GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 17: Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell, Majority Shareholder Dermot Desmond, and Chief Executive Officer Michael Nicholson (L-R) during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and St Mirren at Celtic Park, on May 17, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Alan Harvey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Dermot Desmond owns around 35% of the shares in Celtic.
Martin O’Neill refers to the Irish businessman as the owner. It is a phrase that he has used more than once.
‘The owner’ has attended one competitive Celtic match this season, the Champions League exit away to LASK Linz in August.
Desmond hasn’t attended an AGM since 2006. He does like Scotland, especially St Andrews. Now in its 25th year Desmond has only missed the Alfred Dunhill Cup once, it is unlikely that he missed his favourite links due to Celtic business.
Last year his clearly nervous son Ross read out an attack on the Celtic support at the AGM.
That came three weeks after the infamous statement on Brendan Rodgers. Last night’s reaction to a couple of tennis balls seemed to come from the same source.
Over the past year, however, the conduct of the Green Brigade and those operating through the Celtic Fans Collective has increasingly threatened to undermine that hard-earned reputation.
Repeated acts of disruption and escalation, culminating in today’s pre-planned disruption of an entirely unrelated sporting event, risk creating an image of Celtic supporters which is wholly unrepresentative of the overwhelming majority of those who follow the Club.
Ross had been invited to speak by Peter Lawwell but in mid-flow the then Chairman ended the AGM after less than an hour. That hour included a 30 minute adjournment.
At one point Chairman Lawwell screamed BEHAVE at shareholders in what was to be his final journey outside his comfort bubble.
@CFC_Collective Great to see the focus fully on Desmond, the root of all our frustrations. https://t.co/DNYZfGpP0v
— A Celtic World (@ACelticWorld) October 4, 2026
@gtj1247 @CFC_Collective We never spent a penny in the transfer window again. Managed decline whilst clubs like Brugge etc.. go for it and reap the rewards of champions league football. We are run like a bowling club and thats on Desmond.
— Prosper D. Casteri ??????? (@Casteri67) October 3, 2026
CELTIC SUPPRESSED AND IN DECLINE
Yesterday’s golf ball protest at St Andrews was mild and peaceful.
It didn’t involved dawn raids to smash down doors. No children were man handled by over aggressive club stewards.
Desmond and his fellow Directors at Celtic feel that being the least bad team in Scotland in a badge of honour.
Norway has two teams, Bodo Glimt and Viking playing in this season’s Champions League. On Thursday’s Celtic appear, it would be a brave or foolish fans that thinks they’ll muster a win out of a Europa League run against Benfica, Celta Vigo and Beskitas.
With Desmond the biggest influence Celtic have made no progress in Europe.
Their last European knock-out win was in 2004. Since then two Scottish clubs have reached European finals. Even Barry Ferguson managed to win a UEFA knock-out match.
Off the park the picture at Celtic is similar.
Despite a shiny new building off London Road the club Academy hasn’t produced a regular first team player since Kieran Tierney’s breakthrough in 2015.
Now hitting 30 years old the three stands built under Fergus McCann are looking tired and dated, maintenance seems to be an after thought.
The South Stand is unchanged bar the addition of corporate boxes since 1971.
Catering and toilet facilities are exactly what you’d have got on opening night against Nacional in 1971.
As football evolves Celtic remain in Desmond’s handbrake.
Last night’s statement and the character assassination of Brendan Rodgers suggests that those inside the club are determined to serve up more of the same.
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
Empty seats.
That’s the only action that will make things happen.
Seems our fans, that are so enraged at how the suits are running the club, they are happy to make their way to St Andrews with balaclavas on and throw tennis balls to make a point, but not willing to stay at home and leave empty seats.
If this starts happening it will promote the same national debate as the tennis baws did.
Seems there’s no appetite for that tho for some odd reason?
We either want change or we don’t, stunts like this are just exactly that, stunts.
DD was embarrassed for 5 mins, so what? He’ll move on still a billionaire, but now with even more determination to make those responsible pay..as all narcissists do.
Stop going to games ffs…..everything else is futile, even if it does mean sacrificing games or even the league.
It would seem that Desmond has used a plc website,
to communicate a personal, emotional rant – again?
And, unsigned – again.
Well, if the principal shareholder – and 30 years NED appointee – has “the balls”,
he should turn up at this years’ AGM and explain his plans,
and take questions from the floor.
That would be the most effective communication – and appreciated?
Won’t hold my breath though…
(Sending his boy to read out a statement is just offensive. )
Well if Celtic are so opposed to protests at unrelated sporting events then there is only one thing to do…… throw tennis balls on the field at Celtic Park !!! It’s not difficult
Bhoy4life has the solutions :
Empty Seats.
The question is how do we get the horrible one and his son to sell up and go?
Not One Penny More Until Desmond & Son are out the Door ??????
Oh dear, you defend balalclava wearing people, yet no doubt hate the right wearing them in anti migrant demos.
You believe throwing objects whilst “hooded up” at a 76 year old man to be ok. In your head it is as you have long since monetised your hatred despite calling out the MSM for stopping your own acnowledeged “gravy train” of watching the man you now want to disown lead our club to Seville.
Just like your pal and his ginger girlfriend you are truly pathetic. Hope you and James keep earning the money from the gullible idiots by posting so many times a day.
Do you tell them you use them for money? Yet call out your own club for earning noney,
Editor: Nice of you to drop in from Thick News, I see that you left this site to visit deepjealousy.com
He might just double down because of this tennis ball protest now !