Celtic board accused of 'condescending' approach to fans as powerbrokers urged to rid themselves of two things
The ‘arrogance’ of the board has been criticised by a former Celtic and St Mirren striker.
Andy Walker has called upon the Celtic board to change their tune as he accuses them of being ‘condescending’ towards the Parkhead faithful.
The ongoing feud between sections of the Hoops support and the club’s hierarchy has been prevalent all season long. Whether it be down to Celtic’s failure to recruit in the transfer windows or the ban on fan group, the Green Brigade, protests have been aplenty at in the East End of Glasgow, Chants of ‘sack the board’ can be heard at nigh on every home game.
Celtic’s abandoned AGM in November was a prime example of an incident where supporters were feeling their voices weren’t being heard. As Ross Desmond was reading out a statement on behalf of his father Dermot, the club’s major shareholder, Peter Lawwell decided to draw the meeting to a close prematurely due to ‘disruption’. The animosity towards the board from large sections of the support still remains.
Walker blasts Celtic board’s ‘arrogance’
Speaking on Go Radio, Walker said: “I think just in a general sense Celtic as a club would do well to get rid of their arrogance and their condescending tone when they speak to supporters. And I know they’ve got some difficult supporters to deal with … but by and large – and you saw it at the AGM – the arrogance and the condescending tone that shone through – and it has been going on far too long.”
The fan protests stem all the way back to Celtic’s Champions League qualifiers at the start of the season when they were defeated by Kazakhstan minnows Kairat Almaty on penalties under Brendan Rodgers. The board at that stage were accused of not backing the manager financially after cashing in on the likes of Matt O’Riley and Nicolas Kuhn in previous window, but not replacing them.
Celtic Fans Collective have been the main instigators of the protests over the past nine months. It was them who established the ‘Not Another Penny’ campaign in October to try and discourage fans from buying club merchandise, as well as keeping their money in their pockets on matchdays.
Hoops protests continue at Tannadice
Following Celtic’s 2-0 defeat away to Dundee United on Sunday, the police were forced to protect board members in attendance at Tannadice as fans vented their frustrations. Chief executive, Michael Nicholson, chief financial officer, Chris McKay and interim chairman, Brian Wilson were all on the receiving end of backlash from the away support.
Sky Sports pundit James McFadden believes that if the club’s current form continues, there will be not let up for the board any time soon. He commented: “If you are not winning games it's not going to go away. They are frustrated, and it hasn't been good enough."
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