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David Murray’s claim about Celtic fans is wrong, but verdict on Desmond Desmond is painfully true

Missing out on Champions League football for a second consecutive season serves as a defining indictment of Dermot Desmond’s modern tenure at Celtic. It’s becoming…

Published: Sunday, 4 October 2026 at 8:30 PM
David Murray’s claim about Celtic fans is wrong, but verdict on Desmond Desmond is painfully true
Key Things to Know
  • Writer Amir Mir agrees with David Murray's assessment of Dermot Desmond but disputes his criticism of Celtic fans.
  • Former Rangers owner David Murray claimed Celtic and Rangers lack the finances to realistically compete in the Champions League.
  • Murray stated that principal shareholder Dermot Desmond rarely visits Celtic Park and treats the club as an investment.
The Story in 60 Seconds

Writer Amir Mir argues that former Rangers owner David Murray is correct about Dermot Desmond treating Celtic purely as an investment, but wrong to criticize fans' expectations. Speaking on Graeme Souness' YouTube channel, Murray claimed both Celtic and Rangers lack the financial wherewithal to be Champions League clubs and suggested supporter expectations are set unrealistically high.

Mir rejects the notion that Celtic supporters should lower their ambitions, pointing out that peer clubs like Bodo/Glimt and Club Brugge remain competitive in Europe. The article also notes that Celtic fans recently protested against principal shareholder Desmond by throwing tennis balls near him during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

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