CELTIC chief executive Peter Lawwell lambasted his own supporters at an astonishing AGM yesterday for singing songs that embarrass the Parkhead club. In a stinging broadside Lawwell claimed he was dedicated to banning the fans who continue to shame Celtic with IRA chants. But it wasn't the only revelation on a stormy day in Paradise. Lawwell also claimed the Scottish game is on the brink of DEATH due to a chronic lack of television cash. Boss Neil Lennon admitted flop Georgios Samaras is so bad he could get him the SACK. Outgoing chairman John Reid blasted the fans who questioned the absence of principal shareholder Dermot Desmond. And Reid - who saw Celtic win just three trophies out of 12 during his tenure - claimed "restructuring" the SFA was his finest hour. However, it was Lawwell's blast at an element of the Hoops support that attracted most attention. He said: "The people who go to away games and chant in a way that glorifies the Provisional IRA are wrong. They are embarrassing the club and their fellow supporters. "We don't need it. We don't want it. And we'll fight to protect the club's reputation because our own supporters want us to do that. "We were inundated by complaints from our own fans after the recent game at Tynecastle. "We have dealt with it at Celtic Park and will do all we can to make sure it doesn't happen home or away. We have the best supporters in the world and hold that reputation dear." Lawwell's revelation about the grim state of Scottish football also acted as a chilling warning. He said: "The game in this country is headed for extinction in the long term. We're only going one way unless something happens to bring fresh hope and new investment. "But it's difficult to see from this distance where that's coming from. The product we have on the park is not the best and there's no investment in the game to help provide us with a more optimistic environment. "English football receives £1.4billion from TV every year. Scottish football receives just one per cent of that. "The European Clubs Association has been looking at ways of expanding competitions there to increase income but they're getting nowhere fast." Celtic's majority shareholder Desmond once again failed to show up for the AGM and fans questioned his interest in the club he joined at boardroom level 16 years ago. But Reid, who was replaced as chairman by Ian Bankier yesterday, was having none of that and launched a defence of the Irishman. He said: "Dermot is the dominant personality at the club and fans should think carefully about the contribution he has made to Celtic. "We're fortunate to have him at a time when clubs are being bought and sold." Reid's reign coincided with lean times for Celtic on the pitch as Rangers won three titles in a row despite suffering from financial problems. But he claimed progress had been made off the pitch, especially in Celtic's dealings with the SFA. He said: "The SFA has now been reformed and we have achieved our objective so far as that's concerned. All we wanted was accountability and transparency." Reid has also promised that Celtic will keep a careful eye on proposed legislation which both sets of Old Firm fans says criminalises them for songs they sing. He said: "Celtic is an open club and we support legislation that is proportionate, reasonable and likely to work. "But there is existing legislation in place so why hasn't it been applied properly? "We see a real danger in the present proposals for an Offensive Behaviour Bill." Boss Lennon rounded on one shareholder who mocked Greek striker Samaras - but admitted the frustrating player could get him sacked. Lennon said: "I don't like the treatment Samaras gets from some of the fans. But I also know he's the type of player who could get me the sack one day." please log in to view this image
DERMOT DESMOND'S latest no-show at a Celtic AGM prompted a storm of protest from shareholders yesterday. But their anger also prompted outgoing chairman John Reid to warn fans they should be "careful what they wished for" as he responded to criticism of the principal shareholder. When Reid announced from the top table that the Irishman had sent his apologies and asked spokesman Michael Walsh to take his place again, there was groaning and laughter. please log in to view this image Then the capacity crowd of 700 inside the Kerrydale Suite demanded answers over Desmond's non-appearance. One fan, Eddie Toner, asked why the man who dictated club strategy was an absentee when Celtic were "going backwards". And he expressed an opinion on why he thought Desmond had lost interest in the Hoops. "When the move to take the club into England's Premier League fell through he put the tools away," Toner said to loud applause. "Is Mr Desmond ever seen around these parts any more?" It was at that point the big guns were mobilised to back the billionaire. Reid began by saying: "The club has won 17 trophies during the time Dermot has been involved. He spends an incredible amount of time on the club considering the demands on his time on a global basis. "He's in constant communication with Neil (Lennon), Peter (Lawwell) and myself about team and club matters. Globalisation is what's going on in football at the moment and there are some clubs where the owners have no empathy with the team they have bought. "We have to be careful what we wish for and appreciate what we have." Reid was effectively saying Desmond was vital to the club's short to long-term future because of the money