Michael Nicholson got a front row view as Celtic fans halted the match at Dundee for three minutes in their protests against the hoops board.
The club CEO sat silently alongside Chris McKay as an array of small bouncing balls were launched onto the pitch from behind the goal with the away supporters.
MEETING AND MINUTES
Today’s match was the first since Nicholson and McKay met with supporters groups led by the Celtic Fans Collective.
By all accounts the meeting was a complete disaster. The contempt of the board was demonstrated in every answer and comment from the Celtic executives.
The highlight of that was when Nicholson was questioned about club signings during the summer. Minutes approved by both sides noted that ‘MN shrugged his shoulders’.
That could be a summary of his four years picking up a salary as CEO.
On Thursday night the Collective held an open meeting at Grace’s for the 400 plus groups that have signed up to their requests.
NOT ANOTHER PENNY
Following the meeting the Not Another Penny campaign was launched- urging fans to end all purchases other than match tickets.
Celtic published some gloating social media posts on Friday in reaction to that campaign. Echoing the sneering contempt displayed by Nicholson and McKay in their face to face meeting with fans.
A front row view for our world class CEO. pic.twitter.com/o07Te0XoYN
— Celtic365 (@Celtic_365) October 19, 2025
Once the game restarted Celtic turned in the worst performance of a troubled season.
The result and performance didn’t come as a surprise to anyone that has been watching the team this season.
In defence Celtic are vulnerable, the midfield is predictable, in attack they are laboured and limited.
Dundee scored in the 17th minute through a Clark Robertson header from a corner. Shortly before half-time they broke from the edge of their penalty area with the ball ending up in the Celtic net off Cameron Carter-Vickers.
At half time Celtic changed shape, during the second half substitutions were made but they failed to find the net. The sixth goal-less game this season.
Nicholson say smugly through the match, after a close up during the protests the Sky Sports cameras steered clear of the Celtic CEO.
Supporters aren’t so forgiving. With Peter Lawwell probably enjoying another break in Portugal the focus is on Nicholson, something he dislikes intensely.
CEO ON MUTE
Only Celtic would appoint a CEO who refuses to even use the club’s in-house media options to speak to supporters.
There are a variety of reasons for that stance. He is underwhelming on a good day, has no people skills and little to add other than the comical ‘world class ambitions’.
In the summer of 2018 Lawwell put in place a managed decline strategy, he got away with it that season. He preened himself at a £9m surplus from swapping Rodgers for Neil Lennon with a third of the season left to play.
Nicholson has overstepped the mark. His ‘managed’ decline looks to be out of control.
WHAT MANAGED DECLINE LOOKS LIKE
From the moment that he sanctioned the sale of Kyogo Furuhashi in January Celtic have been in sharp decline.
The Allianz Arena in February was the last hurrah for the squad, not the launchpad for more.
Starving the manager of investment has backfired, the team is suffering. The squad is thick on quantity, thin on quality. By Nicholson’s design.
Four outfield players signed in the summer were left out of the Europa League squad. Every week they become less useful. Asked about club signings by supporters Nicholson shrugged his shoulders.
Asked about refereeing decisions he jokes ‘penalty to Rangers’.
His lack of ability and leadership has created the Celtic Fans Collective.
Results like today give the Collective further momentum.
This week we should see the full accounts for the 24/25 season, revealing the payments made to Nicholson and McKay.
The date of the AGM will be set. Some awkward questions and follow ups with be asked of the smirking CEO who has no place left to hide.
All Celtic Fans Against The Board pic.twitter.com/1xDaG8j3iW
— Seán (@Sean_FTB) October 19, 2025
