Dermot Desmond under fire as former football chief raises fresh Celtic investment concerns

Celtic principal shareholder Dermot Desmond has come under fresh criticism, with former football executive Charlie Methven accusing the club’s board of making poor decisions over investment in the squad and stadium.

Tensions between the Celtic hierarchy and sections of the fanbase remain high following recent protests involving Desmond at a golf event in St Andrews. The incident sparked angry exchanges between the club and supporter groups, with the upcoming Parkhead annual general meeting expected to bring further scrutiny.

Methven, who previously held executive roles at Sunderland and Charlton and now works as a football adviser and podcaster, believes the Celtic board will face difficult questions from shareholders. He has criticised the club for accumulating cash instead of investing more heavily in its facilities and first-team squad, placing particular responsibility on Desmond.

Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, Methven claimed Celtic could have approximately £90 million in cash reserves, although he acknowledged that obtaining an accurate picture of the club’s current finances was difficult.

He questioned why the Scottish champions had continued to limit spending on their playing squad and infrastructure while building up their bank balance.

Methven also criticised the condition of Celtic Park’s main stand, which he believes requires improvement, and argued that the squad’s European qualifying performances have exposed shortcomings in the club’s investment strategy.

According to Methven, supporters are frustrated that money generated by the club is not being reinvested sufficiently in the team and stadium. He argued that upgrading the facilities could help Celtic increase revenue and strengthen their ability to compete in European football.

He also questioned the level of influence held by Desmond, who owns a 30 per cent stake in the club, arguing that supporters deserve answers about how major financial and strategic decisions are being made.

With the AGM approaching and relations between the board and supporters already strained, Methven’s comments add to the growing debate over Celtic’s financial priorities, stadium development and ambitions on the European stage.