The Celtic board are opening the door to a serious challenge from Ibrox. But is this a calculated and deliberate move?
Eric Knott 
(Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Now, before I start this article, I’m sure I’m going to be called a conspiracy theorist when it comes to the current behaviour from the Celtic board.
But I don’t deal in conspiracies.
I deal in facts, and I base what I write on the facts that are out there.
In plain sight, for everyone to see.
The Ibrox US take over is complete.
What it will morph into remains to be seen, but time will eventually reveal that.
Rumours of a US takeover were prevalent since the back end of last year.
When it was revealed it was going to happen last February, a lot of us, myself included, questioned the point of it.
We were all wondering what the Americans could possibly gain from it?
Or more to the point, we examined what they stood to lose.
In hindsight, maybe we underestimated their business acumen to a degree?
The way I see things unravelling at this moment at our club suggests to me that the Americans factored the Celtic hierarchy into their thinking.
That they have examined the behaviours of the Celtic board, and those behaviours have presented them with a distinct advantage in their quest to catch us.
Which, unless things alter radically at Celtic in the coming weeks, could happen sooner rather than later.
When you take over a business like a football club, it is only natural that you examine your closest competitors.
In the Scottish Premiership, that is us, Celtic.
You examine the behaviours of your closest competitor, and you ask yourself which of those behaviours you could emulate.
You also ask which behaviours you could do better in.
At this moment in time, I have no doubt that Andrew Cavenagh and his team are looking at the current behaviours at Celtic Park.
To a degree, they’re probably scratching their heads.
They’re probably wondering why such a gift horse is being presented to them.
Cavenagh is probably wondering why a cash rich club like ours will not spend.
Knowing there is only one month left to go in the transfer window, he is probably holding out hope that we continue on this path.
Fully aware that if we do, it will play right into the hands of his club.
He’s also probably curious as to why we are not taking the challenge his club represents seriously.
Because let’s face facts here, our board certainly does not take this challenge seriously.
In fact, to me, and most clued in Celtic supporters out there, it looks as they are completely ignoring it.
If the board were taking it seriously, then we wouldn’t be pissballing around in the transfer market the way they are.
So, as I said, if Andrew Cavenagh and his team are smart business men, then they are noticing all of this.
They are also fully aware that the club they now run had the measure of us for the majority of last season.
Consequently, if they’re paying that much attention, they’re also acutely aware that we are a much weakened outfit in comparison to what we were last season.
All of these factors work in the Ibrox side’s favour.
The behaviours at our club they’re singling out NOT to emulate?
Complacency, a lack of ambition, and an unwillingness to spend to gain an advantage.
All driven by tired old men, who’s egos blind them from the dangers that lie ahead.
Whether that’s by choice or through ignorance, remains to be seen.
These are the chinks in our armour that smart businessmen would clearly see.
These are things they know they can take advantage of.
They can rely on the egos in the Celtic board room to work very much in their favour.
Last night, they put one foot firmly in the door of the Champions League groups stages.
Should they negotiate their way past Viktoria Plzen in the next round, then just one more one round separates them from the group stages.
Do you honestly think if they make it to the group stages of the Champions League, that they will not spend money to further enhance their squad?
To ensure that they are more than capable of competing with us in the upcoming season?
The Americans want to usurp us.
At the moment, it would appear that we are giving them every opportunity to achieve that.
You’d almost be led to believe that this was being done deliberately.
Our board knew things were going to change at Ibrox when the new ownership went through, a smart, progressive, forward thinking organisation would adapt accordingly.
Systematically weakening us is the furthest thing from adapting.
So what is the end game here?
Just what is this board playing at?
Over on The Celtic Blog, James went into great detail earlier on today in his article regarding Dermot Desmond’s influence over all of the current behaviours at Celtic.
Which at best, is clearly limited.
Whether that’s down to the fact he just doesn’t care, or something else entirely, we’re never going to know for sure.
In his article, James questioned whether Dermot Desmond would allow any of his enterprises to operate the way Celtic does.
It is pretty clear that he would not.
But I would posit this question, why would he allow the current board to open the door to a challenge from a club he patently despises?
This was made crystal clear after the 2016 Scottish Cup semi-final to the Ibrox side.
The over-exuberant celebrations from the Ibrox board in the executive box adjacent to the Celtic box irked him to the point that he personally financed the pursuit and hiring of Brendan Rodgers.
The result was back to back trebles.
Pissing Dermot Desmond off is clearly not a good idea for anyone.
Well, it seems to me he’s opening the door to being severely pissed off on his watch once again by allowing our board to completely sabotage the season ahead in the way they are.
But by the time he reacts, it could already be too late.
There is no doubting that the Ibrox board has identified our current weakness.
Our kryptonite, as it were.
It would be a total abrogation of their duty to the club they’re custodians of, if they haven’t.
