Keith Wyness: Celtic hit by ‘big issue’ which will lead to new fan protests
Celtic’s high dependency on matchday income will only empower the fanbase further to hold protests and boycotts against the club’s ownership.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after Celtic released an interim financial report.
The financial accounts, covering six months up to December 2025, showed that matchday revenue made up 42% of their overall revenue last season.
Celtic fans have already made their feelings towards the board clear this season, and former chairman Peter Lawwell felt the need to stand down from his role in December.
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Celtic face ‘very difficult’ situation against the fanbase
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 – says Celtic have a “big issue” maintaining that level of matchday revenue without Champions League football.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Celtic fans will utilise the figures as a “political weapon” to increase action against the board.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think there is a big issue maintaining that because it’s not just the Champions League, and believe me, the Scottish coefficient this year is going to make it very hard for Celtic to get into the group stages of the Champions League.
“Even if they win the league this year, and they’ve still got to win the league, and we know it’s a three-horse race, Rangers and Hearts, it’s going to be very difficult for them to maintain that.
“Now, also, there is the ongoing dispute with the board and the fan base and I think you may see the fan base understanding their power. If 42% of the revenue is coming from the fan base, they will utilise that as a political weapon, and you may see more boycotts and different things happening from the Green Brigade and the other groups of Celtic that can agitate them in the club.
“We know that there is very bad blood right now between the owners of the board and the fan base and that is not great when, as you say, that’s 42% of your revenue, which is a pretty high number, and compared to a lot of other clubs, it’s not a great thing to have. So that’s got to be reversed in some way.”
- Read More: Keith Wyness drops Celtic title verdict.
Anthony Ralston decision could give green light to transfer
Anthony Ralston has not been included in the last four matchday squads, and Celtic will allow the defender to leave if he desires in the summer.
The 27-year-old enters the final year of his contract next season, and Julian Araujo’s impact in Glasgow has further pushed the Scotland international down the pecking order.
Celtic may be keen to turn Araujo’s loan into a permanent move from Bournemouth, with the 24-year-old becoming a fan-favourite following his 97th minute winner against Kilmarnock last time out.