Celtic have ‘queue of buyers’ to agree takeover deal, Dermot Desmond ‘sick of the hostility’
The Celtic board may be thinking about selling the club amid the constant protests by supporters this season.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen and Everton and Aston Villa chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who states that Celtic will not be short of offers if they put themselves up for sale.
Celtic’s AGM was abandoned due to continued disruption by fans who want to see more ambition and accountability from the ownership.
Brendan Rodgers resigned as Celtic manager after a frustrating summer transfer window, with the club set to appoint Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy as his successor.
A ‘never-ending story’ continues at Celtic
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – thinks Nancy should demand backing by the Celtic board when he becomes manager.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness though doesn’t believe that will happen and that the club could continue to face unrest from the fans.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “He’s [Wilfried Nancy] going to need some sort of strengthening. But whether he’s got, as I say, the power, the strength of personality, and the ability to challenge the owners and the board straight away, that’s going to be interesting.
“And actually, I think he needs to. But I don’t know if he will. And so I think we’re going to see that issue sort of scrabble on until the summer. If he does well, they win the league, they get some cups, then he’s going to have to get backed by the board. But then we’re back into the same situation that Brendan was in.
“Will they release the purse strings? So the never-ending story goes on and maybe it’s time that Celtic look to change the board. Maybe that’s something Dermot Desmond’s getting the message that maybe he should be thinking about selling up.
“Maybe the fans are right in this case that maybe it is time to change the style of real ownership and management of the club. And I think Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond must be getting fed up with this sort of continual sniping at them, more than sniping, mean, outright hostility.
“And they don’t really need it in their time of lives right now. So maybe they are thinking about selling out and I’m sure there’ll be a queue of buyers for Celtic right now. So let’s not discount that option completely.”
Wilfried Nancy work permit issues
Interim manager Martin O’Neill will continue in the dugout against Dundee due to an issue with Nancy’s work permit.
Nancy now looks set to take charge of his first Celtic game against leaders Hearts, who beat the Hoops 3-1 at Tynecastle earlier in the season.
Celtic picked up a vital 2-1 win at Hibs whilst Hearts drew 0-0 at Motherwell last time out, so the Hoops could end the week top of the Scottish Premiership table.