Celtic AGM: Meeting cancelled after 'disruption' from shareholders

Celtic’s Annual General Meeting has been brought to an end early amid chaotic scenes in Parkhead on Friday morning.

The meeting initially had to be adjourned after shareholders, unhappy with how the club is being run, held up red cards and chanted against the board.

However, the disruption continued when it reconvened with boos and chants of “sack the board”, and it was eventually cancelled after around 20 minutes.

The loudest jeers came when director Ross Desmond accused some fans of being “bullies”.

Desmond read out a statement on behalf of himself and his father Dermot, the club’s largest shareholder, who was not present.

He began his statement by defending his father, a “lifelong and passionate” Celtic supporter and vowed that the board would not be “bullied by aggressive and irrational” criticism.

The Irishman defended Lawwell and chief executive Michael Nicholson and claimed attempts to “dehumanise and vilify them are shameful”.

Desmond went on to criticise a section of fans over a recent incident which led to the Green Brigade being banned and added: “Those people are bullies”.

That was as far as he got in his statement as the reaction of the shareholders prompted Lawwell to bring the meeting to a close.

The AGM was held at Celtic Park on Friday, amid a season so far of discontent between the fans and the board.

As the top table took their seats, they were greeted with a chorus of boos and shown red cards by around 100 shareholders.

Chairman Peter Lawwell asked for quiet, but was met with more jeers.

It was eventually decided to adjourn the meeting due to “disruptive behaviour”.

The board returned, and the AGM reconvened, around 30 minutes later.

When he returned, Lawwell warned that “if there is a repeated behaviour I’ll have no hesitation in closing meeting”.

Shortly after a video was shown on the big screens with CEO Michael Nicholson defending the board’s record to shouts of “you’re a liar” from the floor.

The AGM lasted around another 20 minutes before being brought to a close amid shouts of “sack the board” and chants of “out, out, out.”

In a statement released afterwards, Celtic said: “Regrettably, due to the continuing disruptive conduct of a small number of individuals preventing the orderly management of today’s AGM, we were required to conclude the meeting earlier than we had planned.

“Such conduct is completely unacceptable and hugely disappointing, and while today’s events are completely outwith our control, clearly we regret the impact on our shareholders who were deprived of the opportunity to take part in an orderly and constructive meeting.

“Chairman Peter Lawwell called a poll on the resolutions at the end of the meeting, the results of which will be made available once counted and verified by our registrar, Computershare.

“Should any shareholders wish to raise a question, they can do so by contacting our investor relations department, and we will endeavour to respond to any queries.”