Dermot Desmond focused on his round ahead of Irish Open

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The Celtic Star

·4 settembre 2025

Dermot Desmond focused on his round ahead of Irish Open

Dermot Desmond made a rare public appearance following Celtic’s shambolic transfer window when he was spotted with Rory McIlroy during a Pro-Am round at The K-Club…

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship 2024 Dermot Desmond

The man who calls all the shots at the club despite owning 34.7% of shares in Celtic PLC was seen on Wednesday morning strolling the course with McIlroy in the lead-up to the Irish Open.

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The grass in this case is greener on the fairway for Desmond who stepped back into the public eye following heavy criticism from fans about Celtic’s ludicrous approach in the summer transfer market.

Supporters groups including The Green Brigade, fan media outlets including The Celtic Star, plus numerous CSCs voiced their discontent with the club’s transfer dealings after photos circulated online showing banners directed at Desmond, Michael Nicholson, and Peter Lawwell at Ibrox on Sunday.

theRangers v Celtic,31 August 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Celtic concluded the transfer window with 11 new arrivals, among them Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand, Ross Doohan, Hayato Inamura, Shin Yamada, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Marcelo Saracchi, Michel-Ange Balikwisha, Sebastian Tounekti, and the free signing of Kelechi Iheanacho.

Departures from the squad included Nicolas Kuhn, Adam Idah, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Marco Tilio, Kwon, Greg Taylor, Scott Bain, Luis Palma, Maik Nawrocki, Stephen Welsh, Adam Montgomery, and Josh Clarke.

Celtic closed the window with an estimated net profit of roughly £13.6m, not including potential sell-on fees from Jeremie Frimpong’s move to Liverpool and Ben Doak’s transfer to Bournemouth. Factoring in those amounts, the Celtic board likely negotiated around £20m in overall transfer profits – a complete farce given they have sold Idah and failed to replace him or indeed Kyogo.

UEFA Champions League Celtic Glasgow vs Young Boys Bern, Celtic Park. Goal celebration by Kyogo Furuhashi however VAR rules out the goal. Photo Joeran Steinsiek IMAGO

Given the last accounts showed that Celtic had £65.4m in the bank, could we see this increase to potentially £70-80m or even £90m in the next month? Hoarding this amount of cash is surely a dereliction of duty.

Meanwhile, Chris Sutton described the summer transfer window as “the most remarkable of all time,” rightfully arguing that Celtic ultimately emerged from it in a weaker position from when the window opened in the middle of June.

Peter Lawwell, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay watch on during the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup Quarter-Final match between Celtic and Hibernian at Celtic Park on March 09, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Posting on X, Sutton said: “The most remarkable window of all time. Celtic have come out of it weaker! At least Celtic are doing everything they can for there to be a title race this season…

“Going into a season with great expectation and excitement after a few weeks the feeling now is utter deflation.”

The most remarkable window of all time. Celtic have come out of it weaker🤦‍♂️… at least Celtic are doing everything they can for there to be a title race this season… going into a season with great expectation and excitement after a few weeks the feeling now is utter deflation…
– martedì 2 settembre 2025

Conor Spence

Celtic in the Eighties – Out Now! In Celtic shops on Friday…

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, out now!

Celtic in the Eighties by the late, great David Potter is published tomorrow, Friday 5 September by Celtic Star Books. All pre-ordered copies have now been signed by Celtic legend Danny McGrain who has also written the foreword for David Potter’s final book.

These copies have now been posted to everyone who has pre-ordered with copies being send all over the world. It’s been an incredible response, so thank you to each and every one of you who will be receiving your signed book shorty.

Celtic in the Eighties will be available in the Celtic superstore and all other club shops from Friday 5 September. And don’t forget that you can still purchase your copy directly from Celticstarbooks.com for same day postage. The next 30 orders will also receive a FREE copy of an earlier David Potter book, Alec McNair, Celtic’s Icicle then that wonderful David Potter book will be out of stock.