Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has suggested that the club’s majority shareholder – Dermot Desmond – has a different vision from Brendan Rodgers in the transfer market.
Talking about the slow transfer dealings this summer and the manager’s comments hinting at wanting more recruits in the door, O’Neill was asked by the Daily Record if Desmond and Rodgers have different views. “Absolutely no question about it,” was the Irishman’s reply.
He continued: “Dermot will have a vision of the football club but as a club owner or as a major shareholder and the person who’s making the decisions, he might see going forward in a different light than the manager.
“Seriously, he might not always think that spending £14m or £15m pounds on a player is necessarily the way to go. And we’d have to say that in terms of the dealings in recent times, he might be right.
“Now, I don’t know what players Brendan’s looking for. He’ll be looking to improve the team. And I’m quite sure, honestly, I’m quite sure he’ll do that.”
Although Celtic did break their transfer record last season, it came at a time when the club was as cash rich as it has ever been, when Champions League prize money was the highest it has ever been and when modern football prices dictate that such a fee is not actually that high comparable to other deals. Engels may not have set the world alight yet but he’s a young man who has had just one season at Paradise, he may yet come good and Celtic will be looking to recoup their fee or make considerable profit when he does move on.
Most fans and probably the manager are less concerned with the fee than the quality of the player coming in, and the quantity at this range with so many positions looking light.
Hopefully the board and management find common ground soon.
If Martin is correct it’s maybe time Desmond stood down and got someone in who’s not a dinosaur and scared to spend OUR cash.
What exactly does Dermot Desmond offer the club other than hindering the manager’s transfer plans most seasons.
His only ambition is to make more money each year and spend as little as he can on mediocre players.
He should sell up and take Lawell and Nicholson with him.
I’m trying to remember but I’m sure that one key difference was Martin didn’t have a long history of having Calm Doon so involved in the club? Whereas, he has been in both Brendan’s spells here. I suspect that the board are probably keen to get some traction going on transfers but the quote by Martin is interesting as the figures he quotes would indeed be high in 2003/2004. But not that high in 2025. You rarely see a player in England, even Championship level, go for less than £20M these days. Most of our recent sales have been around or over the £20M mark. So £14-15M for 1 or 2 quality players is not unusual at all. If Dermot thinks it is, I would find that hard to believe, as surely he understands that although my granny bought a fish supper for about 20p in today’s money, you wouldn’t get a solitary chip for that now, maybe just the salt to go on it. And as club revenue goes, buying well to advance further in Europe nets us significant CL money, the fans are even more excited, merchandise does well and the good news continues. I would even hesitate that it’s the players we’re going after. What seems to be an issue is the dithering. The dithering around as the clock ticks, lowball offers then back to square 1. Hope we can see a couple of wingers through the door, although it’s confusing as current stories are linking us to a DM and a defender
CL income more than compensates for spending realistically on good players to get there in the first place so if Desmond really thinks that £1/2m players are sufficient for the club then he’ll be setting the club on a downward path. I don’t believe that any shrewd businessman would think that and I don’t believe Desmond does either.
The huge profits made on the sale of players who incidentally are also showcased in the CL to attract offers are also a reason to be more ambitious in the ‘buying’ market.
If Rodgers is being truthful that Desmond is a true fan as well as a businessman then he must surely be ambitious for the club. Obviously, we are never going to win the CL the way things are at he moment but at least being able to compete at a higher level which brings in big money is surely not too much to expect.
Long past time to get the finger out and get the quality players in to replace Kyogo and Kuhn even if they do cost £5/6m apiece – that outlay will easily return a handsome profit from a decent CL run.
I would add that the fact that Desmond totally controls the whole club with an ownership of 34.7% of shares is astounding but unfortunately with the rest of the shares scattered far and wide and many of them lost, we are stuck with this situation.
Dermot has is critics as can be seen by comments here on this site. But i can understand is caution. Brenden Rogers record against teams from Europe is not good he is responsable for all our heaviest defeats . The fact that he has brought in a 19year old centre back from man city on loan and let Nawrocki leave on loan is to me a mystery and makes no sense. We bought Idah for £9 million when Kyogo was less than half that price and a better all round player . We have bought 2 more from Japan who have looked promissing but will they get to play and be given a chance. The young lad from Fulham comes highly rated but again will he play so whats the point in bringing in players by the bucket load after all only 11 players can start Engals our record signing didnt start on Sunday so does Dermot trust Brendens Decision making .