AGM, buys, refs and new reveal on ownership
Brendan Rodgers reclaimed some of his territory disputed by conspiracy theorists at yesterday’s AGM. The manager explained how transfers worked at Celtic, insisting, “it’s really no different here to most clubs.”
The coaches identify the profile of players required, the scouts create a shortlist, and the manager makes the final decision. Notions than Brendan would take a job under any other circumstances are for the fairies.
Refereeing standards are often raised at these occasions and yesterday was no different. Michael Nicholson explained the club are in regular contact with the SFA over the issue and that there is a meeting today on the subject.
The biggest reveal of the day was from Ross Desmond, director and son of major shareholder, Dermot, who said, “My father grew up a huge Celtic fan. We don’t consider ourselves as shareholders, we are custodians. In his lifetime and mine, we will not sell the club.”
We have never heard this intention before. Dermot has been a major investor in the club for 29 years. Now in his 70s, some of us wondered what his exit strategy would be. I know there are some who would like to see him sell up, but honestly, the potential outcomes there are unedifying. God save us from the ‘All we need to do is invest properly’, the debating society revolutionaries, or the ‘I can bring the club into the 21st century’ types.