The billionaire wrecking ball – Dermot Desmond seems hell bent on the destruction of Celtic as we know it…

It’s the 3rd of June, and already, we’re starting to get that sinking feeling as we head into what looks like another summer of discontent at Celtic.

The weird thing about it is that, as Celtic supporters, we just expect this.

We are conditioned to expect it.

That doesn’t mean we should have to accept it, yet we do.

Or at least we did up until the end of last summer, in the aftermath of the calamity in Almaty.

The Celtic board thinks that just because Martin O’Neill got them off the hook by winning the double, they can just carry on as normal.

Or abnormal, because the way this football club is run is the furthest thing from normal.

Their version of normality is dictated by one individual who has the entire board conditioned to do his bidding.

To all intents and purposes, Dermot Desmond has taken Celtic football club hostage.

He is the principal shareholder, with a 34% shareholding in the football club.

He is not the majority shareholder.

Unlike the San Francisco 49ers, who now hold a 51% shareholding in the Ibrox club.

That shareholding gives them full control of the team from Govan.

To that end, Ibrox supporters expect that they will call the shots at their club.

Dermot Desmond, however, does not have the right to turn Celtic into his own personal fiefdom with his 34% shareholding.

Yet the entire hierarchy stands back and allows him to do this.

Because he has been allowed to do this unchecked, with each passing year he becomes more aggressive with his control of the football club.

Since the “resignation” of Dom McKay back in 2021, Desmond has effectively smashed a wrecking ball through Celtic as we know it.

It seems he does this for his own sadistic pleasure.

This culminated in the most calamitous season in the club’s modern history.

Since the fateful 1993/94 season, and flirtation with bankruptcy and liquidation, Celtic as a football club has not experienced such a disastrous campaign.

Make no mistake about that.

All of it, and I mean all of it, was self inflicted.

It was entirely done by choice.

Since we are told that Dermot Desmond calls the shots at Celtic, then we must assume that it was his choice.

All of his choices have led us to where we find ourselves right now.

I rest my case.

Desmond made the choice to wage war with the Celtic fanbase.

A bitter battle that did not reach a ceasefire agreement until April of this year.

The evidence that it was his choice to do that was there for everyone to see.

It was there for everyone to see in the pathetic letter his son read out at last year’s AGM.

It was his choice not to back Brendan Rodgers in last summer’s transfer window.

And it was also Desmond’s choice to character assassinate Rodgers in the aftermath of his resignation.

Which came about because the conditions he was forced to work under became unbearable.

Desmond will also happily take responsibility for putting Martin O’Neill over the barrel of a gun, and giving him just ten minutes to make his mind up about taking the job after Rodgers’ departure.

Carnoustie, Scotland – October 03: Dermot Desmond during Day Two of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2025 at Carnoustie Golf Links, on October 03, 2025, in Carnoustie, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)

In his own mind, he will consider that to be an ingenious move.

It was also his choice to get duped by the so called “football doctor”.

Where he was led into believing that this man could spot a good player when he saw one.

And of course, a good manager.

Wilfred Nancy anyone?

When Paul Tisdale was found out to be the spoofer he was, he was rightly given his marching orders.

In conjunction with the sacking of his world class managerial hire.

Back came Martin O’Neill for the second time to save a season that was headed for complete disaster.

One wonders if he was given more than ten minutes to make his decision the second time around?

It was probably more a case of watching on in horror, and knowing that he could fix the mess.

Martin should have been allowed to continue until the end of the season before the installation of someone like Nancy.

Yet, we can also confidently say that it was probably Desmond’s choice not to spend a penny in the January transfer window.

It had to have been.

It wasn’t good enough that O’Neill had agreed to steady a ship that was fast sinking, was it?

Desmond in his infinite wisdom felt it was a good idea to deprive him of any signings that actually cost money.

Joel Mvuka, and Junior Adamu anyone?

Zero impact.

While they warmed the bench – and in many cases – did not even get to do that, Celtic wasted tens of thousands of pounds on their wages.

It’s ironic that the man who refuses to spend money has no problem with it being pissed up against a wall when it comes to the likes of Mvuka and Adamu.

Not to mention the £5 million plus wages that was pissed away on Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

A player who was apparently “scouted” for over a year.

I could go on, and on.

Desmond’s choices are the source of bafflement to many, and they are rarely to the benefit of Celtic football club anymore.

It seems with each passing year, Desmond’s behaviour becomes more and more unhinged.

His behaviour is more like a despot dictator, who exercises his authority arbitrarily, than that of a principal shareholder.

Which is why we find ourselves in an equally baffling situation when it comes to the imminent managerial appointment at Celtic Park.

Let me put the question less controversially to you on this subject than I have up to this point.

Are you genuinely excited at the prospect of having Robbie Keane as the next Celtic manager?

Ferencvaros’ Irish coach Robbie Keane grimaces before the UEFA Europa League last 16 second leg football match between SC Braga and Ferencvaros at Municipal stadium of Braga on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Miguel RIOPA / AFP via Getty Images)

Does it get your juices flowing, and drive your enthusiasm levels through the roof?

If it does, then you need read no further.

If you aren’t feeling that way, then you feel like me.

It is reported that Robbie Keane was interviewed for the manager’s job in London by Desmond before Martin O’Neill was due to meet with the double billionaire.

