Suffice it to say, Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond isn’t universally popular.
A man whose involvement at the club is activated more by spite than logic, Desmond’s deep pockets have helped to bankroll Celtic. However, he’s still accountable to the fans, who create the vast majority of income for the club.
So, with eyes turning to the Celtic board, Desmond needs to be an active participant. After pulling out all the stops for Brendan Rodgers, he and Peter Lawwell picked the cheap option with Neil Lennon. As we can see, it hasn’t worked out long-term. Two years to the day after Rodgers left, we’re in exactly the same scenario again.
Fan protest has been noisy and decisive this season. Undoubtedly, the board have been shocked by the sheer volume, both in terms of quantity and in sound. Supporters, most notably the Green Brigade, have held protests outside Paradise. It’s not that fact alone that should worry Desmond; it’s more the mobilisation of the support [Celtic Trust].
Hoops supporters, you see, aren’t willing to accept further mediocrity. They never have, and never will. It is in Celtic’s nature and best interests to dominate.
That puts immense pressure on Dermot Desmond once again. Without putting too fine a point on it, the majority shareholder needs to make a popular decision, or his reign as Celtic’s chief financier will come under threat.
Celtic fans are mobilising against Dermot Desmond
Film-maker Jamie Doran perhaps put it best:
“There really has been this gap building between the board and the fans. I find it quite ridiculous in this day and age that the club is actually owned by individuals rather than the fans.”
In the Fergus McCann era, after the Rebels had won [Daily Record], there was genuine optimism that supporters would run the club. Ostensibly, they do to some degree, it’s just that it’s a tiny cabal of supporters with billions of pounds in the bank. Desmond’s soft power has undoubtedly brought Celtic success; the fact we’re lamenting that we won’t win a 10th consecutive title makes that point kind of inarguable.
But make no mistake here; if Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond isn’t leading a board who make a genuinely exciting appointment, he’s in trouble. Hoops fan movements, specifically involving share purchases, are gaining momentum, and will continue to do so.
There are tens of thousands of Celtic supporters, perhaps hundreds of thousands, who would be willing to put a little cash into a joint attempt to seize back control of the club. That doesn’t necessarily go away if Desmond placates fans with a big name like Rafa Benitez, Roberto Martinez or Eddie Howe.
Still, there is pressure on the Irish billionaire. He needs to get this right, for the club’s sake and for his own position at Celtic.
READ MORE: Reasons to be cheerful?
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