3rd May 2026; Easter Road, Edinburgh, Scotland: Scottish Premiership Football, Hibernian versus Celtic; Brian Wilson, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay of Celtic
Michael Nicholson led a high powered Celtic delegation that met with fans drawn from Supporters Clubs in Greenock last night.
Apparently one of the main take-aways from the secretive meeting is that the club has to improve communications. That has been the favourite concession for some time as Board members deflect away from the incredible failings and decline of the last 20 months.
CEO Nicholson was joined by Chris McKay, Brian Wilson and Martin O’Neill. Bringing the manager takes some of the sting out of the questions being asked. Overwhelmingly, and reluctantly, the majority of Celtic fans want a change of manager.
At their very limited meeting with fans admitting to needing to improve communication is guaranteed to be pushed.
Nicholson hasn’t said a word in public this year. Not even a nodding dogs interview with Gerry McCulloch for Celtic TV.
In over five years as CEO Nicholson has been interviewed three times.
In June 2023 he appeared with Peter Lawwell to ‘welcome’ back Brendan Rodgers. At this joint media conference Nicholson delivered the classic line that Celtic’s ambition ‘was to be world class in everything they do’.
Twice last December Nicholson spoke to McCulloch about his joy at appointing Wilfried Nancy and the exciting plans for January recruitment. Nancy was sacked on January 5 after six defeats in eight matches.
Chairman Wilson hasn’t delivered a Supporters Update since June 11.
I was at the Greenock Celtic supporters club tonight. The board were there and surprisingly Martin O’Neill showed up with them.
They opened the floor with “it’s open season and anything goes” in terms of questions.
They were grilled for over 2 hours with no break and tough q’s
— Brother Walf (@EuropeanSuper17) November 2, 2026
Heard that Nicholson, McKay, O’Neill and Wilson were at the Greenock Celtic supporters Club tonight and took a bit of a grilling?!!
Anybody else hearing this? https://t.co/l8pADLenDw— Henke_hoops (@henke_hoops) November 2, 2026
NICHOLSON DELIVERS FAVOURITE TACTICS AND EXCUSES
The other favoured tactic at these limited meetings is to concede that mistakes have been made and lessons will be learned.
Nicholson has the appointments of Mark Lawwell, Paul Tisdale and Nancy on his CV.
It would be difficult to highlight a positive decision made by the club in recent times. The decline probably started in January 2025 with the decision to sell Kyogo Furuhashi with one Champions League match still to be played with no intention of signing a replacement striker.
It took until July 2026 to sign Camilo Duran, in-between times Shin Yamada and Kelechi Iheanacho were signed as Nicholson sold off Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah.
Last night there was the usual promise that ‘money will be available to spend in January. Another favourite. Bearing in mind recent recruitment that is more to be feared than welcomed with the club believing that Deadline Day signings are a sign or ambition. They are a sign of desperation.
Celtic shareholders are still waiting for the publication of the Full Accounts for the 25/26 season. That will be released alongside the Notice of the AGM.
Last year on October 28 they club announced that the AGM would be on November 21. Three weeks notice is required for the AGM, last year’s AGM was ended after less than an hour by Chairman Peter Lawwell who announced his resignation three weeks later.
Among the ‘highlights’ on the 57 minutes was a speech from Ross Desmond and Lawwell yelling ‘Behave’ at shareholders.
Nicholson, Wilson and O’Neill were all initially interim appointments. Nicholson and O’Neill were then made permanent with Wilson into month 11 as interim manager.
@theceltsarehere They clearly need to make big changes in how they operate and the proof will be in the pudding with that but they sat for 2 hours taking questions. I’d say the exchange was better than you’d get at any agm.
— Brother Walf (@EuropeanSuper17) November 2, 2026
@theceltsarehere Nobody held back tonight but I do believe when Martin unexpectedly showed up some folk who had questions prepared had decided against going down that particular route which I get. Martin was told to go for a shite for one of the q’s on planning our next manager and why Mon again
— Brother Walf (@EuropeanSuper17) November 3, 2026
@AidanCFC_ The main thing that they kept coming back to was communication and they know they need to do better. I know we’ve heard it all before but that’s why they were there tonight. It’s a change. It wasn’t an easy night for them but it was respectful which helped the conversation.
— Brother Walf (@EuropeanSuper17) November 2, 2026
@AidanCFC_ The funny thing is he spoke really well tonight. He was asked about being beholden to dd and he said he’s not and McKay was then asked the same question and said it was categorically untrue what’s been written. They managed to avoid part of the question about brendan statement.
— Brother Walf (@EuropeanSuper17) November 2, 2026
@Schmuley_Schlo @AidanCFC_ Comms can’t really get much worse tbh. This was the 2nd of these type of things they said.
— Brother Walf (@EuropeanSuper17) November 2, 2026
@EuropeanSuper17 @AidanCFC_ Forget communication these cvnts have delivered a couple of Chelsea kids and a curly headed replacement for Engels that’s looked shocking.
Complete punts on availability rather than ability just like the previous January.
Club needs overhauled!
— Velocity (@chivs1O5)
@CelticLatest Yes. Martin has a year with an option. That’s a continuing discussion. I get the feeling they are keen for January to
Come round sooner rather than later. MN was very enthusiastic about the Jan window in terms of cash to spend.— Brother Walf (@EuropeanSuper17) November 3, 2026
@EuropeanSuper17 @KyogoCartel They are running celtic into the ground. I don’t believe anything they say . Especially Nicholson, McKay and Wilson . I do hope they did listen and take heed . As the supporters are celtic not DD . ????
— gordon malcolmson /malky????????????? (@gordonmalcolms3)
@EuropeanSuper17 Was the meeting minuted? Feels like we’ve heard all this pish before. All fans really want is honesty, approachability and evidence those in those positions are doing their best to drive us forward. To date none of this has been evidenced and around we go again
— SackTheBoard (@Bhoy_Whunder)
Im 61 and i am thinking of not renewing my book…no structure ..no communication..main stand is a mess ..how can a board look at revenues like strip sales lottery etc decrease so quickly and nobody is held responsible ??
DD and jnr need to leave our club and we need a complete rebuild on players and our team…But i hate to see the supporters at the game crucify players …..A lot of fans have forgotten how to be positive with support for our beloved hoops
Is that the one, fan engagement session – which can be quoted to justify
(in the Directors’ heads that is)
having an online AGM instead…?