Dublin , Ireland - 7 June 2026; Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond, left, during the friendly match between Shelbourne and Glasgow Celtic at Tolka Park in Dublin. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Last night, I wrote an extensive article on Dermot Desmond’s influence over Celtic.
A bit of it was tongue in cheek, but most of it was ominously based on what I feel his malign influence is doing to Celtic.
But what I didn’t write about last night was the Desmond’s end game.
Now, in business, every business owner has an exit strategy for when things go wrong.
But you get the impression with Dermot Desmond, there will be no exit strategy at Celtic.
As I’ve stated often enough, he will either leave Celtic in a box, or as ashes in the wind.
So, if he has zero intention of ever moving on from Celtic, then what is his end game for the club?
Right now, if you were to try and make sense of what he’s doing, it looks like a scorched earth policy is his end game.
Celtic is on a downward trajectory.
The evidence is there for all to see.
So who steps up and confronts the despot dictator and says that enough, is enough?
Who develops the testicular fortitude to end this shambles?
There have been lots of rumours doing the rounds that Brendan Rodgers and Willie Haughey are forming a take over consortium.
Personally, I find this laughable.
But let’s just play the Devil’s advocate and say it was true
The mere mention that Rodgers is involved in this means that there would be Saudi involvement.
He and Willie Haughey are not just going to find the £130 million+ it would cost to buy Desmond out.
It has to be raised somehow.
Considering where Rodgers is based right now, it’s easy to surmise how and where it would be raised.
The next stumbling block is Desmond himself.
His stake in Celtic, is as I pointed out last night, is pocket change to him
Rodgers and Haughey would need to up the ante seriously to get him to even consider budging.
So, they would not be acquiring Desmond’s shares at market value.
They would have to pay way above it.
The next stumbling block is Rodgers himself.
I think it’s fair to say that Desmond can’t stand the guy.
His statement on Rodgers last October tells us this much.
So if he knows Rodgers is involved, he’ll laugh in the face of something like that.
Now, I’m not saying that the Haughey/Rodgers rumour is true, all I’m pointing out are the stumbling blocks.
Any bid to take over the club is going to face fierce resistance from Desmond
No matter who is involved.
So, where does this end?
As I alluded to earlier, we can already see that Celtic is on a rapid downward trajectory.
It is clear that Desmond will not listen to sense from anyone.
He is adamant that things will be done his way, or no way at all.
A takeover bid, no matter who attempts it, isn’t on the cards.
Desmond simply won’t allow it.
He has Celtic in a death grip, and he has no intention of letting it go.
At this point in time, I’m beginning to think that a scorched earth policy is his intention.
I’m not seeing evidence of anything else, unfortunately.
The only other solution is that somebody inside the walls of Celtic Park grows balls and takes Desmond to task.
I don’t see that happening any time soon, do you?
Didn’t think so.
Key Takeaways
- The article discusses Dermot Desmond’s negative influence on Celtic, suggesting he lacks an exit strategy for the club.
- It posits that Desmond may be pursuing a scorched earth policy, leaving Celtic in decline.
- Rumours of Brendan Rodgers and Willie Haughey forming a takeover consortium seem far-fetched due to financial and personal hurdles.
- Desmond’s indifference towards market value indicates any potential buyout would require significant overpayment.
- The article concludes that any takeover attempt will face substantial resistance from Desmond, regardless of who leads it.
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Fuck off with this bullshit every fucking day
Clueless broken record playing
The act you think £130M will buy Desmond out hahaha ‘MUG’
Read the article, I did NOT state that £130 million would buy him out. I said that was the value of his stake holding in the club, and that it would take a hell of a lot MORE than that to buy him out. Before you go mouthing off, actually be clear on what it is you’re mouthing off about!