Dermot Desmond faces Celtic finance scrutiny over suspected £90m nest egg.

Dermot Desmond is facing renewed scrutiny over Celtic’s financial strategy after former football executive Charlie Methven questioned the club’s decision-making and claimed the Scottish champions have been holding a substantial amount of money in their bank account rather than investing it in the team or stadium.

The comments come at a time when tensions between Celtic supporters and the club’s hierarchy remain high, with principal shareholder Desmond already coming under pressure from sections of the fanbase.

Earlier this month, Desmond was targeted by supporters wearing balaclavas who threw tennis balls towards him while he was taking part in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews. The incident sparked a fierce exchange of statements between Celtic and supporter groups and added further tension ahead of the club’s upcoming annual general meeting.

Dermot Desmond and Michael Nicholson(Image: SNS Group)

Methven, a former executive director at Sunderland and Charlton, is now involved in football consultancy and podcasting. He believes the Celtic board could face difficult questions from shareholders when they gather for the AGM.

The football adviser has been particularly critical of the club’s approach to spending and investment. He believes Celtic have accumulated significant cash reserves while failing to adequately improve either the first-team squad or important areas of Celtic Park.

Speaking on the Business of Sport podcast, Methven argued that the club’s financial position raises questions about how Celtic’s resources are being used.

He claimed that Celtic had been extremely cautious with spending on both the playing squad and stadium infrastructure, despite continuing to generate significant revenue.

Methven said he did not have access to a precise, up-to-the-minute figure for Celtic’s cash position, but suggested that the club could have around £90 million sitting in its bank account.

His criticism focused particularly on the state of Celtic Park, where he described the main stand as no longer fit for purpose. He also questioned the quality and depth of the squad, pointing to Celtic’s struggles in European qualifying as evidence that more investment is required.

According to Methven, supporters are entitled to ask why money generated by the club is not being used to strengthen the areas that could help Celtic become more competitive.

He argued that fans are not demanding that Desmond personally spend his own money to improve Celtic. Instead, his point was that the club should be investing money generated through supporters, commercial activity and football operations back into the infrastructure and playing side.

Charlie Methven

Methven suggested that improving the stadium could eventually help Celtic generate even greater revenues. Those increased revenues could then provide the club with additional resources to compete more effectively in European competitions.

His comments also questioned the influence of Desmond, who is Celtic’s principal shareholder.

Methven highlighted the fact that major decisions at the club are being overseen by someone who owns roughly 30 per cent of the business, asking why such significant control should rest with one shareholder.

His remarks are likely to fuel an increasingly heated debate among Celtic supporters about the direction of the club and the role played by its board.

However, the latest Celtic financial figures provide a more precise picture than the £90 million figure suggested by Methven.

The club’s most recent accounts show that Celtic’s cash position was actually lower than the amount he speculated about. Money held in the bank fell from £77.3 million to £66.4 million.

The latest financial results also revealed a significant change in Celtic’s profitability.

The club recorded a £4.8 million loss for the financial year, a major reversal from the previous year when Celtic reported a £33.9 million profit.

Revenue also fell substantially during the period ending in June 2026.

Celtic generated £111 million in revenue, compared with £143.6 million in the previous financial year. The decline was largely attributed to the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.

The Champions League represents a major source of income for Celtic, meaning missing out on the competition can have a considerable effect on the club’s finances.

The reduction in revenue comes as Celtic continue to face questions about their ability to compete at the highest level in Europe.

Supporters have increasingly questioned whether the club should be using more of its available financial resources to strengthen the squad, improve Celtic Park and close the gap between itself and clubs elsewhere in Europe.

Methven’s comments therefore arrive at a particularly sensitive time.

Celtic have significant financial resources compared with many clubs in Scotland, but supporters have argued that the club’s financial strength should translate into greater investment and stronger performances on the pitch.

The debate is also linked to the condition of Celtic Park. Any major redevelopment or renovation of the stadium would require considerable investment, but supporters could argue that such spending would help improve the matchday experience and potentially increase future revenue.

Similarly, investment in the first-team squad could strengthen Celtic’s chances of reaching the Champions League and securing the substantial financial rewards that come with participation.

Methven’s criticism therefore centres on the balance between maintaining cash reserves and using those resources to build the club’s future.

The Celtic board will face questions from shareholders at the upcoming AGM, with supporters likely to demand greater clarity over the club’s financial priorities.

The recent dispute involving Desmond and protesting supporters has only intensified the scrutiny.

While Methven’s suggestion of a £90 million cash reserve appears higher than the £66.4 million figure reported in Celtic’s latest accounts, his wider argument is that the club should be doing more with its financial resources.

Celtic’s £4.8 million loss, falling revenue and failure to qualify for the Champions League provide additional context to the debate.

For supporters, the central question is likely to be whether Celtic are investing enough today to improve their chances of generating greater success and revenue tomorrow.

With the AGM approaching, Desmond and the Celtic board could therefore face some difficult questions about spending, infrastructure, recruitment and the club’s long-term financial strategy.

The coming shareholder meeting may provide an important opportunity for the hierarchy to explain why Celtic’s considerable financial resources have not translated into greater investment in the stadium and playing squad, and whether that approach is set to change.