Celtic fan protest continues as board targeted with poster campaign

Celtic fans continued their ongoing protest against the club’s board at the team’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Partick Thistle.

Supporters held up photographs of senior figures at the club with red diagonal lines drawn across their faces, and also displayed banners highlighting previous failures in Europe.

The club’s fanbase has been unhappy since the summer transfer window, when Celtic failed to significantly strengthen their side and saw deals both in and out of the club fail to come to fruition.

Defeat to Kazakh side Kairat Almaty in the Champions League play-off, which meant missing out on the income and glamour of the elite competition, added to their anger.

Supporters boycotted the start of last weekend’s Premiership match against Kilmarnock and on Sunday, in the wake of the club publishing annual accounts showing over £77m in cash reserves, they made their feelings known again.

The protest also came a day after the announcement of a new fan group being formed. The Celtic Fans Collective brings together supporters clubs, officially recognised fan groups, ultras and fan media.

Their initial statement read: “The Celtic Fans Collective exists to unite supporters through a representative body that advocates for the interests of Celtic fans. We strive to ensure that Celtic Football Club operates with transparency, accountability, and ambition, aligned with the values and aspirations of its supporters.

“Overarching Aim – To modernise the governance and strategic direction of Celtic Football Club by ensuring: A clear vision that reflects the ambitions of the support; A transparent and respectful relationship between the Club and its supporters, Corporate governance standards befitting an organisation of Celtic’s scale and reputation.

“Values – The Collective is guided by the following principles: Democracy. Decisions are driven by the voices and mandate of supporters; Integrity. The collective will act with transparency, evidence, and accountability; Ambition. The collective will demand the highest standards on and off the pitch; Independence. The collective will operate free from undue influence, representing only the interests of Celtic fans.

“Objectives – To obtain credible, transparent, and comprehensive answers from the Board to the seven original questions outlined in the Open Letter published on 3rd September 2025.”

The group says it aims to force the removal of chief executive Michael Nicholson, chairman Peter Lawwell, and chief financial officer Chris McKay, as well as hold the board to account in tht long-term and effect other change at the club.