Celtic have issued a statement about their Monday night meeting with several fan groups.
The club invited several recognised fan groups, including the wider Celtic Fans Collective made up of a number of associations, to iron out concerns over the running of the organisation.
Celtic fans present at the meeting wanted board members Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay to answer the seven key questions raised in the open letter sent to the club in early September.
But the Celtic Fans Collective issued a summary of the meeting on Tuesday and feel there was “a lack of humility, awareness and accountability” from the club’s board.
Now, Celtic have addressed the meeting from their perspective.
- READ MORE: The Celtic board’s baffling ‘evidence’ of the club’s success in Europe and transfer strategy verdict
Celtic admit ‘mistakes’ during meeting with fans
Celtic shared that they admitted ‘mistakes were made’ with regards to not achieving objectives in the summer transfer window and failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Posted on the official Celtic FC website, they have written as follows: “In response to issues raised in recent weeks about the Club’s strategy and operations, we invited representatives of fan groups to meet with Michael Nicholson, Chris McKay and Club executives at Celtic Park and this took place on Monday evening.
“It was, and remains, our intention to provide a full minute of the meeting for the interest of the wider fan base. However, with content already being distributed online from the meeting, we are also providing an earlier update.
“The Club sought to comment openly on the issues raised to the extent that it is possible to do so, without prejudicing Club operations and confidentiality.
“We acknowledged that the Club is not where we want it to be at the moment, that we have not achieved all of our objectives in the summer transfer window and the Champions League, and that mistakes have been made from which we will learn. We recognise the concerns raised, share the frustrations of our supporters and valued the opportunity to hear from supporters last night.
“Our immediate objective is to seek to make progress, without negatively impacting on the team on the field of play, and that we continue to focus on delivering success this season.
“We intend to issue minutes soon, but outputs from the meeting included a commitment to seek to ensure supporter involvement in meetings with Police Scotland regarding the Fairhurst Report, the review and development of supporter engagement processes, and progressing a new safe standing working group.
“The Club offered to continue to meet with supporters’ organisations moving forward and is committed to ongoing dialogue with our wider support. We have always engaged in regular discussions with supporter groups and will continue to do so, with the aim of ensuring that we can work collaboratively and positively in the best interests of our team on the pitch and our Club as a whole.”
What the Celtic Fans Collective said about meeting
The tone of Celtic’s statement suggests they accepted a degree of accountability for the disastrous summer window and failing to reach the Champions League.
But that is in stark contrast to how Celtic Fans Collective perceive how the talks transpired. Here is an excerpt from their statement earlier on Tuesday: “The meeting was structured by working through the questions of the Open Letter, although there was some natural deviation.
“A recurring theme, and a lack of humility, awareness and accountability. At various points, the Club deferred to communication and perception being the causes rather than structure, performance or culture.
“The Club also repeatedly questioned or rejected the premise of questions. The Club defended its footballing strategy although accepted it could be better communicated to fans.
“Overall, the Club believes the football strategy is working and pointed to participation in European competition as evidence of its success.
“Similarly, the Club defended its transfer strategy, citing different factors for transfer activity being difficult (for example tax laws in different European countries) whilst pointing to examples which they believe is evidence of the strategy working.
“It was said that transfer business involves a multi-disciplinary model and model of that model has ultimate authority, however did not cede that there were shortfalls where the Board of Directors must authorise increased transfer payments.
“When pressed on this point, the Club claimed emails would be sent to Board members for authorisation where necessary.
“When pressed on accountability for failings, the Club rejected the premise of the question but referred to internal reviews and the experience of long-serving Non-Executive Directors.
“The Club provided little evidence of independent oversight and no belief that substantive change may be required.
Receive a digest of our best Celtic content each week direct to your mailbox
