Simon Jordan would have been part of many AGMs during his time as the owner of Crystal Palace.
These meetings can prove to be very productive, or in Celtic’s case, they just make matters worse in a season where the relationship between fans and the board is now beyond repair.
Even before a word was uttered, this was a highly anticipated AGM, especially given that Brendan Rodgers resigned last month, Martin O’Neill was in interim charge, and a new manager was yet to be appointed.
But inside half an hour, Peter Lawwell cancelled Celtic’s AGM to the disgust and anger of the already frustrated supporters, who didn’t take too kindly to Ross Desmond’s quite incredible statement.
Celtic statement on AGM postponement
Such conduct is completely unacceptable and hugely disappointing, and while today’s events are completely outwith our control, clearly we regret the impact on our shareholders who were deprived of the opportunity to take part in an orderly and constructive meeting.
Ross DesmondSimon Jordan reacts to Ross Desmond’s statement at Celtic’s AGM
During Jordan’s time at Palace, his boyhood club, he took them from the Championship to the Premier League, and, at one point, at the age of 32, he was the youngest chairman in English football.
But in 2010, Palace were put into administration after financial issues, which brought an end to his tenure, so he knows a thing or two about facing hostile supporters.
After watching the scenes unfold at Celtic’s AGM, Jordan was left baffled by Ross Desmond being so ‘provocative’, ‘judgmental’ and ‘accusatory’ towards the paying fans, and then being shocked by the reaction.
“I felt that the statement in and of itself, I mean, I applauded Dermot’s statement about Brendan Rodgers,” said Jordan.
“I felt it was bold of him to do it. He wasn’t going to allow Brendan just to have the passing word and to have the narrative set for others, whilst Brendan escapes scot free from his consequences, so I admired that.
“I didn’t think that some of the statement, that was being read, was particularly conducive to achieving anything in that meeting (from Ross Desmond).
“It was provocative. It was judgmental. It was accusatory. Maybe that’s what is needed. But what you got is a reaction to it. If people were dissenting, and you are now giving them a lecture about how they should behave. What they do or don’t think. What they are and aren’t.”
Poll: Do you have faith in the Celtic board? Jordan defends Celtic fans’ reaction at the AGM
When the Celtic fans were chanting ‘sack the board’ or raising their red cards, Lawwell adjourned the meeting, before it continued half an hour later.
It’s okay for the Celtic board members to verbally batter the fans and take the high ground when they react, but the fans can’t voice their frustration?
Either way, Jordan was right to state about the supporters listening to Desmond’s garbage, ‘Did you expect them to sit there and take it?’
“To my mind, listening to that statement, it felt a little bit condescending,” added Jordan. “Maybe these people deserve to be condescended towards.
“But if you are going to do that. Have that sort of conversation. If you are going to give somebody a lecture, or a group of people in that room, who were clearly dissenting voices.
“If you are giving it to nobody that’s in the room. What was the point of it? It was obviously aimed at people in that room. What did you expect to do? Did you expect them to sit there and take it?
“Or did you expect them to say, ‘Well, hang on a second, we are going to be dissenting towards that. We have legitimate grievances. We are going to do what people do when they don’t like something.’
“Then to say, ‘we are going to stop the meeting.’ On the back of a statement, you wanted to put out. You have created the provocation in the room.
“And now you are closing the meeting on the back of it? Seems to me, it’s not the way to do it. But it’s easy to say when you aren’t there.”
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