A leading Celtic fan group has vented fury at what it calls continued mismanagement of the club following the release of its annual financial results. The Celtic Fans Collective met with club officials yesterday to discuss fan engagement and expressed deep frustration.
The collective, backed by the Green Brigade, Bhoys Celtic, and the Celtic Trust, issued a statement after Celtic plc announced a £4.8 million post-tax loss. Cash reserves decreased by £10.9 million to £66.4 million, while revenue plunged by around £33 million to £111 million. The club cited its Champions League play-off exit to Kairat Almaty as a key factor in the revenue drop.
"Anger at recent shambolic results on the park in big games was compounded yesterday by Celtic plc latest financial results," the Celtic Fans Collective said. The group has coordinated anti-board protests in the past and said it will continue to hold the club to account.
Chief executive Michael Nicholson vowed lessons had been learned from a turbulent 12 months. Interim chairman Brian Wilson blamed former manager Brendan Rodgers for triggering a "period of instability". The fan collective, however, stated it had highlighted signs of decline since its formation.
"We will continue to hold the club to account and fight for the standards that the Celtic support deserves," the group said. It committed to building on its foundations to become a credible, unifying body for supporters.
The financial concerns come despite Celtic currently sitting first in the Premiership with 18 points from seven games. They hold a two-point lead over Rangers, but their recent form shows three consecutive defeats, including a 1-0 loss to Rangers last weekend. The squad's current standings position offers some on-field solace amid the off-field discontent.
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