Watch as Ross Desmond lectures Celtic shareholders on how to behave

Ross Desmond delivered an incredible speech at the Celtic AGM that brought the meeting to an end after less than an hour. Peter Lawwell quickly pulled the plug, from the opening of the meeting the Chairman was uncomfortable.

Yes there was some heckling, booing, red cards raised but nothing more. There were no threats, very little swearing. Drinks were taken off shareholders as they passed security to gain entry to the meeting.

After one bout of jeering Lawwell called a 30 minute adjournment. Only 10 minutes was required, possibly five.

CHAIRMAN PETE

The Chairman chairs the AGM, he decides on what happens, who speaks, the order of events.

Fans and shareholders are used to contempt and patronising. What they got today from Ross Desmond was off the radar.

It is well over a decade since his Dad attended an AGM. Ross has been in attendance at the last few, saying nothing except confirming the family intention never to sell up their 34.5% stake.

The statement from Ross was a joint one, Daddy wrote it with Ross delivering. There was no element of AI about it, no Chat GPT. It was spite, anger and incendiary, clearly Dermot has been thinking a lot while out on the golf course. The tone was similar to the October 27 statement about Brendan Rodgers.

GENERATION GAMES

Any notion that the second Desmond generation might be more in touch with the fans and ethos of Celtic was killed off.

Ross Desmond was angry as he read out his Dad’s comments. The hecklers from earlier in the meeting were outraged.

Celtic are apparently brilliantly run, delivering success. Europe is a step too far, the landscape has changed since 2003.

Emulating what Club Brugge and Copenhagen manage on a regular basis would put the future of Celtic at risk.

Even more of a threat to the club than German and Belgian tax regulations.

THE FALKIRK ASSAULT

It was incredible stuff. When Desmond Jr turned to the Falkirk ‘assault’ almost every heckler got involved.

Lawwell was delighted. With that the meeting was over. The one hour a year of accountability was denied to shareholders.

Fortunately for the Board they have Martin O’Neill holding the club together. If he decides that it is time to step away it really will be carnage.

Having a Chairman roar BEHAVE at shareholders isn’t a strategy.

Ross Desmond lecture in full:

Times of challenge call for unity and understanding, as well as honest responses to reasonable questions. Yet there are those out there who seem to lie in wait for any opportunity and any small opening to stir up toxicity around the club.

Let me start by dispensing with the absurd caricature some people spread about my father and state some of his Celtic credentials. He’s a passionate and lifelong Celtic supporter.

HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL AND THRIVING

He first put money into Celtic more than 30 years ago when Fergus McCann asked him for help, he became the principal shareholder when Fergus sold out, and he took on the responsibility that came with that. He wants the club to be healthy, successful and still thriving decades and even centuries from now.

The board shares those desires, and that’s why the board respects financial reality. We act prudently, not recklessly. Those who accuse the club of hoarding cash or being in it for the money display a deep misunderstanding of financial responsibility.

The board’s fiduciary duty of care is to the shareholders, to the supporters and to the future of this club. We don’t declare dividends to distribute surplus cash to ordinary shareholders as many other businesses do. Cash is retained and used to sustain and develop our club.

MAINTAIN STRONG RESERVES (MONEY)

As Chris (McKay) explained in the video, Celtic must maintain strong reserves and contingencies to protect against unforeseen circumstances. That financial strength is what gives us independence, stability and the ability to make our own decisions and not be beholden to anyone else.

Those who talk about the club not having kicked on in Europe since 2003 ignore the enormous change in the financial landscape of football in that period.

It has created a gap which keeps growing and challenges any club playing in a smaller European league. Most supporters understand that. Of course, clubs can still punch above their financial weight, and we should aspire to that. But if you swing and miss, you risk the very stability of the club, and that would be profoundly irresponsible.

CELTIC IN JEOPARDY

The financial independence of this club was jeopardised in the mid-1990s and we must never allow ourselves to fall into that position again. We constantly strive to improve, to become more competitive and to go deeper into Europe, and there’s no doubt we get things wrong and we make mistakes, and we try to learn from them. Our model is far from perfect, but for the most part, it has served this club well over the past 20 years.

So we will not be bullied by aggressive or irrational factions. We will not be railroaded by those whose only vocation in life is to be anti-establishment and by those who try to degrade the club. Our focus is on what matters: improving this club step-by-step, systematically, without ever risking its future. Improving recruitment, investing in data analytics, upgrading facilities, enhancing the stadium and trying to make Celtic stronger in every way.

Criticism and advice are welcome and the right of every supporter, but some of what we have seen recently is not constructive, it is destructive and cynical. All it does is strengthen our resolve to protect the integrity and stability of Celtic Football Club. Our board, led by Peter, and our executive, led by Michael, are dedicated to the Celtic people.

SHAMEFUL

The attempts to dehumanise and vilify them are shameful. These are people with families; they love the club every bit as much as anyone here, and when we are not performing, they suffer just as much as anyone. They work tirelessly, often under intense pressure. They do an outstanding job for this club, and we are very lucky to have them.

Of course, we are not blind to our shortcomings. We can communicate better, we can recruit better, we can compete better, but we will do it responsibly, sustainably and always in the best interest of Celtic.

Celtic was founded as a club open to all, and we have a tradition of having the greatest fans in the world. We must now protect that reputation that was created over generations.

The behaviour of certain sections increasingly brings the club and its fanbase into disrepute. The incident a few weeks ago at the Falkirk match was symptomatic of wider problems. These people are bullies, and they try to hijack the good name of Celtic supporters. We cannot allow them to define who we are. I’m well aware of the target I put on my back when I say this.