It’s safe to say, the relationship between the Celtic board and fans could not be more toxic.
Celtic hosted their AGM last Friday and the atmosphere in the room was as poisonous as expected.
The shareholders showed their displeasure towards the under-fire Hoops hierarchy holding up red cards during the meeting.
Ross Desmond read out a scathing statement that added more fuel to the fire to the situation where he LAMBASTED sections of the Parkhead faithful regarding their behaviour over the past few months.
Desmond said: “The behaviour of certain sections increasingly brings the club and it’s fanbase into disrepute.
“The incident a few weeks ago at the Falkirk match was systematic of wider behaviour that cannot be ignored.
“These people are bullies, and they try to hijack the good name of Celtic.
“They try to hijack the good name of Celtic supporters, and we cannot allow them to define who we are.
“I am well aware of the target that I put on my back by saying this.”
After Desmond’s defiant words, Peter Lawwell brought the meeting to an abrupt close, which sparked even more anger from the shareholders in attendance.
Interim manager Martin O’Neill thought it was a ‘really sad morning’ and wondered what Jock Stein would have made of the scenes.
Are the Celts board perfect? No far from it. But their supporters are ungrateful and the abuse towards them is crossing a line now.
They’ve enjoyed an unprecedented amount of success over the last 13 years winning 13 league titles out of 14.
Say what you want about Dermort Desmond, but he is a shrewd businessman, who knows how to run a football club and he’s done a phenomenal job.
I don’t know what more Celtic fans are wanting. They’re sabotaging their season by creating an unnecessary hostile atmosphere and the only clubs it benefits are Rangers and Hearts.
Many feel as though the board didn’t back former manager Brendan Rodgers enough but are forgetting that he spent £55 million in the past two years in the transfer window.
Rodgers brought in Adam Idah for £9 million, Arne Engels for £11 million, and Auston Trusty for £6 million. Fine players but nowhere near worth that amount – three big signings all signed off by the Northern Irishman.
After Rodgers’ departure last month, Dermort Desmond released a bombshell statement accusing him of being ‘divisive, misleading and self-serving.’ Desmond also said that the claims of Rodgers not being offered a new deal were ‘simply untrue.’
After Rodgers’ dismal transfer record on big money signings and his unwillingness to commit to a new contract – it makes total sense as to why the board were slightly reluctant to give him another big cash injection in the summer.
This new generational of Hoops fans are entitled and should be more grateful for the unbelievable success they’ve experienced over the years.
Ungrateful, entitled, and spoilt is the best way to describe their disgusting behaviour towards the board.