It isn’t our bank balance, and it isn’t our manager.
Nor is it even our football squad, which we know, despite being weaker, is still superior to theirs.
Our weakness is the people in our boardroom.
They are the problem at Celtic, and it is now more evident that ever.
The Ibrox board and Andrew Cavenagh would be blind not to see that.
We are opening the door for them.
It is as if we are welcoming the challenge from them.
And we never had any intention of reacting to it in any meaningful way.
What else does continually weakening our squad signify?
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think somebody was trying to resurrect O** F*** Inc. and restore to it’s former glory.
Once again, I’ll ask, what is the end game here?
Miss out on qualification to the Champions League?
Push Brendan Rodgers out the door?
Concede a title to the Ibrox side?
As I said in yesterday’s article, there are two scenarios at play here.
Right now, we’re dead on course to achieve all of the above listed abominations, which comprise scenario number one.
The only way scenario two happens, which I detailed in that article, is if there are massive strides in the next four weeks when it comes to player transfers.
Hell, even that might not be enough.
It may all be too little, too late.
But one thing is becoming abundantly clear, this board is NOT working in the best interests of Celtic Football Club.
In any other business, as James clearly highlighted today, that kind of behaviour would be totally unacceptable.
So why then, is it accepted at Celtic?
Why do we as a fanbase accept it?
What will it take for that to change?
Let’s see….
The Ibrox side winning a title while we were sitting on £100 million?
I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.
Peter Lawwell: An incompetent fool who couldn’t run a raffle…it runs in the family, apparently. An Ibrox collaborator who could have killed Sevco at birth…but chose not to.
Michael Nicholson: I had high hopes for this guy when Dom McK was appointed. It seems that he has reverted to type, and defers to his master above.
Brian Wilson: A despicable non-entity, both as a Celtic director and politician. A liquidation-denier and revisionist historian, who has not one clue about Celtic or our history.
As for the rest of them? Couldn’t name one of them.
Only one man has the power to change this…if only he would get his fat ass off the golf course for a minute.
Hail Hail.
True to wot you have just said I could not have put it better no one wants to lose the seat they have had for meny years if we don’t get the caliber of players we need then Brendan will walk if we don’t win the league show Desmond keep your seat don’t buy merchandise don’t drink in the club don’t do the tour don’t eat in restaurant (7) my favorite this makes up a lot of money for the club protest outside all the home games he will soon get the message HAIL HAIL
Simply this. Something stinks. The root of it all, the crux, is definitely fiscal. We will never know what rumbles behind the scenes, but by Christ will we feel the fallout this season. Grey skies ahead…
A statement I heard today is one I am totally in tune with:
” I do not fear the Ibrox Club, but the Celtic Board terrifies me”.
We have been warned.
Celtic, a Board like no other
Oh dear, doom and gloom before a ball is kicked. Keep the faith lads we are still streets ahead of our nasty neighbours.
I’m done with it all.
I wish all others would get to that point too, and fast.
The only way to get a reset is for fans to stop spending money on the club. If that happens the Board will all be shown the door at some point.
Yes, we’ll suffer in the interim until real change happens, but just imagine what we could end up being.
I’m OK with the short-term pain to get rid of this Board of incompetents.
Behave yourself Celtic are not unravelling.
The Huns would love to replicate our trading model as they have been trying to do this for years.
Patience is required as BR has stated.
Forget what Forrest has been saying as he has no credibility at all.
This does not mean I’m a board supporter or happy clapper.
What you are is a green hun.
last week he was interferring too much, delayed last years transfers, and micro managed . while stopping anyone with tattoos being signed.
this week, he is an absentee landlord again .
so waht is it ?
that we an 11 minute read, your could summarise it in maybe 200 words.
try it.
but in summary, it was utter drivel.
Peter Lawwell is a parasite
says:
31st July 2025 at 7:29 pm
I’m done with it all.
————-
have you got a spare £300m to buy them out ?
will you be there on sunday ?
will you boo if the result doesnt suit you ?
I’ve been a season book holder for decades,even when I lived and worked in the south of England,travelling up and down the country for every home game.
Eventually, I got fed up with all the travelling and moved to within striking distance of Paradise, forsaking the great weather I enjoyed down south for the Siberian like winters and the constant rain when it isn’t cold enough for snow.
I’m now questioning whether or not to attend Celtic Park as these parasitic bastards have sucked out all my enthusiasm for this season before a ball is even kicked.
I have been advocating a boycott on buying ANY club merchandise for over ten years to no avail and to make matters worse I am surrounded by happy clappers who are only interested in beating the huns.
I’m thinking that,to preserve my sanity and also to ensure their immediate safety,I should watch the games from the comfort of my front room.
Practically every aspect of supporting the Hoops has been diminished by these money grabbing bastards,to the extent that they won’t even streamline the HCTS so that fans can be grouped for games at Hampdump so on the rare occasion I get a ticket for the cup games I either have to go alone or give my ticket away.
