Duncan Smillie is a lifelong Celtic supporter and, like many of us, he’s made the pilgrimage to Stadio Nacional.
He has enjoyed a successful international business career with several senior roles as CEO and MD. He has experience in the UK Plc arena, sport, and currently works as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman.
Duncan is standing for election to the Celtic Trust next month, and I put the following questions to him.
His answers are in italics.
Duncan, you’re standing for election to the Celtic Trust at the upcoming AGM on September 2nd. Why?
It is clear to me more than ever that Celtic fans and small shareholders need a vehicle to get on board with, and the Celtic Trust is the perfect vehicle. On a personal level, I have the passion, bandwidth and experience to help the Trust reposition, grow and enfranchise those thousands of fans that need a single banner to stand behind.
You are a former co-owner of the Glasgow Rocks pro basketball franchise, which was in 2020. What lessons did you learn from that time that might help you in this new role?
There is no money in UK Pro basketball, no TV deal, no league sponsorship, so 100% of your income was generated from fans and sponsors. The only way to make the franchise successful was to engage with the fan base, maintain total transparency through communications, and bring them fully inside the tent. It was their club, and we, as owners, were lucky enough to be custodians. The bottom line is that without engaged fans who feel valued, it fails – it’s that simple.
When you were the chair of Partick Thistle FC, you oversaw the transfer of a controlling interest in the club to The Jags Trust. Are there any lessons there for the Celtic Trust?
Football fan ownership is difficult; to think otherwise is simply wrong. It is not impossible, but it is complex; fan-owned does not necessarily mean fan-run. It is easy for fans to criticise the incumbent owners/leaders, but an appreciation of the complexities is required. Ultimately, fans/owners/shareholders all want what’s best for their club. The key for any group looking to have more influence or control is to work together under one group and seek constructive engagement. Never give up, no matter how many times you think your voice or message is not being heard; it’s YOUR club.
If you’re elected, you’ve stated that you intend, with colleagues, to oversee and develop a “growth plan” for The Celtic Trust. What does that growth plan look like?
A clear repositioning of the Trust with a concise message and process to onboard fans and small shareholders. Offer a simple, affordable membership scheme running parallel to a service that helps find the “untraced shares” sat in scrolls in people’s drawers from when they (or their parents, grandparents, etc) stepped up to get behind the Fergus McCann share issue. The Trust will reactivate those shares; fans can keep them or sell them to the Trust to increase the Trust’s shareholding. We would also go all out to act as a proxy for other shareholders who want to stand behind the fans via the Trust.
It is estimated that as much as 15-20% of the club’s shares are currently unaccounted for. Just think about that for a second: 20%! Even if it’s just half of that, imagine fans controlling over 10% of the club’s shares, giving them the power to effect change and call an EGM. If not us, then someone needs to do this, but we believe we can add immense value to the process, thereby accelerating growth.
We would look to increase the current membership of the Trust very quickly to several thousand, and believe the momentum will be with us, the Trust will become the vehicle fans are crying out for to get behind. The Trust is the soapbox to stand on outside Celtic Park.
Discover more from Phil Mac Giolla Bháin
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I have a small token number of Celtic shares purchased in memory of my dear grandfather and daddy. Family who were there almost at the start of the Celtic story. There must be many such shares that, if rounded up, would make a difference to OUR club’s wellbeing.
I would gladly put these shares at the disposal of any organisation intent on reigning in the corporatists who are abusing Celtic’s great legacy. Can Mr Smillie please organise this initiative with some concrete action beyond fine words and vague aspirations, for the voiceless Celts who are apparently being mis,led by the present ‘custodians’.
Professor Michael O’Neill, Nottingham
What does ” I have the bandwidth ” mean?
Good luck with getting me and others “fully inside the tent”…good to know you are full of “passion, bandwidth and experience”
Anything that would galvanise the support and effect the required change in the attitude of the current board would be a good thing for the future of the club. Something is badly needed in my humble opinion HH
He’s certainly got all the corporate buzzwords and phrases but is this what Celtic fans are crying out for?
It seems the exact same position that David Low had when he was the Chair of the Trust; increased visibility, ‘drive for five’ (% of total shareholding) by finding ‘lost’ shares and shareholders and purchasing more etc.
It didn’t work with the Trust website last updated last year and shareholding at 0.15%.
I support the Trust’s aims and objectives but concrete, realistic plans and not fine words are required and I’m hearing nothing that hasn’t been tried and failed in the past.
I tried a few years ago to engage with the trust . They neither answered my calls or got back to me regarding my shareholding. Their loss.
I feel your frustration. N
Duncan is the voice we need to take on the board Phil.
At last,someone with sound judgement and experience is willing to get involved,he has my support