Celtic Football Club’s chief executive, Michael Nicholson, confirmed that three staff members were assaulted by fans following the club’s disappointing defeat to St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final. The incident occurred on October 29, 2023, after Celtic lost 3-1 at Hampden Park, marking a third consecutive defeat for new manager Wilfried Nancy.
In a statement, Nicholson condemned the violence as “completely unacceptable” and expressed deep concern over the safety of his colleagues. This incident came in the wake of Peter Lawwell stepping down from his role as non-executive chairman due to “threats and abuse” directed at him from a segment of the fanbase, highlighting growing discontent with the club’s management.
Nicholson noted the distressing nature of Lawwell’s decision, stating, “It’s sad because one of our colleagues has felt the need to stand down from his role. Peter is a Celtic fan first and foremost. He’s been a great colleague and leader for Celtic.” He emphasized that the threats and abusive behavior stemmed from a “very small minority” within the support, which he believes do not reflect the values of the broader Celtic community.
The chief executive elaborated on the recent assaults, stating, “We’ve most recently had a situation where three of our colleagues were assaulted at Celtic Park on Sunday night after the match. These behaviors are completely unacceptable. For me, they’re not Celtic.”
Nicholson also addressed the challenges facing Nancy, whose tenure has begun with a series of disappointing results, including losses against Hearts and Roma. He acknowledged fans’ frustrations but reiterated the board’s unwavering support for the manager. “It has been challenging. We’ve had some disappointing results, not least on Sunday,” he remarked.
“We know where we want to go, and step by step, all of our job is to support Wilfried, his team, and the squad to take us where we want to get to,” Nicholson said. He revealed that discussions regarding player recruitment for the January transfer window are already underway, aiming to build a competitive squad for the future.
The chief executive concluded on a hopeful note, expressing confidence in the club’s potential for success. “We’re excited about where we’re going to get to. That’s going to take time both day to day within the training environment, but also month to month, window to window,” he said.
As Celtic navigates these turbulent times, the focus remains on restoring unity among supporters and ensuring a safe environment for all staff and fans alike.
