Celtic board under fire as fans’ group brands leadership negligent
Celtic face growing pressure from an organised supporters’ group that has issued a brief but strongly worded statement.
A group of Celtic supporters has issued a strong public call for changes at the top of the club, accusing the current board of “negligence” and demanding that key figures step aside.
The Fans Collective released a detailed statement on Monday evening, describing the January transfer window as “another failure” and warning that allowing the present hierarchy to lead a summer rebuild would be irresponsible. The message was aimed directly at the club’s leadership, with particular focus on chief executive Michael Nicholson.
Celtic are deep into the winter window with limited movement, sitting third in the Premiership, and asking interim manager Martin O’Neill to rescue a season already knocked off course. Supporters feel they have seen this pattern before: slow planning, missed opportunities, and promises that are not backed up by action.
The statement laid out a list of grievances built up over recent months rather than reacting to a single bad result. Fans highlighted what they see as repeated poor decision-making, from recruitment to the handling of managerial changes, and argued that trust in the board has broken down.
Celtic board under fire as fans’ group brands leadership negligent
CEO Michael Nicholson’s own words have become a central part of the criticism. In November, he admitted Celtic had fallen short in the summer window and accepted responsibility. At the time, many supporters took that as an honest assessment and a sign that lessons would be learned. Since then, results and decisions have convinced a growing number that nothing has changed.
The handling of the period after Brendan Rodgers’ exit remains a flashpoint. Celtic went into European qualifiers underprepared, delayed the appointment of a permanent manager through important fixtures and a cup final, and eventually turned to Wilfried Nancy in a move that never seemed to fit. The subsequent slump in performances and the League Cup final defeat have been folded into the wider case against the board.
Removing Nancy and Paul Tisdale was seen as necessary, but many fans believe it happened too late to be decisive. By the time O’Neill was brought in to steady the team, the January window was already underway without a clear recruitment plan. Two loan deals so far are viewed as far short of what is needed to support a manager tasked with salvaging the season.
The Fans Collective argued that turning to O’Neill, a respected figure, while failing to fully back him in the market is another sign of short-term thinking. Supporters point to a thin squad, mounting injuries, and a title race slipping away as evidence of structural problems rather than bad luck.
