As Celtic fans rage about the lack of transfer business this summer, Hugh Keevins has revealed how much Dermot Desmond has taken out of the club before delivering a brutal verdict on the people running it.
Desmond is Celtic’s largest shareholder and was the man trusted by Fergus McCann to protect the legacy he had built.
However, as the club stumble from one transfer window to another, failing to strengthen the team while Rangers and Hearts close the gap, Keevins has revealed how much money Desmond has taken out of Celtic since 1994.
What would your message to Dermot Desmond be now that the transfer window has closed
Hugh Keevins reveals what Dermot Desmond has taken out of Celtic
Speaking about Celtic’s bizarre transfer window, Keevins took umbrage at a supporter suggesting Desmond was not a “Celtic man.”
Keevins told Superscoreboard, “I would not criticise anyone on a personal level, you know. I object to someone calling Martin O’Neill a puppet.
“I object to the suggestion that Dermot Desmond isn’t a Celtic man. Dermot Desmond, since 1994, has put £30m into Celtic.
“To my understanding, he’s taken £7.5m in dividends, but he’s put money into Celtic.
“I have no doubt that Michael Nicholson is a Celtic supporter. It’s just, they’re not good at what they do.
“And this transfer window has highlighted the business that is not up to date. They have no strategy.”
Now, no one is suggesting Desmond is doing anything wrong. He is perfectly entitled to be paid dividends as Celtic’s largest single shareholder.
However, that £7.5m figure will infuriate supporters watching the club refuse to spend decisively in the transfer market while the squad falls further behind where it should be.
Keevins’ defence of Dermot Desmond becomes a brutal Celtic verdict
The most damning part of Keevins’ statement is that, even while defending Desmond and Nicholson as genuine Celtic supporters, he admits they are not good at running the club.
However, being a supporter doesn’t make them competent for the positions they hold at the club.
Millions have been taken out of the club while those in charge are allowing Celtic’s football operation to lag behind the times.
In defending Desmond, Keevins has actually strengthened the case against him at Celtic. Desmond’s £30m investment will always be used in his defence, but the £7.5m taken in dividends and Keevins’ “no strategy” verdict mean Celtic fans are entitled to judge him on results, not sentiment.
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