Celtic’s interim chairman, Brian Wilson, has broken his silence on the increasingly fractured relationship between the Parkhead board and the club’s support. With the Celtic Fan Collective threatening a mass boycott of Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie against Dundee, Wilson has issued an emotional “olive branch,” claiming he is desperate to avoid an empty stadium.
Speaking to Celtic TV, the interim chief admitted that engagement had been “derailed” in recent weeks, but insisted that reaching out to supporter groups is now his top priority.
“Unity Behind the Team”: The Chairman’s Case
The call for a boycott follows months of frustration regarding board communication and the club’s structural direction. Wilson, who stepped into the hot seat following Peter Lawwell’s departure, acknowledged the “turbulent” nature of his first month but pleaded with fans to separate their feelings for the board from their support for Martin O’Neill’s side.
“I spoke about unity, and I spoke very specifically about unity within the stadium,” Wilson stated. “I don’t expect suddenly for all the issues to go away… but in the short term, it’s imperative to support the team. Whether a boycott helps that, it’s up for people to judge.”
“I accept there hasn’t been as much engagement as I would have liked… mainly because of the focus on the transfer window. But we have reached out to every supporters group and I hope these meetings will take place in the next week.” — Brian Wilson, Celtic Interim Chairman
Addressing the “Board Hatred”
In a candid moment, Wilson admitted he is fully aware that a section of the fan base currently “hates” the club’s hierarchy. He recounted a chance meeting with four young supporters in Glasgow city centre as a model for how he hopes to move forward.
“They recognised me, we had a good conversation… they put across their point of view and at the end of the day they said, ‘thanks for listening.’ If I could do that with every Celtic supporter, we’d reach the same respectful conclusion.”
Fixing the Structural Mess
Beyond the fan tension, Wilson insisted the club is working tirelessly to repair the “structural mess” left behind following the collapse of the previous recruitment department and the high-profile managerial departures of Brendan Rodgers and Wilfried Nancy earlier this season.
While the board remains under fire, Wilson pointed to the success of Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney on the pitch as the “positive side” of a difficult month. With the Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain deal nearing completion, the chairman is hopeful that a full Celtic Park will be there to witness the next chapter of the season.
Fitba Focus Verdict: Wilson is saying the right things, but for many Celtic fans, words are no longer enough. Saturday’s attendance against Dundee will be the true litmus test of whether this “olive branch” has been accepted or if the divide is now too wide to bridge.
Co-Founder of Fitba Focus and MMA UK. A lifelong Rangers fan and former player, he combines over a decade of sports media experience with a deep-seated passion for the Scottish game. From the Ibrox stands to the lower-league terraces, Frankie is dedicated to providing honest, fan-led analysis of the full Scottish pyramid.
