HUGH KEEVINS has covered Scottish football for a long time and has seen majority shareholder Dermot Desmond wield his power.
Analysing Dermot’s words to the Celtic support last week, Keevin’s admitted some of his answers were vague and evasive but the biggest thing he took from the whole thing was Desmond coming across as irked.
This sites reaction to Desmond’s contrived Q&A came to a similar conclusion. I believe Dermot would have come out and addressed Brian Dempsey only if he could have gotten away with it. Dempsey questioned the majority shareholder’s passion for Celtic and intimated he should sell his shares on and leave it to those who are willing.
It’s obviously hit a nerve with Dermot and his ego couldn’t allow that to go unchecked.
Keevins believes that’s no bad thing for Celtic and the support if Dermot is now motivated by external factors.
The veteran pundit talks about the two previous appointments the shareholder has made when he’s been motivated; Brendan Rodgers and Martin O’Neill.
Both appointments brought incredible success to the club and proved that when you pay the going price for a top manager, they will bring success.
Writing in his RecordSport column, Keevins said:
But the most positive element contained within his address to the fans on Celtic’s website is that the principal shareholder is irked.
A former director of the club Brian Dempsey provided the irritation by suggesting Desmond had lost interest in a club that was headed back to the days of Save Our Celts in 1994.
Irritability at least provoked Desmond into breaking what had been, up until then, a monastic silence in the aftermath of Neil Lennon leaving and Peter Lawwell announcing his retirement.
Now the fans know he’s no intention of selling his shareholding. Dermot still has skin in the game and when he’s irked that can, as history has shown, be a good thing for the club.
Annoyance with outside forces brought Martin O’Neill and Brendan Rodgers to Celtic at Desmond’s behest.
Now fans can at least hope he has the Hollywood hat-trick in mind on the managerial front.
Celtic season ticket holders will be given their instructions within the next three weeks and will be asked to dig into their pocket. Considering the uncertainty surrounding getting into the ground next season already, not knowing where the club is going could be enough for some to wait and see.
It’s important Dermot and Dominic McKay bring in the new man and team as soon as possible.