he puts in and the absence of any alternative at a time when Scottish football is, commercially, at its lowest ebb. And chief executive Lawwell quantified that financial input at £20m from the time Desmond became a non-executive director at Celtic Park in 1995. He said: "Dermot's interest in Celtic hasn't wavered over the last 16 years." Manager Lennon then waded in with his backing, stating: "Dermot is as passionate about Celtic as I am. We talk once a week about team matters and I can guarantee you he has the best interests of this club at heart. "I spoke to him yesterday and he's always there to give me advice about my behaviour and demeanour. I know that it's all for my benefit." But the shareholders, doubtless angered by the loss of the last three league titles to Rangers and the dubious progress being made to prevent that becoming four in a row, were not convinced. Another fan rose to his feet to say the accounts showed Desmond had taken £50,000 in remuneration for the last year. He asked why the principal shareholder was taking money out of the club while he, an average supporter, was paying £600 annually for a season ticket. Reid again moved to defend the man under attack with a speed Daniel Majstorovic would have envied. He said: "Dermot puts in a lot more than £600. He has devoted tens of millions to the club and fits the identikit of the type of person you would want to have at Celtic. We're well off having someone like him." Custodian Desmond is obliged, as a non-executive director who has been on the board for more than nine years, to stand for re-election on an annual basis. Before the vote to retain him was taken, the chairman's last appearance at the dispatch box turned into a ministerial performance. The man used to high office in government said: "Dermot is a custodian of the club for future generations. "His financial contribution keeps us independent from the banks and other institutions. "You don't need to look very far, and I'm talking about outside Glasgow, to see places where non-football issues can afflict other clubs." But the shareholders are looking for more than just a seat at the top table from Desmond next year. Another one floated the well-received idea that the board should go to the man who is estimated to have a personal wealth of over £1billion and ask for a "soft loan" Celtic could repay in the normal manner. Reid conceded the questioner had made a good point and added: "We'll take on debt if it can be repaid but we're not alone in suffering from the chronic lack of investment in Scottish football. "We think we're doing the right thing by handling our financial affairs as we are doing." Lawwell added: "We're not obsessed by having zero debt but we can't compete at the highest end of the transfer market any more. "Each title loss we've suffered has been painful to take and the current gap between ourselves and Rangers is one we must battle to close. But now is the time when we need unity and not panic." Before Reid made his farewell to the board and to the AGMs that have brought echoes of his days at Westminster, he left a personal calling card. Reid, who will be replaced by Ian Bankier, said: "I'd like to be remembered as somebody who spoke up and fought for Celtic. "The re-structuring of the SFA has been accomplished but I doubt if the SPL is sustainable in its present form. "There is a common problem but is there a common solution? "So far as I'm concerned Celtic have had some success on the field and financial stability off it. The board have been right not to put the club in peril." And yet the unmistakable mood of the shareholders meeting was that they've had enough prudence to last them for a while. Now they want to see a greater commitment to catching up with a Rangers side who were supposed to be in the grip of financial meltdown throughout their championship-winning years. Incidentally, the vote on whether to retain Desmond on the board or not ended in his favour by a 99.5 per cent majority. The fans can shout as much as they like but their club's voting structure means they must respect Desmond's power to remain in office for as long as he sees fit. And his fellow directors clearly believe that's essential to Celtic's well-being.
so if neil lennon gets fired does that mean all the fans are fired as well since they are all neil lennon.
Why would anybody be so interested in their rivals AGM! I'm a Celtic fan and even I can't be arsed reading about it!!! Sad act!
Well done ... You still read it all! It's like the Celtic fans obsessed by Ranger's potential finacial issues! Anyway, I'm ignoring Scottish football today
Another fan rose to his feet to say the accounts showed Desmond had taken £50,000 in remuneration for the last year. He asked why the principal shareholder was taking money out of the club while he, an average supporter, was paying £600 annually for a season ticket. Reid again moved to defend the man under attack with a speed Daniel Majstorovic would have envied. He said: "Dermot puts in a lot more than £600. He has devoted tens of millions to the club and fits the identikit of the type of person you would want to have at Celtic. We're well off having someone like him." --- Nice to see the fans being told "your 600 quid essentially means **** all so shut up"
Have a look at your own club , will you even get to your next agm ??? Another two directors away this morning, one being your greatest ever player !!! John Greig, concentrate on your own problems rather than ours
