The now-infamous “shoulder shrug” from Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson has become one of the biggest talking points to emerge from the recent meeting between the club and supporters’ groups.
Now, Paul John Dykes has shed light on what actually happened inside that room. Dykes offered first-hand insight into the exchange that’s since sparked frustration across the fanbase.
For many supporters, the shrug has become symbolic of the communication breakdown between the board and fans, gesture seen by some as indifference at a time when clarity is most needed. Dykes’ description of the moment shows how poorly it landed among those present.
His comments explain the sense that the meeting, which fans hoped would provide substance and transparency, instead left even more questions unanswered about the direction of the club and the competence of its leadership.
Dykes said: (Celtic Exchange), “There’s a meme and it’s Alan Partridge shrugging his shoulders. It was more like that.
“Now, I always keep journals, right. It’s a sad wee anorak habit that I’ve been into since I used to have sketch pads for art college. God knows when that was, 30 years ago. I note things then, you know, verbatim, when I think it’s important.
“There were also words uttered during the shrugging of the shoulders that didn’t make the minutes. Okay, right. So I can tell you with 100% certainty, it wasn’t the way you thought, oh, you know, it was a proper, I don’t know.”
“There were a few (striking moments), but that was, I was thinking, what on earth are we going to do as a football club?
“If you don’t know, because you need to know, you’re paid 900 grand last year to know the answer to this question. You are nowhere near it.”
Dykes’ version of events makes it pretty clear, this wasn’t just a harmless shrug. It came across to him as a genuine uncertainty from someone who should’ve had the answers.
Since then, the moment has blown up among fans, seen as a symbol of how directionless and disconnected the Celtic board feels right now.
Across fan media and social channels, that shrug has become a kind of shorthand for the club’s silence and lack of clarity.
Simply put, Dykes confirmed what a lot of supporters already suspected, Celtic’s leadership looked lost at a time when strength and conviction were badly needed.
Keep Reading
5 responses
I have a different recollection. I didn’t automatically go in with the Boards terrible, Brendan is the messiah (yes the same Brendan half the support wanted to castrate 2 years ago). I felt the shrug could have meant, Brendan says some players are club signings, *shrug* as in ‘I don’t know why he said that, he’s full of it’
I genuinely think either could be true given this board and Brendan
Clear as mud then.
You were at the meeting?
Will now be known as “Shooders “
Most likely, BR is signing off on all incoming players as a procedural duty.
Those players, identified by scouts, with whom BR has had little or no personal input, he is labelling them club signings. He sees them as development players.
The players BR actually wants are first team ready and he does not label as club signings.