Celtic fans vent fury at Dermot Desmond over transfer window inaction

Celtic supporters have launched a scathing attack on majority shareholder Dermot Desmond as growing frustration boils over at Parkhead’s lack of transfer activity. According to the Daily Record’s Hotline column, the Hoops remain the only club in the Scottish Premiership yet to sign a new player this summer, with just four weeks left before the top flight kicks off.

The club has agreed a new one-year deal to keep Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Celtic Park, but that news has done little to calm angry fans who feel the board is dragging its heels once again. Reports suggest talks are progressing for Qarabag forward Camilo Duran, while striker Tobias Lauritsen has also been linked following his departure from Sparta Rotterdam, yet neither deal has been confirmed.

Fans accuse board of dysfunction

David Beattie, writing to the Hotline from Rothesay, did not hold back in his criticism of the ownership. “Another year and another abysmal transfer window from Dermot Desmond and his board,” he said. “Celtic will never get anywhere in Europe with this owner and his puppets.”

Beattie went further, questioning how Desmond built his reputation in business. “How was this guy successful in business when he took a blowtorch to a manager who brought trophy after trophy to the club, yet allows his board to be so dysfunctional to the point of being embarrassing to not only himself but to the most important people at the club, the fans? Time to shape up or ship out Mr Desmond and your puppets if you are going to drag our club to the depths of dysfunction and embarrassment on a now regular basis.”

Paul McCormack, from Coatbridge, echoed those concerns, accusing the board of prioritising commercial revenue over squad investment. “Not happy with lowballing current staff members, now lowballing on possible signings. It’s in the DNA of this board to drag their heels with every signing,” he wrote. “But they’re not so slow with releasing shirts, advertising tickets for friendlies and upping the cost of season tickets. They have been emptying the fans’ pockets down to a tee, as they sit on a huge pile of cash, soon to be swollen even more with players leaving. Playing Russian roulette with fans’ loyalty will not extend to another diabolical window.”

Comparisons to rivals across the city

Some correspondents were quick to draw comparisons with Rangers, who have appointed a new manager and brought in several fresh faces already this window. George Wilson, from West Sussex, noted the contrast in activity between the two Glasgow clubs, pointing out that all the movement so far this summer has been at Ibrox while Celtic have “eventually managed to sign up the management team they already had.”

With the new Premiership season fast approaching, pressure is mounting on the Celtic hierarchy to move quickly on incomings. Supporters will be hoping links to Duran and Lauritsen turn into concrete deals before the campaign gets under way, rather than another summer of frustration and unanswered questions from the boardroom.

Read more: Scottish Gossip: Bowie, Lauritsen, Moore linked as Celtic eye Ralston deal