Dermot Desmond has become a divisive figure amongst the vast majority of the Celtic supporters.
Many believe Desmond is too involved in areas of Celtic’s business that he should be nowhere near at the club.
Celtic’s transfers have come under scrutiny on more that one occasion with plenty of Hoops supporters believing that Desmond puts his nose in there too.
Of course, officially, Desmond doesn’t get involved in the club’s transfer business but there are rumours abound that the largest Celtic shareholder was influencing this summer’s activity.
But it was the signing of Celtic midfielder Luke McCowan that the Irish billionaire was said to have been heavily involved in and, this afternoon, ACSOM’s Paul John Dykes clears up that specific rumour.
Dermot Desmond had ‘nothing to do’ with Celtic’s signing of Luke McCowan
Andrew Smith of Celtic Underground stated that Desmond was involved in signing Luke McCowan last summer.
But after speaking to someone who was involved in that particular deal, Paul John has set the record straight.
Paul John told A Celtic State of Mind, ” I had it from source on Friday night. No chance. Dermot Desmond had nothing to do with that deal. Nothing whatsoever. And what actually happened with regards to the deal, believe this or not, but this is the way it went.
“Craig Strachan, you know, from Celtic’s recruitment team, he was negotiating the deal with Gordon Strachan at Dundee and that is how it was working, right?
“So Craig Strachan was negotiating with Gordon Strachan, and there there came a point, and it was transfer deadly day as you’ll remember, it was a late one, right.
“So Hibs and Celtic had offered 800 grand for McCowan, and he didn’t want to go to Hibs because all this stuff about him being a Celtic fan is 100% true.
“He didn’t want to go to Hibs and Dundee were not going to accept 800 grand. Right. So Luke McCowan jumped in his car. Celtic said, “We’re not going above 800 grand.” Right.
“McCowan’s on his way home. He’s on his way back up to Dundee and gets a phone call and gets told come back to Celtic Park, they’ve upped the bid to a million pounds. They’ve met what Dundee want for for you. Come back and sign the deal.
“And he was delighted and he couldn’t hide his delight in that video where he walks out the tunnel. But that’s how that deal was done. Dermot Desmond had absolutely no part to play in the deal, and that came from source on Friday night.
“So it’s just one of those things. It’s not a dig at Andrew H Smith. He’s a guy that I’ve enjoyed his work for a long, long time. You get information I guess from various sources. But that was that was a direct source. So there you go.”
So whilst we are happy to give a kicking to any Celtic board member if it is due, Born Celtic is also happy to help set the record straight when it is required.
This does not mean that this will change fan feeling or action against Desmond or the board.
This simply means that the Irish billionaire and the Parkhead boardroom are off the hook for this matter alone.
