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Celtic fans furious at SPFL announcement – ‘This has to be a joke’

Correspondent AUTHORITY Football journalist with experience at the Edinburgh Evening News and GRV Media; Masters graduate from the University of Derby. FOCUS Scottish Premiership coverage with specialist knowledge of Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Aberdeen, and Motherwell. THE INSIGHT Jack utilises a network of club and industry contacts across the Scottish Premiership to deliver verified, high-speed reporting. He provides the tactical and transfer insight behind the headlines to ensure fans get the full story as it happens.

Published on:

10 Jun 2026, 5:03 pm

Celtic fans have been left baffled after it was revealed that their chief executive, Michael Nicholson, was voted onto the SPFL board.

The 50-year-old will replace former Rangers CEO Patrick Stewart, who was dismissed at the Old Firm club in November, the SPFL announced.

All 42 clubs voted on seven representatives ahead of the new campaign, with Nicholson getting in despite his shaky relationship with the Celtic fanbase.

Upon the news breaking on Wednesday, Hoops fans were far from happy, believing he did not deserve this new position.

Many Celtic supporters have been critical of Nicholson’s lack of communication at Parkhead.

Nicholson was originally appointed as the Hoops’ CEO in December 2021 after impressing in the interim role.

Michael Nicholson elected onto SPFL board

Nicholson will now join Malcolm McPherson from Hibernian and Phyllis Carroll at Kilmarnock as the Scottish Premiership representatives on the board.

The Celtic CEO will now oversee both duties at the club and the SPFL board ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

However, once the news broke, Hoops fans were quick to take to X to express their disgust at such a revelation.

Celtic fans had often clashed with the board this season due to their declining form, with Nicholson being one person who was consistently criticised.

This has to be a joke. If this is true then this utterly useless, inept, incompetent wage-thief isn’t going anywhere. Ergo, our club isn’t going anywhere. Nothing has been learned. Zero accountability.
— BC (@stromunde) June 10, 2026

Hope HD does a better job for the SFA than he has done at Celtic. A DDesmond puppet.
— Mic G Banks (@MicGBanks1) June 10, 2026

We are never getting rid of this coward
— campbell 53 andrew🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@campR13ska) June 10, 2026

That’ll be him going nowhere🤔

Some things change, but Celtic never do🍀
— TheHoops🍀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇹 (@67_Celtic_1888) June 10, 2026

What an utter joke , guys an imposter
— Paul D (@kerrygold63) June 10, 2026

You've got to respect the hustle, it's not enough to get one job and not do anything, now he can have two jobs and not do anything.
— Frank Castle (@FrankCastleMilk) June 10, 2026

Why, he’s a useless muppet
— buzz Litebhoy (@buzzlitebhoy) June 10, 2026

Chris Sutton hits out at Celtic board as fans face 'unpalatable situation'

Will Celtic’s board and supporters clash again in the 2026-27 campaign?

Despite the Hoops winning the domestic double this season, tensions remain high between the board and the supporters.

Reports that Celtic were talking to Robbie Keane over a potential managerial appointment saw massive backlash online last week.

This was only squashed after reports suggested that Martin O’Neill would stay on for the upcoming campaign. However, this is yet to be officially announced.

Former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness exclusively told Football Insider that he believes that tensions are waiting to flare up between the supporters and the club’s hierarchy "as soon as anything goes wrong.”

As a result, a bad start to the new campaign could see protests break out once again, with the situation clearly fragile.

A good transfer window could help reduce potential criticism. Yet, the club appear to be no closer to their first signing of the summer.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen what the relationship between the board and the fans will be like next season.

Celtic Football Club