The divide between Celtic supporters and the club’s hierarchy deepened on Sunday at Firhill as protests escalated to a new level and this was demonstrated by a unanimous decision by all supporters groups to decline an invitation to meet with the club to discuss the report into policing at the Glasgow Derby at Celtic Park back in March…
Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
A newly established organisation called the Celtic Fans Collective, bringing together supporter groups and fan media, has emerged as the leading outlet for frustration directed at the Celtic board.
The Collective has taken direct aim at chairman Peter Lawwell, CEO Michael Nicholson, CFO Chris McKay and the non-executive directors highlighting their weak leadership and their long-term failure to be transparent and open with supporters.
An open letter, backed by 420 supporter groups and fan media outlets, has remained ignored for weeks. During that period, protests inside both Rugby Park and Firhill have intensified, with fans staging late entrances, displaying banners and posters, and voicing their discontent in large numbers.
Celtic fan protest. Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
On Monday evening, the Celtic Fans Collective shared a statement online, reflecting the depth of frustration felt among the fanbase.
Posting on X, it read: “1 charlatan Chairman. 2 incompetent Execs. 7 unanswered questions. 19 days of silence. 420 letter signatories. 3,000+ late entries v Kilmarnock. 5,000+ holding posters v Partick Thistle. The Celtic support is united, demanding answers and campaigning for change.”
Then last night the issued this update revealing that all the leading supporters groups – The Affiliation, AICSC, Bhoys Celtic, CDSA, the CSA and Green Brigade had all received an invitation from the club to attend a meeting regarding the policing of the Glasgow Derby back on 16 March.
The Collective adds: “After months of delay, the club is finally set to release the findings of the independent investigation by Fairhurst.”
“In conjunction with the Celtic Fans Collective, the supporter groups have unanimously voted to decline this invitation. Until Celtic FC signals an intention to answer all of the questions raised in the open letter and begin to engage positively with the wider support, we have no confidence in meeting with the club under the current leadership.”
Celtic fan protest ahead of the Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
The Celtic Fans Collective has united over 50 supporter groups, combining fan associations with newer fan media platforms. It was formed to create a single, strong voice amid growing concerns that the club is being managed with cautious short-termism instead of a bold long-term vision.
Celtic’s financial results which were released last Friday highlighted – as expected – massive profits and record cash reserves which has led to yet more anger amongst the support.
For many supporters, the core issue is the huge cash reserves in the bank and underinvestment in the transfer market where the manager was quite clearly undermined.
Partick Thistle v Celtic. Premier Sports League Cup. Sunday 21 September. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Fans are standing together in calling for accountability. As the season gathers pace both domestically and, in the Europa League, the scrutiny on the Celtic board shows no sign of easing and absolutely won’t.
This is not going away and the best thing that can happen for the benefit of the club is for the Celtic Board to do as requested and answer the questions that the Celtic support have collective asked and collectively are waiting on answers.
What is unreasonable about that? The current strategy of the Celtic Board to completely ignore the Celtic support is untenable and has to change, the sooner the better…
Conor Spence
Supporters demand change – until it comes, business as usual is not an option pic.twitter.com/8o3vYkWN1O
— Celtic Fans Collective (@CFC_Collective) September 23, 2025
1 charlatan Chairman. 2 incompetent Execs. 7 unanswered questions. 19 days of silence. 420 letter signatories. 3,000+ late entries v Kilmarnock. 5,000+ holding posters v Partick Thistle.
The Celtic support is united, demanding answers and campaigning for change. pic.twitter.com/YT6ZwogQCj
— Celtic Fans Collective (@CFC_Collective) September 22, 2025
Vowed after the 10iar/covid season, never to give the actions of our board, any headspace ever again, but to the effects caused to myself.
That still remains the case.
Always look upon the role of a manager as the glue between board and support, especially within our club, possibly above all imo?
Chances of that gap ever getting reduced, while a trust factor is so high, is unlikely for the foreseeable.
Yet the powers to be, still hold the ace up there sleeve, especially with the push for change in operation.
And that surrounds the glue, regarding the future of Rodgers, whether we like it or not.
Sack card or new contract remains as options upon the table at present imo.
Sack card won’t be played yet and no reason for the likes to be played either yet.
But there also seems to be a dwindling support for a new contract to be offered also at present.
With that issue, so very relevant within this campaign against the board, not giving the current campaign much heed at present myself.
Personally wouldn’t be in favour of a new contract offered to Rodgers at present, but am open to that changing over the course of this season also.
Still believe that this europa league campaign will be a huge deciding factor, especially with favourites for the league title still in operation.
As for our squad in place, I refuse to believe it is as weak as trying to being portrayed by so many at present.
Still believe that the hardest part of the summer window, involved wanting to keep hold of so many players, who potentially had their eyes on careers elsewhere.
Already know Maeda and Yang were in that category, not confirmed yet, but think there were a number of others also imo?
Which remains relevant come January still, so potentially the summer window is far from resolved, and already an issue potentially for next summer especially.
But what has gone unnoticed is that we already have a 3rd team in position, which we like to class as projects and dross if they aren’t able to produce for ourselves in the longer run.
Yet the likes involved Donovan, now able to make an impact for ourselves, when the opportunity comes along.
To the degree that ralston is under pressure to keep his role within the squad, as it has been set up.
There is a higher degree of quality at present than before, which hopefully goes someway to reducing the gap between lowland league and 1st team football for ourselves.
Players such as Murray, shin, hayato, Osmand etc etc etc.
Won’t allow for much if any game time, unless injuries start having an impact, as we have seen already with the AJ and ralston situation.
Big improvements upon last season, where we weren’t able to carry only 2 injuries impacted in the second half of last season.
Rodgers went for only 5 midfielders, which turned out to be not enough, when injuries and fatigue played there parts, during the course of the entire season.
The kyogo effect is still in operation regarding Maeda, but already better prepared for the likes happening, which includes many others within positions currently in the squad.
So plenty of good work has been achieved over the summer all the same, even if we have gone so far in not taking any notice or appreciation for the likes either.
How beneficial it will be within the overall structure, remains to be seen.
This area I will give credit to Rodgers in changing from reduced numbers within the playing squad, that weren’t able to produce over the course of an entire season, especially with the extra demands of the increasing demands within it, as seen in the second half of last season imo?
Not enough to convince myself that it warrants a new contract just yet, but certainly not ruling out that one shouldn’t or won’t be offered yet either.
Rodgers is no stranger to making mistakes either, but showing signs of putting right with increased numbers of players available, is a bigger challenge for himself to manage, than trying to operate with reduced numbers, that was in position last season.
Attitude within them players is going to be massive, especially when kuhn and Idah, seemed to be moved out quickly enough, when not totally on board with the plans of Rodgers by the looks of things.
How many more remains unknown at present, but do believe that the transition phase is well under way, which will include plenty of changes within the core group who have contributed so much success over the past number of seasons.
Change is already in operation, to what degree remains unknown at present, but certainly not ruling out that it won’t be successful either imo