When Martin O’Neill returned to Celtic, Dermot Desmond did more than praise the manager. He publicly promised to back him throughout the summer transfer window.
At the time of his appointment, Desmond said Celtic would support O’Neill as he prepared the team for domestic and European competition. It was a clear commitment from the club’s largest shareholder.
That promise has been badly exposed during an embarrassing week for Celtic. Two players who wanted to return to Glasgow have instead been allowed to slip away.
What would you say to Dermot Desmond about Celtic’s transfer model now?
Dermot Desmond promised Celtic would fully support Martin O’Neill
Desmond said: “Time and time again Martin has shown his qualities and what he can bring to Celtic. We know he is a winner, we know what the club means to him and he continues to be the outstanding candidate to give us the best opportunity to realise our objectives.
“He knows the demands at Celtic and I know how determined he is again to bring success to the club and to our supporters. The club will support Martin fully again across the close season to make sure we are well prepared to achieve domestic success and compete on the European stage.”
Telling supporters that O’Neill would be “fully” supported before losing Kelechi Iheanacho and Marcelo Saracchi is a slap in the face. It also leaves the manager looking badly exposed before the season has even started.
Celtic did not lose Iheanacho to a Premier League side or one of Europe’s biggest clubs. A second-tier Turkish club managed to convince the striker to sign for them instead.
Saracchi was also desperate to return to Celtic and made his feelings clear when he said goodbye to supporters. Celtic had a willing player and still failed to get the deal completed.
Celtic’s transfer failures leave Dermot Desmond looking ridiculous
No club completes every transfer it attempts, and Celtic will inevitably miss out on targets. The difference here is that Iheanacho and Saracchi already knew the club, wanted to return and were trusted by O’Neill.
Desmond cannot make grand promises about backing the manager and then distance himself when those promises are broken. The executives responsible for Celtic’s transfer business ultimately answer to the board he dominates.
Only two explanations remain, and neither reflects well on Celtic’s biggest shareholder.
- Desmond’s promise was empty public relations.
- Desmond meant it, but Celtic’s executives are incapable of carrying it out.
Either explanation makes Desmond look ridiculous. He promised Martin O’Neill full support, but Celtic have already reduced those words to another empty statement from a board supporters no longer trust.
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