Celtic need major overhaul after ‘threats’ from fans – Keith Wyness
Aberdeen’s former chief Keith Wyness has insisted Celtic will have to go further than implement a fan advisory board to appease their supporters.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Aberdeen between 2000 and 2004, had lengthy spells as the chief of Everton and Aston Villa and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed the Parkhead club are in a “unique situation” due to their “very problematic relationship” with the fans.
As per The Herald (11 November), research conducted by the University of Glasgow has revealed that 67 percent of Celtic supporters want to see a Fan Advisory Board in place at the club.
Those surveyed were also unhappy with the club’s level of fan engagement with the supporters feeling it has been average – while one in four say it is either “poor” or “very poor”.
Celtic have enjoyed a period of financial success in recent years and recorded £124.6million in revenue for the 2023-24 campaign – making a profit for another year.
Celtic fan advisory board ‘won’t be enough’, warns Wyness
Wyness warned a fan advisory panel “won’t be enough” to fix the fracture lines between club and supporters.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “The relationship between Celtic and their fanbase has always been very problematic.
“A group called the Green Brigade have been written about many times, along with the north curve – which is made up of different groups.
“It’s a difficult situation revolving around politics, world politics sometimes, and the way the club is run.
“It makes it very hard to have a relationship with those elements of the fanbase.
“A fan advisory board, even if those groups are represented, isn’t going to be enough.
“This is a much bigger issue than that.
“There have been threats in the past. Any normal club would say yes to a fan advisory board, but it’s a unique situation at Celtic which has to be handled right.
“It’s going to be difficult for Celtic but some sort of communication has got to be opened up, because there has been a breakdown in the relationship.
“It’s a complex situation which will take some time to sort out.
“But a normal fan advisory board, I don’t think that’s the answer.”
In other news, “Celtic to land significant windfall” after matching Newcastle deal.
For more Celtic and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.