Celtic title celebrations 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
CSL’s aims seem both ambitious and measured. The CSL stresses that it is NOT a protest movement, but rather a professional organisation with high standards of governance, seeking to hold Celtic’s board to account and ensure that the interests of smaller shareholders and fans are properly represented.
The group is structured as a company limited by guarantee, meaning it has no shareholders of its own. Its directors will be elected by members on a one-member-one-vote basis, and membership fees will be used to reactivate “untraced” shares, acquire shares in Celtic plc, and fund a high-profile marketing campaign. Importantly, CSL pledges that no fees or salaries will be paid to its directors or officials.
Celtic title celebrations 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
On the surface, CSL’s stated goals resonate strongly with long-standing concerns among the Celtic support. As they clearly point out, since Fergus McCann’s departure in 1999, many fans feel the balance of power has shifted too heavily toward the corporate side of the club. CSL seeks to “restore that balance,” offering services to reunite supporters with dormant shareholdings and encouraging shareholders to assign their proxy votes to CSL rather than the chairman of Celtic plc.
Fors some observers, perhaps, the immediate question is not simply about the value of CSL’s objectives, but why they appear to have chosen to stand apart. The timing is interesting, coming just as the recently announced Celtic Fans Collective begins to gain traction. The Collective itself is designed as a broad platform to unite supporters’ groups, pool resources, and give fans a meaningful voice in the club’s governance, a goal that appears in keeping with the CSL’s.
Celtic Park on Trophy Day. Photo The Celtic Star
The Celtic Trust, long recognised as the primary vehicle for fan representation among shareholders, has pursued similar aims for years. While the Trust has undoubtedly lost some momentum in recent times, it remains an established organisation with experience and also plays an active role within the Celtic Fans Collective.
Intriguingly, some of those involved in CSL appear to have held influential positions within the Trust, raising questions about whether CSL’s formation reflects frustration or disillusionment with the Trust’s current direction, indeed only recently some members of the new group were quite vocal that The Celtic Trust was the way forward, prior to the recent AGM.
If there has indeed been a loss of confidence in the Trust, it is perhaps understandable. The Trust’s progress in recent years has been uneven, and some supporters have called for fresh ideas and renewed energy. But by creating a new organisation rather than working within existing frameworks, CSL perhaps risks adding fragmentation at a time when unity is viewed by many as paramount.
Celtic supporters on the road to Hampden. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Celtic supporters are no strangers to internal debate, but the current environment, marked by growing discontent with the club’s board and strategic direction, arguably calls for cohesion rather than competition. The Celtic Fans Collective was conceived precisely to bring together the many strands of supporter activism into a single, powerful entity, and in a short space of time has made impressive progress.
CSL clearly brings influence, skill, and experience to the table. Its plan to tackle the issue of untraced shares and mobilise proxy votes could add real weight to fan representation. But the question remains, why operate outside a structure that already aims to unify these efforts?
Perhaps CSL sees itself as a specialist organisation with a tighter focus on shareholder issues, complementing rather than competing with the wider Collective. If so, that could be a valuable addition to the movement. But if it becomes a parallel organisation vying for attention and resources, it perhaps also risks diluting the very power it seeks to build.
Celtic supporters shows their support at full-time following the team’s victory in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Semi Final match between St Johnstone and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 20, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
For now, CSL’s launch is a welcome sign of renewed engagement among Celtic supporters. Its professional approach and clear governance model will appeal to many who want to see fans play a greater role in shaping the club’s future. Of course, the success of any such initiative ultimately depends on numbers, collaboration, and the ability to influence Celtic plc’s decision-making.
Whether Celtic Supporters Limited chooses to work alongside the Celtic Fans Collective, or choose walk its own path, will go a long way to determining whether this is the start of a stronger, united fan movement, or perhaps another chapter in the long history of well-intentioned but divided supporter organisations.
Time will tell.
Niall J
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Another group with no credibility trying to have shareholders give up their rights.
Why didnt they join with the Celtic collective or any other group to prevent conflict or waste of energy by having more than one group trying to achieve the same thing?
I have no doubt change is required and believe when the AGM details are announced we will learn which of the board wont be standing for re-election and would think at least two wont stand.
However to try and make a difference I believe one major group of fans rather multiple groups has more chance of success
That the David low who 3 or 4 years ago claimed he was to busy for this stuff ,,,,,aye good luck with that idea a wish ye well
Agree with above comments.
Tens of thousands of fans are uniting under the Collective and that is the hope for change.
Setting up websites, companies etc to support a Trio of Egos is not the way to go.