Brian Wilson, Celtic’s interim chairman, has released an update via the official Celtic FC website, following the fan protest that distributed the early stages of Celtic’s Europa League play-off defeat to VfB Stuttgart last night at Celtic Park…
Here’s what the interim Chairman has had to say this evening…
“Last night was deeply disappointing for the Club in many respects. This started with an orchestrated disruption of the game, causing a delay to an important match.
“Over the past two weeks, I have met with a range of supporters groups and individual supporters.
“I have met in good faith with representatives of the Green Brigade and was hopeful that progress could have been made; indeed this remains the case.
“I also met in good faith with representatives of the Celtic Fans Collective.
“When I came into this role, I asked for unity inside the stadium to support the team while trying to resolve other issues. I want to see suspensions lifted and differences set aside, but this cannot be unconditional. Last night’s disruption and the reasoning behind it illustrate the difficulty we face and have repeatedly had to contend with.
“This is not intended to deflect from other issues that affect the club and are fully recognised. However, the possibility of further disruptions needs to be addressed urgently. Surely the priority must be to give Martin and our players every opportunity to achieve their objectives within the remainder of the season.
“On that basis, I will continue to seek an end to this debilitating and unnecessary atmosphere of conflict.”
Brian Wilson mentions having had meetings with both the Green Brigade and The Celtic Fans Collective and we can provide updates from their perspectives for you to compare.
Starting with the Green Brigade – who were NOT involved in last night’s protest, nor were the other Ultras group Bhoys Celtic – they had this to say via their North Curve Celtic x account…
‘Despite recent platitudes of “unity” from the club, last night marked the 24th match that 250 Celtic fans have been banned for – following no fair process nor logic and with seemingly no end in sight. Last night, even the away fans highlighted this – alongside other Celtic fans.”
Despite recent platitudes of “unity” from the club, last night marked the 24th match that 250 Celtic fans have been banned for – following no fair process nor logic and with seemingly no end in sight.
Last night, even the away fans highlighted this – alongside other Celtic fans. pic.twitter.com/lIUkErCRF7
— North Curve Celtic (@NCCeltic) February 20, 2026
And the Celtic Fans Collective issued their members the following update on their meeting with Brian Wilson on Wednesday afternoon, with the full minutes to follow next week.
On Wednesday, representatives of the Celtic Fans Collective met with the Club’s Interim Chair and some senior officials to follow up on October discussions and address current supporter concerns. We have detailed a summary of the meeting below, and full minutes will be published as soon as possible.
Key Areas Discussed
Governance & Leadership
* Concerns were raised regarding recent executive decisions, recruitment outcomes, and wider supporter confidence.
* The Interim Chair confirmed he does not hold unilateral authority and that responsibility rests collectively with the Board.
* Recruitment processes are under review.
* Governance and Board refresh discussions are ongoing.
* No commitments were made regarding executive change or specific timelines.
Supporter Engagement
* The absence of a formal, structured engagement mechanism was highlighted.
* The Collective stressed that any new structure must be representative, democratic and enduring.
* It was agreed that the Club will return within one month with draft proposals for a supporter engagement model, which would then form the basis of a formal consultation process.
* No specific model or implementation timetable was agreed.
Green Brigade
* The Collective raised concerns regarding the ongoing exclusion and its impact on atmosphere and supporter sentiment.
* The Club confirmed dialogue is ongoing and expressed a willingness to resolve matters, subject to conditions.
* No timeframe for resolution was provided.
Fan Media & Communications
* Concerns were raised about the removal of fan media access and recent public communications.
* The Club stated that its communications strategy is under review.
* They informed us that they were not aware who made the decision to remove fan media access.
* No commitments were made regarding reinstatement of access or immediate changes to approach.
Agreed Outcomes
* A further meeting within one month to update on supporter engagement consultation.
* Continued dialogue on the Green Brigade situation.
* Ongoing internal reviews of recruitment processes and governance structures.
The Club stated that they acknowledged the strength of supporter feeling and the seriousness of the current situation. While no immediate structural changes were agreed, dialogue will continue and the Collective will report further following the next meeting. Meeting minutes have been drafted and are pending agreement with the club.
Summary
So perspective on where we are at the moment in the illusive search for Celtic unity, something that exists in spades at both Ibrox and Tynecastle as they look to exploit the Celtic infighting. Celtic supporters are becoming increasingly divided with actions like last night’s causing particular disharmony. That action was done, as we understand it, by various supporters buses who all agreed to participate. It was NOT done by the ultra groups who did organise the previous similar event up at Dundee.
