Desmond Warns Celtic Fans About European Challenges

Ross Desmond has warned Celtic fans not to expect the club to put in any sort of challenge in Europe.

Dermot’s laddie delivered a show stopping speech at Friday’s AGM which forced Peter Lawwell to abandon the event after less than an hour.

Desmond Junior’s main attack was on the Celtic supporters, the next day he was at Murrayfield watching Tonga rather than seeing Celtic face St Mirren.

In among the anger aimed at the 50,000 Season Ticket holders that bank roll Celtic every season Desmond Jnr painted a miserable picture of European prospects.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE YOU’RE HAVING A LAUGH

Last season Celtic delivered 12 points in the Champions League, giving fans a peek at what is possible. Unfortunately that now appears to be a peak. Don’t expect a repeat any time soon, or ever.

Scotland’s plunging co-efficient, led by Celtic is crashing through the floor. An automatic Champions League place isn’t about to reappear.

Celtic have failed to qualify in each of their last five attempts to reach the Champions League.

Against the odds and with Nir Bitton in defence Brendan Rodgers saw off Hapoel Be’er Sheva and Astana in 2016 and 2017.

Prior to that Celtic lost out to Maribor and Malmo. Since seeing off Astana, Celtic have lost to AEK Athens, Cluj, Fernecvaros, Midtjylland and Kairat Almaty.

According to Ross that is just the way it is. Attempting to get the better of clubs like that could throw Celtic back into the financial troubles of the early nineties.

The moment the AGM got a straight Red. #CelticAGM pic.twitter.com/8Ei4nzbfbn
— Glasgow Dave (@glasgowdave571) November 21, 2025

At the AGM Desmond Jnr said:

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.

PROFOUNDLY IRRESPONSIBLE

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.

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.

It is 21 years since Celtic won a UEFA knock out tie. Beating Teplice and Barcelona a few months after Lawwell took over as Chief Executive Officer.

O’Neill was in charge for both of those ties.

No Celtic manager since then has won a knock-out tie in either of the three UEFA competitions.

During that period two Scottish clubs have reached the final of UEFA competitions.

UEFA ALSO RANS

Former Alloa and Clyde manager Barry Ferguson even has a UEFA knock-out win on his CV. Beating Fenerbahce last season despite the changing European football landscape.

Celtic are currently sitting in 59th place in the UEFA coefficient table. This season’s results are unlikely to see them close in on Quarabag, Fernecvaros, PAOK and Viktoria Plzen who are also outside the top 50.

Season Ticket holders were charged £140 for the four match Europa League package. Non Season Ticket holders had to pay out £180. Retrospectively the club offered concession tickets, following the home match lost to Braga.

While Celtic toil in the Europa League with four points from four matches the real action takes place in the Champions League.

QARABAG AND PAFOS

After five matches Qarabag have seven points, Pafos and USG, both competing for the first time have six points.

According to Desmond Jnr it is unrealistic to compete with teams from Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Belgium.

Perhaps Celtic could communicate that message to fans next season when they are pushing European tickets. Basically be careful what you wish for. Delivered on the new club app that Michael Nicholson is so excited by.

If Celtic win the SPFL they will face one qualifier to reach the 26/27 Champions League. The following season the SPFL champions face three qualifying rounds to reach the 36 team phase.