Celtic stand by decision to allow Ross Desmond to address 2025 AGM

A resolution at the club’s upcoming AGM at the start of next months calls for the club to issue a “full and unreserved apology” to shareholders and supporters over their decision to allow Ross Desmond to address the meeting despite holding no official role within Celtic PLC.

However Celtic will NOT be apologising for the incident and will stand by their decision, rejecting Resolution 18 in its entirely and claiming that those behind it (The Celtic Trust) are presenting a “misleading and inaccurate account” of what happened at the 2025 Celtic PLC AGM.

The begs the question will Ross Desmond be involved in the AGM this year, will he deliver another written statement from his father and perhaps will be elected onto the Celtic Board as many suspect will be the case?

Of course it is no surprise that the Celtic Board would not support this resolution and that it would accordingly fail. The Celtic Trust would have been well aware of that and will instead seek to highlight this as one of many failings that shareholders are identifying and are causing growing concern.

Resolution 18 – The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Celtic PLC to Issue a full and unreserved apology to the shareholders and supporters of Celtic FC for giving a platform at the 2025 AGM to an individual who holds no role within the governance of Celtic PLC.

The Board rejects both the premise of this resolution and the misleading and inaccurate account of events presented in its supporting statement.

Ross Desmond attended the 2025 AGM as the representative of the Company’s largest shareholder, Dermot Desmond, as he has done on numerous previous occasions. His entitlement to attend and address the meeting was entirely legitimate and consistent with established corporate practice. The suggestion that his participation constituted an abuse of the AGM is without merit.

Equally, the allegation that Ross Desmond delivered an indiscriminate attack on Celtic supporters and shareholders is a gross misrepresentation of his remarks. His speech was a robust defence of Celtic Football Club, its long-term stewardship and the dedication of those responsible for its management.

It acknowledged mistakes and the need for continued improvement, while expressly praising the overwhelming majority of Celtic supporters for their passion, loyalty and commitment.

His criticism was directed at the conduct of a small minority whose behaviour, including personal abuse, intimidation and the deliberate fostering of hostility and division, he considered damaging to the Club. To characterise that criticism as an attack on Celtic supporters generally is demonstrably false.

The Board also categorically rejects the entirely baseless and serious insinuation that Ross Desmond and the then Chairman conspired to orchestrate the premature closure of the AGM. No such arrangement existed. Indeed, the meeting had already been disrupted and adjourned before Ross Desmond addressed shareholders.

The AGM was ultimately brought to a conclusion because further disruption made its orderly continuation impossible.

The Board fully respects the right of shareholders and supporters to express criticism and challenge the Club’s leadership, however robustly. But the right to express disagreement does not confer the right to intimidate others, prevent them from being heard or obstruct the proper conduct of a shareholders’ meeting.

The Board regrets that shareholders were denied the opportunity to participate fully in the Q&A due to the disruption caused at the 2025 AGM.

However, the Board will not apologise for permitting a duly authorised representative of a shareholder to address the meeting, nor will it accept the false characterisation of his remarks or the circumstances surrounding the meeting’s conclusion.

The Board rejects this resolution in its entirety and strongly recommends that shareholders vote against it.

The sensible thing for shareholders attending the AGM to do is keep calm and make sure that they get their questions asked and answered. Another shouting match, even if it is provoked will simply let the Board off the hook in terms of having to answer questions and will probably result in future AGMs being held online.

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