---
title: "Celtic: Dempsey makes bold Desmond claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-dempsey-makes-bold-desmond-claim/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-03-13T20:15:52Z"
modified: "2021-03-13T20:15:52Z"
---

# Celtic: Dempsey makes bold Desmond claim

**Former Celtic director Brian Dempsey believes Dermot Desmond wouldn’t stand in the way of a potential fan takeover.**

It hasn’t exactly been the most memorable of seasons for the Hoops, with the club’s bid for ten Scottish Premiership titles in as many years ended by rivals Rangers.

### Celtic fan takeover?

Chief executive [Peter Lawwell is set to retire in the summer and will be replaced by Dominic McKay](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55852763), while [Neil Lennon resigned as manager last month](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12143403/neil-lennon-resigns-as-celtic-manager-with-club-18-points-behind-rangers-in-scottish-premiership).

And Dempsey thinks Desmond would be open to selling his shares, urging fans to come together and make Celtic ‘a people’s club again’.

\[freshpress-poll id=”348946″\]

Speaking to journalist Ewing Grahame in an interview with [The Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/brian-dempsey-calls-on-celtic-fans-to-join-together-again-j9ph7mxg6), cited by the [Daily Record](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-celtic-director-claims-dermot-23706020), Dempsey said:

> “I don’t believe there’s any question that Dermot Desmond, assuming he got the right money for his shares, is a man who would stand in the way of Celtic’s expansion.
>
> “So it’s down to the supporters to come together again, sit down at the table with Dermot, produce their plans and offer to buy him and the others out, making Celtic a people’s club again.”

### Transfer Tavern take

[Plenty of Celtic fans made their strong feelings known](https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18930197.celtic-fans-fresh-protest-brand-lennon-lawwell-desmond-the-men-blew-10/) regarding Lawwell, Lennon and Desmond prior to the New Year, with two of the three set to be missing from the club’s 2021/22 plans.

It would certainly be interesting to see if a supporter resurgence at board level would be possible. Raising the funds to engage in talks with Desmond could be a struggle, but one of the main benefits, should fans take control, would more than likely be communication at all levels.

***In other news: ‘There’s been a little bit of talk’ – Journalist lifts lid on Celtic managerial ‘leaks’, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-news/celtic-dean-jones-addresses-moyes-links/).***