Top 3 takeaways why Michael Nicholson must be sacked

After three days on hold Celtic finally agreed to the release of Minutes from Monday’s meeting. The real Michael Nicholson finally revealed.

Details had been widely leaked, fans that had attended the meeting had been speaking on podcasts such as ACSOM.

After four years in hiding Celtic put CEO Nicholson in the spotlight. It wasn’t a pretty sight as he fumbled and deflected his way through the most awkward day in his career. Another endorsement for the Collective and their criticism of the club.

To the majority of Celtic fans the club is a shambles as highlighted by five successive failures in Champions League qualifiers.

THE ISSUES PILE UP

There is a small rump of deluded fans. They can be found on Celtic Thick News and the Happy Clappers Loyal on Facebook.

Almost universally the bonkers club statement on September 6 has been condemned.

There is a very good chance that the majority of it was generated by Chat GPT.

That statement turned to Financial Sustainability Regulations to explain Celtic’s transfer failings. Almost every club in UEFA will be sanctioned before Celtic get a slap on the wrist.

Nicholson did take ownership for the statement- incredibly he claimed that some supporters backed the 1030 word shambles.

Page 3 of the Minutes stated:

MN then addressed the statement released on behalf of the Celtic plc Board dated Saturday 07 September 2025, which was intended to address some of the specific issues discussed at the preceding meetings. MN and CMcK acknowledged that the statement was not well received, noting that this further highlights the importance of having these discussions with supporters to provide further context. The meeting also acknowledged more general concerns regarding the tone and delivery of the statement and how this was viewed by supporters as insulting. MN confirmed that this was not the intention of the statement. MN reminded CFC that they do not speak for all supporters and confirmed that some supporters defended the Club statement. When asked why there was no signature on the statement, MN declared this was normal practice and the statement was released on behalf of the board.

The statement was issued on Saturday September 6, not the 7th. Small point but typical.

Of course the small group of Happy Clappers praised the statement. They are conditioned to do that for every club communication.

COLLECTIVE MOMENTUM

The Collective has never claimed to speak for all fans but within a month the open letter was backed by over 400 supporter groups and fan media outlets.

Every normal commercial business would sit up and recognise that sort of development.

When senior figures at the club spoke to a friend of Roger Hannah it struck a very raw nerve. The Sun is a long term media partner of Celtic.

Brendan Rodgers described it as cowardly, Nicholson is too busy to investigate the incident!

Page 8 of the Minutes reports:

MGe raised serious concerns regarding the alleged leak to The Sun, and it was suggested this was a grave breach of trust and professionalism. The Club was asked to address this following the summer transfer window, which the Football Manager had commented on publicly. When asked why no formal investigation had been launched. MN noted that allegation was based on an unnamed source allegedly speaking to an unnamed source at the Club. There is a lot of speculation printed in the tabloid press. The matter had been discussed with the Board and with the Football Manager and the matter was closed. CMcK said all board members had been asked about the article, and there was no basis for further investigation. CMcK also mentioned that the newspaper source was a ‘senior figure’ which may not necessarily have been a board member. The Football Manager confirmed that the matter was closed in his next press conference. MN noted that the Board understands the importance of confidentiality. When asked why the Club had not taken legal action against the newspaper, MN confirmed that the Club would not take legal action in relation to speculation and said that the Club was “busy enough as it is”. CFC reps argued that this approach was dismissive of a concern of fans.

And then there is the club signings foisted on Rodgers.

Four summer signings were left out of the Europa League squad of 24.

This is the weakest, worst balanced Celtic squad in a decade. Shin Yamada, Hayato Inamura, Callum Osmond and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey have been added to the wage bill with no role to play in the Europa League.

Page 7 of the Minutes reports:

The Club were asked to confirm who is responsible for conducting football transfers – including if the Chief Executive and CFO were directly involved in the same. Supporter Groups also sought confirmation as to who ‘values’ players and agrees commercial terms.

CMcK explained that a multi-disciplinary approach is taken. This approach is led by the football department who identify players, with the executive team concluding transactions. This was noted by MN as not being unusual within football clubs. JG asked if the football manager sanctioned all signings, MN confirmed that he did.

MGe asked why the Manager referred to some signings as ‘club signings’ – MN shrugged his shoulders.

When your £1m a year CEO has ran out of excuses he shrugs his shoulders!

On October 15 the Collective will hold another meeting, The next day Celtic release their latest Adidas lifestyle range.

Adidas are about to discover that the Celtic support is no longer the gullible cash cow that they have been until now.

A thorough review of Monday’s meeting from Paul of the Collective who attended Monday’s meeting.