It might be helpful if Brian Wilson can outline his actual conditions for the bans, which is obviously more directed at the Green Brigade than the fan media, with the surprising revelation that they don’t even know who it was that issued the ban while we have no idea what ‘offences’ we are supposed to have committed, with the word we heard earlier in the week it was Boardroom offence taken by something a couple of podcasters had been saying back in the autumn.
That has zero to do with The Celtic Star and it is our belief that it has all been about censorship, from a board looking at shifting the then Celtic manager out of the building.
Lift the bans. Get the Green Brigade back for Sunday for heaven’s sake…
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Why aren’t you willing to see and admit, that picking and choosing the things you, the collective members like, and ignoring those you don’t is 100% NOT ever going to be the way forward?
You pretend you want to move on with compromise. But the truth is, you don’t. You are making it very clear that you want EVERYTHING your own way, showing absolutely no interest in anything the board have to offer.
The longer this goes on, the more obvious it is becoming, despite your best efforts at painting the picture otherwise, it is NOT the board who are the biggest obstacle here, it is the Collective.
That’s complete nonsense Joe, written from a position of ignorance. If it was true and I knew it to be the case that I most certainly would be writing about it on here and calling for the collective, Green Brigade or whoever to compromise for the good of Celtic and in particular what we are facing fixture wise from here until May.
There will be significant changes at Celtic this summer, in the boardroom, the manager’s office and in the playing squad so that will be the start of a new cycle for the club – it’s happening regardless of whether there are protests or not. The Green Brigade and the Collective factually have gone into those meetings looking for an agreement as they understand the urgency of the situation from our club’s position.
A short term agreement to allow back the fans. Giving fan media access costs them nothing but losing face. Wilson admitted he didn’t even know who actually imposed the ban. I’ve repeatedly said this is less important than the other matters at hand re the Green Brigade collective punishment. The folk who were involved have already been dealt with by the courts. The rest weren’t involved but have missed half a season despite paying for their tickets.
Did that kind of thing happen in your day when you were perhaps in the Jungle? Don’t think so.
That’s ultimately all the Collective wanted – a temporary lifting of the ban with assurances provided that there will be no misbehaving and some fan media access.
The tennis balls protest was a reaction to the failure of the board to compromise on Wednesday night but the actions came not from the collective or ultras but from various supporters buses who wanted to proceed and did so.
Take off your blinkers Joe. At the top of this site I use ‘Celtic first, Celtic last and Celtic overall’ and that’s what The Celtic Star is all about.
I could tell you about the favours we’ve done Celtic, around the null and void issue, Dominic McKay leaving, various matters regarding the new club, the Dubai trip during covid, a stop the ten campaign etc – things Celtic wanted out there for the benefit of Celtic – and our neck went on the line, leading to a few lawyers letters with threats etc. Of course Celtic stood behind us – a long way behind us because they ran away from it like cowards. So when they ban The Celtic Star for nothing but something a couple of podcasters said in the heat of the moment then we have to defend ourselves and point out that this has nothing to do with The Celtic Star and other outlets will be of similar mind.
The Green Brigade annoy me now and then but never when you meet them face to face. They are on the whole an asset for our club, but will do ultra things that will cause controversy and split opinion. One good thing that has come out of this is we have evidence of what Celtic Park will be like without them. Neil Lennon once talked about bringing back The Thunder. This Celtic Board has taken it away and it’s so petty.
Please give examples to back your point Joe. Take the blinkers off and you might get a better picture of what’s going on.
Not the first time “Joe” has posted something completely bonkers. Thought a few times about picking apart every word but there’s no point. Trying to reason with someone with this state of mind is a waste of time.
The evidence now in the public domain in terms of the behaviour of the Board and the de facto owner is astonishing. Celtic fans demanding corporate responsibility and basic competence in the running of the club seems to me to be perfectly reasonable. The resistance of those in power to accountability and necessary change is the real cause of friction in and around the club.
I can’t believe the level of gaslighting that surrounds all of this from the media and the Board. However, the Celtic fans who also appear to be indulging in this gaslighting behaviour leaves me speechless at times.
Brian Wilson can GTF., the loyalist unionist scumbag.