For a discussion framed around strategy, transfers, and accountability, the absence was conspicuous. It reinforced the impression of a club where football decisions are increasingly insulated from both supporters and scrutiny.
Some fans at the meeting suggested that the club’s summer transfer window, though busy in terms of numbers, failed to deliver balance or quality. Players were targeted, yes, but the end result was a squad still carrying obvious gaps. Even after the early Champions League exit, the late-window signings did little to address them. The manager continues to work with a team that feels incomplete, a recurring theme that undermines both competitiveness and credibility.
When challenged on the issue of board accountability, McKay explained that Celtic follows the QCA Corporate Governance Code, requiring all directors to stand for re-election annually at the AGM. Nicholson added that independence is assessed internally as part of an annual governance process.
Yet supporters questioned how meaningful those assessments can be when non-executive directors have served far beyond the maximum tenure recommended by the UK Corporate Governance Code, and when the former Chief Executive has been reappointed as Chairman. The optics of stability may appeal to the board, but to supporters it looks like entrenchment, a leadership structure resistant to renewal or external challenge.
By the end of the meeting, there seemed to be a sense of exasperation. Fans noted that the same explanations had been offered at previous forums, and the same assurances repeated. The Collective described it as another symptom of the disconnect between the club and its support. When season ticket prices rise during a cost-of-living crisis, while the club sits on significant cash reserves, it is hard to escape the impression that supporters are asked to underwrite poor decision-making, rather than share in accountability for it.
The Celtic Board. Celtic Champions 2025. Dundee United v Celtic, 26 April 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star).
Celtic’s leaders may talk of reviews, governance codes, and continuous improvement, but those words now land with diminishing effect. Accountability, to be real, must be visible. It must involve consequence, not just conversation. Until that happens, supporters will remain unconvinced that anything will truly change.
Because when a club makes the same mistakes over multiple seasons, with different managers but identical outcomes, the issue is not circumstance. It’s culture.
Niall J
Can only be one man Dermit Desmond he put these people in charge if they have to phone Desmond to ask him to make a decision thats no right
Respectfully, that’s naive!
The manager for example is an experienced manager, but it appears he has returned with a personal agenda as his priority. He only cares about settling a personal vendetta with Peter Lawwell, not to make us a better club. Do I blame Dermott for this? Not really. He was obviously conned!
Next we have a bunch of idiots who claim to be fans but only continue to drag the team into the gutter, destroying the morale of the players in the process. Then we have board errors which are unquestionably there, but errors they have held their hands up to, and promise to correct.
Finally, we have an extremely anti-Celtic media like this for example, who are doing their very best to drive a wedge between the real fans and the club.
Joe
I regard you as a green hun and an enemy of Celtic progressing.
That’s if you arent a blue hun in the first place.
Another lengthy piece but has some good points.
Could all be summed up with the call to action now regarding boycott of spending on all merch.
Seems to me everyone knows what needs done,
The boards had a chance but are too set in their ways now to seriously care about negotiating with us.
Infact they are about to release yet another Lisbon commemoration strip
This is the crux of the problem
They don’t see what’s wrong with offering this bit of tatt on top of all the other bits of tatt we but every year and now devalued a great achievement to the same standard as a share in rangers.
Why not push for another actual European win as opposed to safely picking our pickets yet again????
Shame on u board using the lions to rob us all again?
If the boys were able I bet they’d kick your baws