Many people are wondering why you would interview a candidate for the job before speaking to the man who delivered a League and Cup double?

However, I will not deviate from my conclusion that Keane is plan B if O’Neill turns the job down.

It’s likely that Desmond has explained to Keane that obviously O’Neill has to be given the courtesy to decide whether he wishes to continue in the role.

But should he decide not to, then there has to be a plan B in place.

Keane is that plan B.

Desmond is most likely getting all of his ducks in a row.

Taking the political issue relating to Keane out of the equation, let’s just look at his managerial credentials.

Ferencvaros’ Irish coach Robbie Keane reacts at the end of the UEFA Europa League last 16 second leg football match between SC Braga and Ferencvaros at Municipal stadium of Braga on March 18, 2026. (Photo by Miguel RIOPA / AFP via Getty Images)

He just lost a one horse race to a club the size of Kilmarnock.

He claims this was because he was forced to abide by a new rule imposed by the Hungarian FA.

Which basically enforces that you have to have five Hungarian players on the field of play in every game.

I do not accept this excuse.

Because a club the size of Ferencvaros should have the resources and the pull to attract the best talent Hungary has to offer.

Just like Celtic should in Scotland.

For any club looking to hire Robbie Keane, this particular excuse should set alarm bells ringing.

This, however, does not come into the equation with Dermot Desmond.

Because Keane has the one prerequisite Desmond requires for him to be the Celtic manager.

He’s Irish.

Desmond does not care how antagonistic this appointment will be.

He does not care how it will most likely divide the support, and divide opinion.

Desmond does not concern himself with the idiosyncrasies of the peasantry.

He has made it clear that this is HIS football club, and he will run it how he sees fit.

Yet it is NOT his football club.

But nobody has the testicular fortitude to tell him to back the f*** down and know his place.

Hence the reason we are now very close to hiring a managerial candidate that ticks very little of the boxes required to be a Celtic manager.

Both politically and from a football standpoint.

And there is no point in saying forget about the political aspect.

You can’t do that.

Celtic is a very politically oriented club.

That isn’t going anywhere, any time soon.

But as I said, even if you take the political aspect out of the equation, Keane’s footballing merits do not meet the standard expected of a Celtic football manager.

That alone dictates that if this appointment comes to pass, it is doomed to failure.

Just from a footballing standpoint.

If Keane fails to hit the ground running, he is already going to be under savage pressure from the stands.

He is not going to have any wriggle room whatsoever.

He will get no leeway from the fan base.

Because many of them will dislike him, and his appointment, before a ball is even kicked.

That is not conjecture, it’s just a simple fact.

Whether Desmond accepts it or not, if he is given this role, Keane’s connections with Israel will bring about his downfall at Celtic sooner or later.

The only thing that will save him – or possibly even afford him some leeway from the fans – is a treble, and Champions League qualification, coupled with a decent performance in that competition.

That’s a hell of an ask.

That’s it.

That’s what he’ll be expected to achieve to have any hope of winning the fanbase over.

Robbie Keane will be our equivalent of Russell Martin.

Different circumstances and beliefs, but the very same concept.

Martin was not accepted from day one by the Ibrox support, therefore he was doomed to failure.

Poor results just compounded the fact.

Sound familiar?

This is what Desmond is willing to do at Celtic.

And make no mistake, he is willing to do it.

He would not have interviewed Robbie Keane if he wasn’t.

As Bhoycie said in his podcast last night, he could picture Desmond, and his pathetic excuse for a son, sitting laughing about how they were f***ing the Celtic support over by hiring Keane.

Desmond seems hell bent on continuing to drive his wrecking ball through Celtic.

Or more to the point, the Celtic support.

He is determined to end Celtic as we’ve always known it.

A club that was united from top to bottom.

If he hires Keane, Celtic will become a club supported by different factions.

There will be no unity.

The Celtic board will continue to be the most hated board in the club’s 138 year history.

The only way this ends is when Desmond is six foot under, or ash in the wind.

And I’m not being crass by saying that, he will be in control of Celtic until his dying day.

Even when he’s gone, his family will continue to control the club.

Whether they have the fortitude or the iron will to run it like the dictatorship he has, will remain to be seen.

This is our lot.

I wish I could tell you how we could find a way out of it.

But I can’t.

Ironically, hiring Robbie Keane might just be the catalyst for change.

It could be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

If O’Neill accepts the job, then we’ll find ourselves at this juncture once again this time next year.

Continuity and long term strategic planning are not bedfellows of the Celtic board.

Or Dermot Desmond for that matter.

They never will be as long as they remain in situ.

Desmond thinks he is an immovable object.

But no object is immovable.

If this support is pushed to the limit, Desmond might just decide it’s not worth the hassle any more, and sell up.

I yearn for that day.

A man can dream….

Key Takeaways

• Celtic’s summer of discontent continues under Dermot Desmond’s control, which many view as dictatorial.
• Desmond’s choices have led to a disastrous season, including a lack of investment and questionable managerial appointments.
• Robbie Keane’s potential hiring raises concerns among fans due to his football credentials and political implications.
• Celtic fans express frustration over Desmond’s indifference to the club’s traditions and unity.
• The board risks ongoing discontent, and a change like hiring Keane could trigger significant backlash among supporters.

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