Celtic’s Annual General Meeting didn’t exactly go to plan.
The Celtic Fans Collective had released statements intending to put the board under pressure ahead of the votes on their re-election – but anger spilled over into the meeting itself.
The board entered the stage to a chorus of boos and a sea of giant red cards. After a video was heckled by chants of ‘sack the board’, Peter Lawwell adjourned the meeting for half an hour.
Members started reading statements once it resumed, and eventually Dermot Desmond’s son Ross, at the meeting on behalf of his dad, read a prepared statement.
It was really quite something.
Ross Desmond’s statement at Celtic’s AGM
The statement was lengthy, and directly addressed fan concerns about Europe, seeking to debunk them.
It also criticised the Green Brigade’s actions at a recent fixture against Falkirk – and that was when the whole thing was brought to a finish by Lawwell.
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Some, but not all, of Desmond’s words were: “Those who talk about the club not having kicked on in Europe since 2003 ignore the enormous change in the financial landscape of football in that period. It has created a gap which keeps growing.
“Most supporters understand that. Of course, clubs still punch above their financial weight, and we should aspire to that. But if you swing and miss, you risk the very stability of the club, and that would be profoundly irresponsible.
“Our model is far from perfect, but for the most part, it has served this club well over the past 20 years. So we will not be bullied by aggressive, irrational factors.
“We will not be railroaded by those whose only vocation in life is to be anti-establishment, and by those who try to degrade the club.
“Criticism and advice are welcome, and the right of every supporter. But some of what we’ve seen recently is not constructive. It is disruptive and cynical. All it does is strengthen our resolve in protecting the integrity and stability of Celtic Football Club.
“Our board, let by Peter, and our executive, led by Michael, are dedicated Celtic people. The attempts to dehumanise them and vilify them are shameful. These are people with families.”
He went on to say, not very subtly, of the Green Brigade: “Celtic was founded as a club open to all, and we have a tradition of having the greatest fans in the world. We must now protect that reputation, that was created over generations.
“The behaviour of certain sections increasingly brings the club and its fanbase into disrepute. The incident a few weeks ago at the Falkirk match was symptomatic of wider behaviour that cannot be ignored.
“These people are bullies, and they try to hijack the good name of Celtic supporters. We cannot allow them to defy who we are.
“I am well aware of the target I put on my back by saying this.”
It was then that Lawwell interjected and closed the meeting.
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