Despite a busy week as Chairman of Celtic Brian Wilson managed to fire out another Scotsman column warning of the impeding doom of an SNP Government.
After 19 years in government the SNP are on course to retain power at Holyrood in May elections.
Like the Labour Party, Wilson has had his day.
Celtic get no benefit from his presence on the club board, currently as Interim Chairman. Effectively as CEO with Michael Nicholson again hiding behind his £17,000 a week salary.
Wilson and Tom Allison have been on the Celtic gravy train for a combined 45 years. Their contribution is hard to define. They joined the board with a modern 60,000 seater stadium.
Today Celtic Park is outdated and rundown. There is no running hot water outside of the hospitality areas.
The toilets in the South Stand are basically a trough in the ground. They are unchanged since construction in 1971.
WHAT DOES BRIAN WILSON DO FOR CELTIC?
With that background Wilson has been the voice of Celtic since January 1.
Apparently he was unable to reply to emails in January from the Green Brigade and Collective since he was busy with transfer activity.
On Sunday he watched players and staff being attacked on the pitch at Ibrox. He watched flares being launched into the Broomloan Road Stand.
It took the Celtic Chairman until Thursday night to fudge an interview saying nothing in particular. Meanwhile he was penning another Scotsman masterpiece.
How the Middle East oil crisis exposes SNP’s false claims about independence https://t.co/ErjDOPZVux
— The Scotsman (@TheScotsman) March 14, 2026
Guess who is the author of that opinion piece?
Well the Chairman of Celtic.
With the club in a delicate position with Police Scotland it isn’t the smartest move to have the Interim Chairman taking another public shot at the Scottish Government.
Whether Wilson likes it or not the SNP are the party of government in Scotland.
Despite a system of Proportional Representation aimed at preventing one party from dominating SNP has been in power since 2007.
At the May Holyrood elections Labour and their Better Together Tory partners are battling it out for 3/4th place.
THE SCOTSMAN COLUMNIST
In a premium Scotsman article behind a paywall Wilson states:
How the Middle East oil crisis exposes SNP’s false claims about independence
Devolution can only work when Scotland’s two governments are prepared to work together, and the SNP’s antics show they are not
There was something quite nostalgic this week when the price of Brent oil teetered around the $100 a barrel mark, with every likelihood of going higher as the Iranians decline to roll over and play dead.
It is the sort of article that Wilson publishes at least once a year.
How an oil rich nation is on the brink of economic collapse. Maybe like Norway or the UAE?
In his bland, non-committal Celtic TV interview Wilson sounded every inch the politician:
It is unfortunate that the events after the game have, to some extent, detracted or overshadowed the actual result and the fantastic spirit and resilience that our players showed in achieving it, and also the management skills of Martin (O’Neill) and his team.
My response is that I was disappointed by the comments of the Chief Constable because Celtic work very closely with Police Scotland. We respect the role of the Safety Advisory Group, and when there is evidence of unacceptable behaviours, we act against both individuals and groups. All of that is well on the record.
WILSON AVOIDS THEREAL ISSUES
I think that measuring responses by condemnatory statements is not very accurate. If this could be resolved by statements of condemnation, it would have been resolved decades ago. Actions matter, and the way that we as a club handle these experiences, and the way others handle these experiences. If you are going to ask for condemnation, you have to be more specific. There are certainly things which I would happily condemn and regret.
The highest profile aspect of this was after the penalty went in and Celtic had won. What you had there was a euphoric response from our supporters. It is not uncommon; it has happened on quite numerous occasions this season alone in Scottish football, where you have an overspill onto the pitch, and that in itself does not normally draw expressions of condemnation.
Therefore, what I would say about that is that I welcome the SFA’s intention to have a full inquiry. Let us look at the evidence. If there is evidence of violence or threats of violence, then of course I will condemn that, but let us look at the evidence before we create a false narrative.
Not a single word on the attacks on Julian Araujo or a Celtic staff member. On the pitch in front of the Directors Box where Wilson was seated.
No mention of media distortion such as STV blaming Celtic fans for damage to the Broomloan Road Stand.
Those actions followed a pattern that Celtic have refused to comment on.
IBROX ROLL OF SHAME
No action or charges have been taken by the SFA or SPFL for a catalogue of incidents at Ibrox involving Celtic players.
- April 2022 glass mysteriously appears in Joe Hart’s penalty box. No one noticed a bottle being thrown. Ibrox ground-staff were in the penalty area during the half time break.
- April 2022 Physio Daniel Friel is permanently disfigured by a glass thrown by a corporate client
- March 2024 A full glass bottle is thrown at Matt O’Riley
- January 2025 Arne Engels is hit in the face by a missile while taking a corner.
- May 2025 Vil Sinisalo has a full glass bottle and other missiles thrown at him.
Today, at home to Motherwell the Green Brigade will again be suspended.
They were suspended by Celtic in November, not by the Safety Advisory Group.
Wilson made his first plea for unity on January 5 when Martin O’Neill returned as interim manager. He hasn’t delivered unity at any level.
5 Comments
by BJF
To be fair he is right about the SNP, glad he got something right.
by Editor
Wilson is a unionist dinosaur, just like the party that he supporters and pushes at every turn.
He should head to the House of Lords with some old buddies and scrounge off the expenses scam down there.
by Dan Tinney
That might be yours and Brian Wilson’s opinion by it it’s not all Celtic Fans opinion and I am sure BW would like to see politics kept out of Football when the Palestinian flags fly why not now ?
by Stevie
Exactly
by Stevie
Ask Wilson him about Labour PFI which we’re still paying to this day.
Illegal wars maybe when he goes he’ll be keeping Thatcher company.