I have posed the question to the SLO at Celtic Park on why the board do not help the fans in this matter and his reply summed them up,he said,”Because there isn’t any additional money for the club in it !”
Totally disgruntled,disillusioned and disgusted.com
Stevie, why don’t you offer James Forrest a live debate if you think you know better.
It’s clear something is going on, particularly when we’re being laughed at for low ball offers (Liewwell offers) for players as reported by the media outside of the UK
Balloon Heid Boyd
says:
wait till you see the price of a ticket for a falkirk league cup home tie.
All you need to know about the PL process look what he done at the 10 in a row season he lets Gordon go for free and brings Barkas in for £5m .he broke the full spine of our team and undermined our club captain by giving him notice that no club will do 10. I have been on this page before PL is a no user and a Highly regarded Freemason who wishes that sevco catch up with our club and that the Title old Firm will return to its former glory to appease his fellow Brothers. All Facts!
Francis Totten
says:
31st July 2025 at 9:46 pm
All you need to know about the PL process look what he done at the 10 in a row season he lets Gordon go for free and brings Barkas in for £5m .he broke the full spine of our team and undermined our club captain by giving him notice that no club will do 10. I have been on this page before PL is a no user and a Highly regarded Freemason who wishes that sevco catch up with our club and that the Title old Firm will return to its former glory to appease his fellow Brothers. All Facts!
————-
can you tell me which lodge Lawwell is in.
I can find all the heads of that fraternity on line, he isnt listed.
The team certainly needs 4 or 5 quality players but cannot imagine the board releasing the cash .Rangers under competent ownership pose a real threat our board seem totally unconcerned
Time will tell if the huns are capable of mounting a challenge this season, but they aren’t the only ones after us and they all have to be beaten over a long period. With a weakened squad it will be harder to win the league and we will get pumped in Europe, that’s a given. Liewwell stood in front of an AGM and lied to the meeting on resolution 12 and the five way agreement. That in itself should have been the end of him. He should have been sacked and all rights revoked, never to darken the doors of Paradise again.
Panic,panic,panic,your all playing into there hands,1st Lawell has done really well Financially transfer wise,the cash we’ve made is phenomenal, his policy of sell on fees is second to none,and moan all you like,But thank God he’s 1 of us,him and Dermot,or we would be relegated by now,they would have Loved Peter running there financesfor them,,so come on bhoys ,don’t give those.💩💩 bags anymore things to say.
Piss off ya thick tosser
We are in big trouble if this is our squad for the comingsseason ahead never mind Europe.We are downsizing and the door is ajar for the Huns to compete with us this season. I will not entertain Europa League on Thursday/ Sunday games as I work on Sunday’s . They will see how much Celtic fans will like the Europa League with a half empty stadium, DD and his cohort’s have brought this great club to it’s knees. You have been warned spend some of the money on the players BR wants or fuck off and let someone else do the job.
is that for real.
i work on Sunday.
what are you a priest
brought the club to its knees.
53000 season cards.
sold out every home game.
revenues up year on year.
seriously wtf do these eejits talk about
Let me posit one question to you St. stivs. How will you feel next May if we have conceded a title to the Ibrox side while sitting atop a cash pile of £100 million? This is the concern of most commenters on here, and most hard working decent fans out there. Yet you come on here and pontificate to everybody and ridicule their concerns? By all means, if we are Champions again next May and we’ve had another decent campaign in the Champions League, come on here and tell everybody you told them so, and how brilliant our board is. You won’t hear me complaining. In the meantime, stop ridiculing people for voicing legitimate concerns.
@saint stivs,or should that be saint spivs ,to align you with your hero’s in the boardroom !
Do NOT be putting words in my mouth with your cheap comments unless you want a fist (and more) in yours.
You make out you’re some font of all knowledge regarding Celtic FC when you’re probably 50 years old and still living at home with your mum,you fucking incel !
Agree with most comments on this.A bunch of tired old men leading a club with one of the most diverse fan bases in the UK,certainly in Scotland.Michael Nicholson getting business tied up rapid under Ange,to this shambles.Brian feckin Wilson sitting in his comfy seat firing off snide tweets about the Scottish government and denying the demise of Rangers.Who tf are this mob of charlatans we have up there?
I’d just like to send a message to Dermot Desmond, Andrew Cavenagh called you an A***hole!
Who makes up this shite “bringing Celtic to its knees” lol. My god where do these people live. More to the point is why do people like Eric Knott encourage it. It is not because he is Celtic fan.
Afraid you’re in the the ever shrinking minority here weebarra…. but you keep telling yourself the board is doing a fan-tastic job, while the rest of us will live in the real world.
And where did I ever say that the Board is doing a fantastic job Eric. Really!
Just more pish eh?
More to the point is why are you saying it.