Stephen McGowan has responded to Peter Martin’s rumour that Dermot Desmond is gearing up for a sale at Celtic.
The reputation of the principal shareholder at Celtic Park has reached an all-time low in a season of chaos on and off the pitch.
Desmond has signed off on plenty of things this season – such as a disastrous appointment of Wilfried Nancy and an astounding attack on Brendan Rodgers – but none have been more telling than what occurred at Celtic’s AGM.
In it, his son Ross called some Celtic fans ‘bullies’ in an extraordinary monologue, destroying his own reputation with many Hoops fans before it even existed. So is Desmond Sr. really still unflinching in his position?
What would your message to Dermot Desmond be now that the transfer window has closed
Stephen McGowan sees ‘no evidence’ of rumour on Dermot Desmond at Celtic
Speaking with McGowan on PLZ Soccer, Martin said: “I’ve been speaking to some financial people who clearly feel… you always try and second-guess the endgame on this.
“You know the Hearts [plan], because they outlined at the start of the season, to much ridicule, that this is year one of a plan towards trying to win the league and not [having] Celtic and Rangers dominating.
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“You know the Rangers plan because it’s now an American one, where they’ve distanced themselves from that old guard of six or seven investors all fighting for power.
“So you’ve got a clear strategy from them now. [Celtic] have got £77 million in the bank…
“And some of the people I’ve been speaking to think that it looks as is [Desmond] is gearing up for a sale.”
McGowan replied: “I don’t see any evidence of that. I can understand the logic, because if you look at what Ross Desmond said, they think they are being sustainable.
“The phrase he used was, ‘we can’t afford to swing and miss’, by taking a punt at it. I think the situation is toxic.
“I’ve written in the herald that I don’t think anything changes at Celtic, really, until everything changes. I think it comes absolutely right from the top.
“But I don’t necessarily see any great impetus for that.”
Do you think Dermot Desmond would really consider selling his Celtic shares?
Alan Brazil has also shared the rumour that Desmond could sell, but until now, the possibility of a change in hands at Celtic is unlikely.
Willie Haughey’s plans for a Celtic alliance to get match-going fans onto the board will get off the ground soon, though their impact remains to be seen.
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