‘Why hasn’t that happened?’ – Keith Wyness rips into Celtic for not sealing ‘big’ off-pitch deal
Celtic have been backed to begin a multi-club ownership model to modernise how the club is run.
That is according to ex-Aberdeen, Aston Villa, and Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes Dermot Desmond should consider selling Celtic.
It has been a turbulent season on and off the pitch at Celtic, with Martin O’Neill now back as interim manager following the sacking of Wilfried Nancy.
Peter Lawwell stepped down from his role at Celtic, amid the increasing fan pressure on members of the club’s board to resign.
‘As I understand’ – Keith Wyness drops Celtic verdict
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 – questions why Celtic have previously not developed a multi-club model.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes Desmond does not want to sell Celtic as it would be “a sign of weakness.”
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think Celtic need to look, the other board need to look at themselves, the owners need to look at themselves. No doubt they understand that.
“They know the pressure they’re under, but it’s a question of whether Dermot Desmond has had enough now and doesn’t like the pressure. I know he would think of it as a sign of weakness if he was going to sell, but to be honest, I think if he loves his club then maybe it’s time to pass it on.
“I would hope that he would consider that in the best of situations, and with the best wishes, to try and realise that maybe it’s time to move on and then look at football from afar, because he’s not a regular attendee, as I understand.
“It would be difficult to go to Celtic Park right now for the whole board but something has to be fixed there, it’s an institution, and it’s one of the biggest clubs in the world. I think I read the other day they’re the fourth-largest shirt sales in the world. I mean, it’s a major club Celtic, and I think they should have been focused on a multi-club ownership model of Celtic clubs throughout the world. Why hasn’t that happened?
“I don’t know, and I think they’re running it on old theories, but there’s a way to modernise without having to go into a modern fad. There’s a difference. But yes, I think Celtic have got to try and heal this wound because it’s getting bigger and bigger.”
Reason revealed behind Roberto Martinez links
Celtic’s search for a permanent manager for next season has already begun, with O’Neill not set to stay on beyond the end of the campaign.
O’Neill’s assistant manager, Shaun Maloney, could play a key role in Roberto Martinez becoming the next Celtic boss.
Martinez has emerged as a shock contender for the position, with the 52-year-old currently manager of the Portugal national team.