Celtic fans might actually agree with Simon Jordan's take on the Dermot Desmond fallout from the weekend. A section of Bhoys supporters made their frustrations known by throwing tennis balls on the course at St Andrews while Desmont was trying to compete in a golf event over the weekend.
A critical club statement followed, condemning the actions of the supporters, who they say brought embarrassment upon the club's name. A response followed from the Celtic Fans Collective, who organised the protest, and they defended their right to protest against Desmond at the event due to the fact they rarerly get any sight of the majority shareholder.
Desmond typically stays away from the club, and fans are feeling increasingly ignored amid a frustrating theme of the board getting things wrong, especially when it comes to backing a manager with efficient recruitment.
Most fans are not asking for millions to be spent, and many even understand the profitable buy and sell on model. But there does need to be an efficiency to what Celtic do, and too often there isn't any. The latest examples came in the summer window, when Celtic stumbled their way through the window and made excuses at every turn over why they couldn't get deals over the line.
At the very least, Celtic fans just want to be communicated with, and Jordan believes there are certainly grounds for supporters to ask for more communication.
“The only caveat I would say is, if Dermot wants to be the majority shareholder, and I don’t think he’s that, with all due respect to someone that put money into a football club, and I don’t diminish anyone, I don’t think Dermot’s put that much money in against what his club stake is actually worth," he said on TalkSport.
“I think, from what I can see, Dermot’s put about £30 million into this football club and taken about £10 million out. So he’s not exactly put a king’s fortune in there.
“And if he wants to be in a situation at Celtic where he is in such an influential position, I do think there is an element of incumbency.
“I get your point, Bill, about he can do as he pleases. He can do as he pleases. He can sell his shareholding in Celtic and let someone else take the brickbats [criticism] as well.”
“Then it goes with the territory. This is a unique football club that’s got a unique fanbase, and perhaps it does need to have an element of investment from Dermot into interacting with them a little bit more. Otherwise, why be there in the first place?”
That is the essence of it. Football isn't a business where you can get away with being a silent invester, at least not when you are the majority investor.
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