The Celtic Fans Collective want commitments honoured, and the club led with professionalism, ambition and urgency. There’s little to no sign of any of that thus far…
The Celtic Fans Collective have asked for professionalism, ambition and urgency. Cue tumbleweeds at Celtic Park
Eric Knott 
DUNDEE, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 17: Celtic fans protest against the board during a William Hill Premiership match between Dundee United and Celtic at the CalForth Construction Arena at Tannadice Park, on December 17, 2025, in Dundee, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Well, well, well…
It turns out I’m not the only one tearing my hair out at the inertia coming from the corridors of power at Celtic Park.
The Celtic Fans Collective have put out a statement this week.
And it’s a belter.
Have a read of it for yourself:
Celtic should not be entering another summer waiting for the transfer window to happen to them. More than six months after the departure of Paul Tisdale, the club still has no permanent Head of Football Operations. We continue with an interim Chair, uncertainty surrounding the CEO’s long-term position, and no confirmation of Martin O’Neill’s backroom staff despite their role in delivering last season’s league title. Other members of the coaching setup also appear to be on the verge of leaving.
Let me get this straight.
Six months on from Paul Tisdale walking out the door, and we still have no permanent Head of Football Operations.
Six months.
No Head of Football Operations.
No permanent chairman either – unless you count Brian “Unity” Wilson, who is “interim” in the way Celtic has always defined “interim”, which is to say, he’ll be there until the sun burns out.
A CEO whose long-term position is up in the air.
And the backroom staff who delivered the title last season left dangling without a contract while they’re being courted elsewhere.
The men who got us over the line.
The men who delivered.
Left hanging.
Hung out to dry.
Amateurs.
We covered this on the Trinity Tims podcast only the other night – Mark Fotheringham and Shaun Maloney offered “take it or leave it” deals worth less than they earned last season, while Wilfried Nancy got a seven figure pay-off for almost destroying our campaign in six short weeks.
This is how we reward success at Celtic?
Make no mistake, this is the same modus operandi I’ve been banging on about for weeks.
No urgency and no plan.
No clue.
And the eternal optimists out there will still tell us to calm down, that there’s months left in the window, that the board will get it all done in good time.
They always do.
Right up until the final day, when it all falls apart, and an unsigned club statement gets released apologising for “transfer window shortcomings”.
Convenient, isn’t it??
But it gets better.
These issues matter when supporters are looking for evidence that this summer will be different. Instead, the lack of clarity at senior level raises legitimate concerns. The squad requires strengthening, and recruitment should already be well advanced. Celtic cannot afford another transfer window defined by delays, reactive decision-making and last-minute gambles.
Delays.
Reactive decision-making.
Last-minute gambles.
Stop the bus.
Are they describing the Celtic board??
Or are they just reading my last three articles back to me??
Because that, right there, is Celtic in the summer transfer window in a nutshell.
It’s never been anything else, has it?
It was ever thus.
The squad needs strengthening, recruitment should already be well advanced, and where are we?
Silent Mike sat in his office, sipping his “world class” coffee, waiting on a phone call from Barbados that’s never coming.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZ…
Now, the part that really got me.
For a club that spent much of last season promising better communication, the continued silence is equally disappointing. Once again, this week’s messaging has centred on merchandise launches rather than providing supporters with meaningful updates on Club matters.
Of course it has!!
Because when it comes to flogging us a new retro shirt, or a third kit nobody asked for, this board moves at the speed of light.
Marketing emails? Sorted. Logged. In your inbox before you’ve had your breakfast.
Tomorrow morning… 👀⭐️#CelticFC🍀 pic.twitter.com/qNW4nCeiJJ
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 17, 2026
A meaningful update on who’s actually running our football club?
Apparently not.
It’s “cash is King” at Celtic, and it always has been.
Every pound is a prisoner.
They’ll have a “Not Another Penny” campaign to thank for finally focusing a few minds, and even then I suspect the only thing that actually moves them is the threat to the one thing they truly care about.
The money.
Fans were assured that lessons had been learned and engagement would improve, but there has been little evidence of that so far.
“Lessons had been learned.”
Where have I heard that one before??
This is the board that has “learned lessons” every single season for the last decade, and yet somehow we end up in exactly the same place every single summer.
Bollocks.
They display no evidence of having learned a single thing thus far.
And they never will.
The Collective have confirmed the “Not Another Penny” campaign stays in place until meaningful change is delivered.
Good.
The bottom line is, the language of the wallet is the only language this board actually understands.
This summer cannot become a repeat of last year. Supporters are not looking for conflict with the Club – we are looking for commitments to be honoured and for Celtic to be led with professionalism, ambition and urgency.
And there it is.
Professionalism.
Ambition.
Urgency.
Three words.
Three things this board wouldn’t recognise if they walked up and introduced themselves at the AGM.
Make no mistake, the supporters aren’t asking for the moon here.
They’re not looking for a fight.
They want the club run like the institution it’s supposed to be.
Not like a cash machine for an absent golfing meddler and his hand-picked yes men.
Is that really too much to ask??
Apparently so.
The Collective say they’ll be sharing quotes from senior figures at the club in the coming days, outlining the commitments that were made to supporters.
I, for one, cannot wait to see those.
Because I’ve got a horrible feeling we already know exactly how this ends.
Commitments made.
Commitments forgotten.
Business as usual.
But I’ll tell you this.
Professionalism, ambition and urgency.
Get it sorted.
Before it’s too late.
Again.
Key Takeaways
- Celtic faces leadership issues with no permanent Head of Football Operations or chairman six months after departures.
- The club’s decision-making lacks urgency and professionalism, particularly in the summer transfer window.
- The Celtic Fans Collective insists on meaningful change, highlighting the board’s focus on financial matters over club success.
- Commitments to supporters often get forgotten, leaving them frustrated and disillusioned with the board’s approach.
- The call for professionalism, ambition, and urgency remains critical for the club’s future.
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Great article 100% correct, I just hope Martin doesn’t get thrown under the bus by DD
Groundhog day
Only action is to boycot the friendlies, merchandise and show that lot that enough is enough.
Season tickets sold out despite last season’s disgrace.
Enough said.
The bloggers who write about this shitshow refuse to give up their tickets as do the main collective guys.
Empty vessels
Stevie, I live in Ireland. One trip for me to watch a game costs me as much as a season ticket costs for someone living in Glasgow and the surrounding area. So its a big commitment to go to a game for me. As a point of principle, I have not set foot in Celtic Park since October 2024 and the 2-2 draw with Aberdeen. When they sold Kyogo in January of 2025 and did not repapace him, I decided I was not setting foot in Celtic Park again until DD and the rest of the board were gone. I have exiled myself from Celtic Park, despite the fact I loved my trips to games, and still would love to go. Joe McHugh of VideoCelts has not set foot in Celtic Park in years because of the current board. So when you write about us not giving up our season tickets, maybe think before you make assumptions about us bloggers?
Great article Eric and correcg in every respect. I gave up my ST last year. I’m sure Mr Forrest will have his in his wallet. It’s hard to read bloggers and collective members who have renewed. We came to the point of taking a stand, even not attending the club we love a long time ago. They probably just banked £35 to £40m in STs including corporate ones, so a few tops and pies at games won’t make them lose sleep, then add in the player lined up for sale. This summer had to be a ST renewal no no or forget about moaning about the board.
There is going to be little change this summer . We all know that . If that board was serious we’d know by now . So action is needed from the collective and the rest of us to be in unison . Stop buying their merchandise in the way we had been before should make them notice . How much business they have lost will maybe make a difference