Making sense of Celtic’s civil war: how Dermot Desmond nurtured a farce

Martin Crawford argues that Celtic's ongoing conflict between supporters and the board stems directly from majority shareholder Dermot Desmond's absentee ownership. Following fan protests by the Celtic Fans Collective, the club released a critical statement labelling the group as self-appointed agitators. Crawford contends that Desmond's focus on running the club at a profit has resulted in chronic underinvestment and persistent failures in European competition.

The writer criticizes Desmond and his son Ross for deflecting blame onto the modern financial landscape rather than addressing poor transfer strategy and European form. Crawford highlights that Desmond shows no willingness to sell his 34.5% stake, arguing that the owner's defensive posture and lack of accountability have perpetuated an escalating civil war with the fanbase.