Anthony Joseph’s Dom McKay revelations this week on Celtic Fans TV are yet more proof that Celtic’s hierarchy are badly out of touch…
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou Unveiling – Celtic Park Celtic new manager Ange Postecoglou right and Chief Executive Dominic McKay pose for a photo at Celtic Park Glasgow. Friday June 25, 2021. Photo Jeff Holmes Getty Images
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Former Celtic CEO Dom McKay was seen as a major the coup when he was hired to replace Peter Lawwell back in 2021, as the club for once looked like going in a positive direction.
McKay was sourced by a leading headhunting agency and was not merely a jobs for the Bhoys, mostly from those inside the tent (and under this Celtic Board with at one stage not too long ago having £100m in the bank, we still operated out of a tent on every high profile European night).
Despite being hailed as a great capture, and doing highly impressive work in his short time at the club, former Scottish Rugby chief Dom McKay lasted just two months in his new role, with the club citing ‘personal reasons’ for his rapid departure.
Sky Sports man Anthony Joseph who has his ears firmly on the ground when it comes to all things Celtic has revealed that Dom was keen to introduce an ambitious plan that would modernise the club.
Dominic McKay, Chairman of the EPCR, poses for a photograph with Abi Tierney, CEO of the WRU Group, with the Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup , as Cardiff and Bilbao are announced as host cities for the 2025 and 2026 European Rugby Finals respectively, at Principality Stadium on January 31, 2024 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)
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One of those plans was to introduce a sporting director, with current Bolton Wanderers sporting director Fergal Harkin lined up to take up that mantle.
Joseph even said that it’s not too late to implement McKay’s idea, and even suggested that the current hierarchy could remain in power and still make those positive changes.
Dominic McKay, EPCR Chairman speaks to the media during the EPCR 2023/2024 Season Launch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 22, 2023. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
He said: “In terms of the board, who knows? I mean, you could have the same board that are there if they were willing to give up the same structure.
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“I’m talking about Chris McKay, Michael Nicholson and Brian Wilson in those positions. If they are happy, and Dermot Desmond is happy, to say: ‘Look, we need a modern structure. We need the experts to come in, people who actually do these roles, football people to run the football operations.
‘We’ve got to trust them, and we’ll do the business side. They’ll come to us if something is going to be a major dent in our finances for this year’s budget.
“That’s how they could operate. Those people could still be at Celtic and do that role if they give up this structure. It’s the type of thing Dom McKay was wanting to do. He was wanting a sporting director. Fergal Harkin was one of the guys they were looking at quite strongly.
Dominic McKay, the chairman of the European Professional Club Rugby poses during the EPCR 2022/2023 Season Launch at Crowne Plaza Hotel Gerrards Cross on November 30, 2022 in Beaconsfield, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
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“I guess with Dom McKay, it was probably a case of he was trying to do too much too soon for a board that don’t like much change. But that’s the kind of thing Dom McKay was looking at, because that is how modern football clubs operate.”
I think Anthony is wrong in regard to our current custodians being the ones who could bring sweeping changes. The reason they got rid of such a positive and ambitious figure such as Dom McKay is because they don’t actually want change, so for me and the biggest majority of Celtic supporters they all need removing from their positions unless they are prepared to modernise Celtic’s football operations.
They have shown no willingness to do that, although the ultimately doomed appointment of Wilfried Nancy last December showed some sign that something had dawned on them that the football world was moving on and leaving Celtic behind.
3rd May 2026; Easter Road, Scottish Premiership, Hibernian versus Celtic; Brian Wilson, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay of Celtic. Photo Vagelis Georgariou
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The Celtic Board is at a crossroads yet they still have the opportunity to alter course and modernise the way the club is being operated. That doesn’t mean throwing everything we have in the bank at ill-considered transfer targets. Motherwell transformed their fortunes last season by bringing in a modern thinking and innovate coach while Celtic retain veteran boss Martin O’Neill.
Martin O’Neill, Manager of Celtic, looks on before the UEFA Europa League 2026/27 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and Celta Vigo at Celtic Park on October 22, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
That only works if there is a clear succession plan in operation with the new manager already looking at the club, the squad and working on his plans for next season. Martin had previously stated after his health scare that he definitely would be leaving at the end of the season.
Brian Wilson, Dermot Desmond and Michael Nicholson overseeing 2 x £40m Champions League misses…
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However from the reports that emerged from Greenock Michael Nicholson noted that there was a second year option and that suggests that they are not yet looking at bringing in a new modern thinking and preferably elite coach in the summer.
It’s time for change at Celtic and as Anthony Joseph has stated, there is still a place for the Celtic Board if they recognise this and do all they can to take the support with them on what would be very exciting journey.
Otherwise the only way is down.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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Celtic in the Fifties by Matt Corr, in two volumes, both published on 4th September 2026 by Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order.
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