lions and Henrik Larsson.
Chairman Wilson spent last week producing a master-piece for the Scotsman on how Andy Burnham is about to wipe the SNP off the political map of Scotland.
What should Celtic Fans Collective do with Not Another Penny?
CONTINUE- This is the main way to protest
SUSPEND- Let us see what Celtic Connect produces
ABANDON- No longer required or useful
Now we know how to get his attention he should be targeted every time he steps onto a golf course.
Celtic can be so much more than it currently is, however the way to achieving this is not through small acts of defiance, larger coordinated actions are required.
All this protest has done is give the club the opportunity to play the victim card. Personally I don;t think this is the way to influence change at Celtic, there is a route to achieving an end to Desmond’s control but it will require an action very few seem willing to take, and that is a boycott of Celtic Park.
If we want to protest, then make it a silent one.Empty stands are the biggest show of no confidence in our board and largest shareholder. I personally have not attended a game since Kairat.
It is clear from the club’s statement that any show of dissent will be used as an excuse not to engage, therefore we must as a fanbase give them no choice in the matter.
We have to have enough shares in the club to allow us to have a voice. 5% is the magic number, all the different shareholder groups advocating for change must come together in pursuit of this goal.
I myself am a small shareholder and would be happy to lend my shares voting rights to such a group.
If we are to be taken seriously then let’s start acting seriously. HH
Editor: I would suggest that CSL is the best place for your share block, they are concentrating on slack governance, Celtic are an open goal on that issue.
The event at St Andrews was conducted by black clad spoiled children. Wonder how many of them supported the board buying season tickets. Dermot will really make us pay now, goodbye funds for January, goodbye league.
What a load of shite.
Do you remember last January?
Loans only.
This is not the time to bow to Desmond.
Desmond has power, we don’t as long as season tickets sell out, we will suffer for the Neds action at St Andrews, like it or not
@pilgrim73
I did this a couple of weeks back. Very easy. You just drop them a line with the number of share you have the Computer share reference number (on your share certificate) and they vote for you. Painless and costless
Well done to the “Brother Walfrid Flying Pickets” who highlighted the fact that there is no hiding place for disgusting Dermott & his foul mouthed son.
The tennis ball shaming of DD & Son.
Is only the beginning of actions to remove the tyrant with the Tash & his vile son.
He won’t give a Continental F*ck about a few tennis balls for sure !