As if to rub it in, I received a reminder in the post yesterday about what matters to the Celtic board.
It was a cheque for £18.00.
That is monetary evidence that I weighed in Fergus McCann 30 years ago.
That wasn’t an investment; it was an emotional donation.
However, for those with millions of shares, there isn’t any emotion involved in their shareholding.
There was speculation on various platforms yesterday about how the Celtic Trust meeting on Tuesday night had gone.
I had heard that the event had been about as well-run as our transfer window!
So, I reached out to Duncan Smillie, who had put himself forward to be the new chairperson.
I put two simple questions to him, and here are his answers.
- How was the meeting?
In all honesty, it wasn’t great, the membership has collapsed to <100 members last month. No new shares purchased, it’s a 25-year-old organisation that has the best interest of Celtic and our fans at heart, but for us, there are too many other things going on, and it would take too long to effect change at the club via the Trust. Whilst accepted on as trustees, we withdrew our nominations and wish the Trust nothing but success. They want what we want, but have a different path and timeline.
- What happens now?
There needs to be a new vehicle created with a sole purpose, and that’s to amass control of a significant number of Celtic shares as quickly and efficiently as possible, allowing the fans to effect change in the direction of our club.
Watch this space …
There is palpable anger at the moment among vast swathes of Celtic supporters.
Personally, your humble correspondent hopes that this will not dissipate anytime soon.
Here, Yogi Jnr on ACSOM knocks it out of Celtic Park.
I can attest to the conversation with me that he referenced.
Moreover, I have complete faith in the integrity of my sources.
John’s outrage is authentic and comes from a good place.
Of course, the next stage from getting angry is to get even.
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Not a lot to add except the chosen website operator of The Celtic Trust. Worldpay. Is a nightmare to negotiate. Unable to update card details, a mysterious security code that existed somewhere non specific, etc etc. Got there by rejoining. It just might have a bearing on why the membership is dropping. Especially for people like myself past their sell by date.
Seems the Celtic Trust, whom I’d enormously high hopes for, are about as transparent as The Celtic board.
The variables were known, it seemed like good energy had been created and suddenly we’re left without any explanation as to what went wrong and probably the last great hope of engineering more transparency has went without a whimper.
Didn’t think it was possible to feel more deflated after that transfer shambles.
Determined to ignore the fans and carry on regardless. People are criticising the board but you have to give them some credit. They have been consistently good at blanking the fans. Big changes needed for Celtic to to improve 🙏 🙏🙏
Yes, we are seeing a palpable rage from a sizeable chunk of the fanbase which is worrying. The board appear to have nothing but contempt for anyone that dares to criticise them. Their silence is deafening. Which I think is just ramping up the anger in the support.
Given the on field success the club has enjoyed for decades now, it must all appear a bit strange from the outside. But the nub of what has caused much of the anger in the Celtic support is the lack of transparency and communication from the board towards the fans.
It’s all very well having massive cash reserves and pointing at the trophy cabinet, but supporters want to see progress.
Progress and improvement in Europe, particularly Champions league improvement.
Thats where this board have consistently let the fans down. Happy to be the most successful club in Scotland is not enough for a lot of people anymore.
Everything is pretty much in place for that improvement to take place. Sadly, the people at the club with the power to get the ball rolling in that direction appear to have neither the skill or the willingness to make it happen 😕
Margaret, concise and eloquent…I hope and pray that someone of influence on the Celtic board has read and taken your words to heart. Well said!
Thank you for those kind words HH
Is share dilution being used as a systematic approach to prevent meaningful Fan Shareholdings having an impact or influence?
Anyone know whether regular allocations of equity in the form of new ordinary shares and convertible preferred ordinary shares are the vehicle?
I would have thought having taken the trouble to (a) join the Trust, and (b) nominate themselves as trustees, they would have had a plan to pursue as Trustees. I’m sure everyone in the room was confused by what actually took place. Three successful entrepreneurial businessmen who no doubt had something to offer, and a plan to do something, simply changed their minds, when absolutely nothing else had changed, appears odd. I wish them well in their stated intentions, and look forward to seeing how it pans out in future. Hail Hail
‘A new vehicle created with a sole purpose’. Isn’t that what all the different fan groups in Govan say ? It sometimes seems that there’s a group for each fan there.
I’d prefer to see Duncan et al. work through the existing organisation to affect a change of direction (even if it takes time) than to see another fan group
Thanks Phil. Look forward with hoops to Duncan vehicle.
Think we need a ‘Save our Celts’ v2.
Stop giving them money , it’s the only thing that will gain their attention