The Celtic Trust is pushing for an apology from Ross Desmond and demanding strategic reforms from the club's board. The supporters' group is seeking shareholder backing for three resolutions at the next annual general meeting, expected later this year.
The group wants chairman Brian Wilson to issue a "full and unreserved apology to shareholders and supporters" for allowing Desmond to speak. Ross Desmond, son of principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, criticised fans at last year's AGM before then-chairman Peter Lawwell abandoned the meeting. The Celtic Trust described the incident as a "complete abuse of the AGM process."
"This was a complete abuse of the AGM process, should never have been allowed to happen, and should never be allowed to happen again," the Celtic Trust said.
Shareholder backing sought
The Trust, which owns about a 0.2 per cent stake worth around £350,000, is calling for the publication of a detailed strategic plan and a review of security operations. The proposed security review resolution notes that measures have increased since the appointment of former Police Scotland chief superintendent Mark Hargreaves as head of safety. This campaign comes amid strained relations between Dermot Desmond and sections of the fanbase, highlighted by a recent incident at a golf tournament where tennis balls were thrown towards him.
The Trust's resolutions specifically call for the board to commit to publishing a detailed strategic plan for the club's development by the end of the current financial year. A second resolution demands a comprehensive review of the club's security operations and matchday safety management, with a report to be made available to shareholders. The group states that the proposed security review is necessary despite increased measures, noting that the club's safety certificate was temporarily suspended last season following a pyrotechnics incident.
In its statement, the Trust argues that the board's governance has been lacking, citing the AGM incident as a symptom of a wider issue. The group is now canvassing other shareholders to support its resolutions, which require 5% of shareholder votes to be formally tabled at the AGM. The club has not yet publicly responded to the Trust's demands.
Celtic sit first in the Premiership with 18 points from seven games, holding a two-point lead. Their next fixture is away to Motherwell on 11 October. Fans can check the full upcoming schedule on the club's fixtures page and view the current standings. The push for governance changes unfolds as the team aims to maintain its league position following a mixed run of recent form.
Read the full report at The Scotsman Football
