Ex-SPL chief makes claim about potential Celtic investment

A Celtic Investment Claim Emerges as Former SPL Chief Speaks Out

A claim about potential investment in Celtic has emerged after former Scottish Premier League chief executive Roger Mitchell said the club’s investment prospects were discussed “at length” during a summit in Como.

Mitchell’s comments have sparked interest among Celtic supporters, particularly because any takeover or change in ownership structure would likely have to involve principal shareholder Dermot Desmond.

Desmond currently holds around 34.7 per cent of Celtic’s total shares, making him the largest individual shareholder at the club. His substantial stake means any prospective investor seeking significant control would face the difficult task of convincing Desmond to sell at a price that would almost certainly reflect the importance of his position.

Mitchell’s comments come at a particularly sensitive time for Desmond and Celtic.

Dermot Desmond at St Andrews

Recent Protest

Desmond was recently targeted by Celtic supporters during the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews. Tennis balls were thrown onto the 15th green, where his face had been displayed with a red line drawn across it.

The incident quickly attracted attention and prompted a strong response from Celtic.

Hours after the protest, the club issued a statement condemning the actions of the supporters involved. Celtic said a “line was crossed” and warned that those identified as taking part would face bans from Celtic Park.

The episode has added to the ongoing debate among supporters about the direction of the club, its ownership structure and the influence of Desmond.

It was against that backdrop that Mitchell made his latest comments regarding investment.

Como Summit Claim

Mitchell, who served as Scottish Premier League chief executive for four years before leaving the position in 2002, used social media to make the claim after responding to a post involving Antonio Conte.

Journalist Fabrizio Romano had shared comments from the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager, in which Conte discussed what he would want from his next managerial opportunity. Conte indicated that he would be interested in joining a club that had, in his view, lost sight of its history and could benefit from rediscovering and restoring that identity.

That prompted Mitchell to bring Celtic into the conversation.

According to Mitchell, the investment case for Celtic was discussed extensively at the Sport Summit Como event. He then claimed that one of the people involved in those discussions subsequently contacted him about taking the idea forward.

Mitchell suggested the individual was serious about investing and wanted his assistance in making the proposal a reality.

His post said: “At Como, the investment case for Celtic FC was discussed at length. One of those very serious people called after and said ‘let’s do this for real and you’ll help me’.”

Mitchell then referred directly to the biggest obstacle he believes any potential investor would face.

“DD won’t sell” is always the reply in these cases,” he wrote, using Desmond’s initials. He then added that he would have approached Conte about the Celtic job.

No Confirmation Yet

Despite the attention generated by Mitchell’s post, there has been no independent confirmation that a genuine Celtic investment proposal was formally discussed at the summit or that a potential investor has made an approach to the club.

At this stage, Mitchell’s comments should therefore be treated as a claim rather than established fact.

There is also a history between Mitchell and Celtic supporters that means his latest comments may attract additional scrutiny. The former SPL chief has previously criticised Celtic fans and has argued that supporters themselves have played a role in the club’s decline, rather than placing the responsibility solely on the board.

Nevertheless, the timing of the claim is likely to fuel further discussion about Celtic’s ownership. The recent protest involving Desmond demonstrated the level of frustration among sections of the support, while the club’s immediate and forceful response suggested that the relationship between the board and protesters remains highly sensitive.

What Happens Next?

For an investor to make a serious move for Celtic, the ownership structure would be a crucial consideration. Desmond’s 34.7 per cent stake gives him considerable influence, and any buyer seeking control would have to determine whether he is willing to sell.

Mitchell’s claim that “DD won’t sell” suggests he believes Desmond remains unwilling to give up his position. However, there has been no announcement from Desmond or Celtic confirming his intentions regarding the future ownership of the club.

For now, supporters are left with a claim made by a former SPL chief rather than a confirmed takeover proposal.

The idea of serious investment being discussed at a major sporting summit will inevitably generate curiosity among Celtic fans. Whether Mitchell’s comments eventually lead to anything concrete remains unknown. Until further evidence emerges, Celtic supporters will have to decide for themselves how much weight to place on the claim.

One thing is certain: the debate surrounding Dermot Desmond, Celtic’s ownership and the club’s future is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.