'Not Celtic' – O'Neill condemns Desmond protest as ultras boycott
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill has spoken out against a protest staged by the club's ultras group targeting influential board figure Dermot Desmond. O'Neill framed the action as unrepresentative of Celtic's values, using the phrase 'Not Celtic' to distance the wider support base from the boycott. The incident highlights ongoing friction between sections of Celtic's support and the club's power brokers, with the ultras using a boycott as a form of demonstration.
Read the full story at bbc.co.ukPublic disagreements between a manager and the club's ultras rarely surface in such stark terms, which makes O'Neill's pointed condemnation significant. Dermot Desmond remains one of the most powerful behind-the-scenes figures at Celtic, and fan frustration directed at the board often centres on recruitment strategy and off-field direction. With O'Neill aligning himself firmly with the board, the episode points to a widening gulf between sections of the support and the club's hierarchy, a dynamic that could shape atmosphere and pressure points around the team in the weeks ahead.
Context added by Socc360, not by bbc.co.uk.
Data source: bbc.co.uk (via Socc360). Last updated .
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