“Enough is Enough” – Dermot Desmond Sent Celtic Transfer Warning

Alan Brazil has warned Dermot Desmond that supporter patience is wearing thin at Celtic as frustration grows over the club’s slow summer transfer window.

Back on talkSPORT Breakfast after a recent health scare, Brazil did not hold back when discussing Celtic’s lack of business. Nearly two months after the window opened on June 15, Camilo Duran and Kasper Hogh remain the only arrivals.

That leaves Martin O’Neill facing a crucial spell with the Champions League Play-Off against LASK now less than two weeks away. Celtic must submit their initial 25-man squad by August 13, with two further players permitted to be added before August 18.

For supporters, the concern is obvious. The squad still looks short in key areas and the pressure is building on those making the decisions above O’Neill.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Brazil questioned whether the board have become too comfortable relying on the unwavering backing of the Celtic support.

“The problem that Celtic have, the support is unbelievable. People know that. They’re everywhere.

“And yet, I just get the feeling that the board expect: ‘The fans will turn up anyway, if we spend money or not. It’s a religion to them, it’s in their blood. They’ll come’.

“But I did notice this pre-season, Middlesbrough going to Parkhead, and there was as many red tops, shirts and scarves as there was green and white. A lot of empty spaces.

“That’s the fans saying: ‘Enough is enough’.”

That frustration has not been confined to pre-season friendlies. Chants aimed at the board were heard during Monday night’s Premiership opener against Dundee, underlining the growing disconnect between supporters and the club’s hierarchy.

The timing only adds to the scrutiny.

Qualification for the Champions League group stage is worth around £40 million. Failure to get past LASK would see Celtic drop into the Europa League, a scenario few supporters would regard as acceptable given the financial advantage already sitting in the club’s accounts.

Brazil also turned his attention to major shareholder Dermot Desmond, arguing the Irish businessman has never been one to bankroll spending in the way some supporters would like.

“They won the league last year, how they won it, I’ll never know, but they did, Martin O’Neill, brilliant, absolutely brilliant Martin.

“But I think Dermot has said, I don’t know if he’s on record saying it, but I believe he’s said, ‘I’m not the bank. I’m here to look after the club and make sure it’s run properly. You’ve got to use your own money’.

“So he’s not one of these chairmen who says, ‘Go on, I’ll give you another £50 million, or another £100 million’. He’s not like that. He can, I think he’s a very wealthy man, but it’s just a business to him, and it’s so frustrating for the fans. They want players.

“And even now, Martin must be pulling his hair out, saying, ‘get me some quality signings!’.”

Desmond remains a largely distant figure, rarely speaking publicly, although he was present at Celtic’s pre-season friendly against Shelbourne. The day-to-day operation of the club continues to rest with CEO Michael Nicholson and interim chairman Brian Wilson.

More than a month ago, Wilson told supporters to expect an active period in the transfer market. Few would have imagined that would amount to two arrivals and 15 departures by this stage of the summer.

Monday night’s win over Dundee only reinforced the feeling that reinforcements are needed before Celtic head into the biggest fixtures of their season. With key players such as Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels expected to leave, replacing quality with quality is no longer a discussion for later in the window.

Supporters have heard the promises. Now they are waiting for the signings.