Celtic board urge shareholders to reject three major proposals ahead of AGM
Celtic’s board have urged shareholders to reject three proposals ahead of next month’s Annual General Meeting.
Shareholders will gather at Celtic Park on December 1, with the board recommending votes against three of the four resolutions submitted by shareholders.
The meeting comes amid growing frustration among supporters over the running of the club, with several fan groups calling on principal shareholder Dermot Desmond to attend.
One of the most significant proposals calls for Celtic to commission a comprehensive strategic review and publish a detailed football, financial and strategic plan outlining the club’s future direction.
Interim chairman Brian Wilson has acknowledged the need for improvements and insisted efforts are already under way to modernise the club’s operations.
However, the board have stopped short of supporting the independent review being demanded by shareholders.
A second resolution seeks a full review of security operations at Celtic Park following the deterioration in relations between the club and the Green Brigade.
The ultras group have been involved in a prolonged dispute with the Celtic hierarchy over their treatment, with tensions intensifying following an incident involving police officers during last season’s encounter with Falkirk, which subsequently resulted in a ban.
Meanwhile, a third proposal calls for the Celtic chairman to issue a “full and unreserved apology” to shareholders and supporters over the club’s handling of recent matters.
Despite acknowledging that improvements are required, the board have recommended that shareholders vote against the resolution.
The AGM is shaping up to be another contentious occasion, coming 12 months after a particularly heated gathering at Celtic Park.
Last year’s meeting saw Ross Desmond, son of principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, confront critics of the club’s board before then-chairman Peter Lawwell brought proceedings to an abrupt conclusion.
