Mysterious billionaire Celtic shareholder reduces stake in club for second time in matter of weeks on eve of crucial AGM

A major Celtic shareholder has reduced their stake in the club for the second time in a matter of weeks, raising fresh questions ahead of a pivotal Annual General Meeting at Celtic Park on Thursday morning.

Lindsell Train Limited, the investment firm run by reclusive billionaire fund managers and valued at around £13 billion, has confirmed another cut to its Celtic shareholding. The company notified the London Stock Exchange of a further 0.82 per cent reduction—its second move in just over a month. In October, the firm trimmed its holding by 0.69 per cent, disposing of around 750,000 shares.

Together, the back-to-back reductions have seen Lindsell Train’s voting rights fall from 16.39 per cent to 14.88 per cent, a significant shift given its status as Celtic’s second-largest shareholder behind Dermot Desmond.

The timing has intensified intrigue. Shareholders will convene tomorrow at 10.30am to vote on 17 resolutions, including the reappointment of several senior figures: chairman Peter Lawwell, chief executive Michael Nicholson, chief financial officer Chris McKay and dominant shareholder Desmond himself.

Lindsell Train has been a long-standing presence in Celtic’s ownership structure and also holds major stakes in global football brands, including Juventus—where it is the third-largest shareholder. It once held a large position in Manchester United but abruptly slashed that stake by 20 per cent in 2024. Its repeated reduction in Celtic this autumn has sparked speculation about the firm’s long-term strategic direction.

The developments come despite Celtic announcing a strong financial performance in their most recent annual report, with profits more than doubling year-on-year. Yet the impressive financials have been overshadowed by growing fan unrest. Large sections of the support have become increasingly disillusioned with the running of the club, staging protests both before and after matches amid what many see as stagnation and mismanagement.

The tense atmosphere reached new heights following the dramatic departure of manager Brendan Rodgers. Rodgers, who returned to Celtic in 2023 with high expectations, resigned amid worsening relations behind the scenes. In the explosive fallout, principal shareholder Desmond released a public statement accusing Rodgers of fostering a “toxic atmosphere” at the club—an unprecedented intervention that further heightened divisions between the board and supporters.

Tomorrow’s AGM is expected to confront several of the season’s flashpoints head-on. The future of the Green Brigade—currently banned from Celtic Park—will be a key topic of scrutiny, with supporters demanding transparency on the ultras group’s exclusion and its impact on matchday atmosphere.

Additionally, the club’s ongoing managerial uncertainty looms large. Club legend Martin O’Neill has stepped in as caretaker manager following Rodgers’ exit, assisted by former midfielder Shaun Maloney. The pair will remain in charge for at least one more game, Saturday’s Premiership clash with St Mirren, but the search for a permanent successor continues to dominate debate.

With discontent brewing in the stands, questions swirling around leadership, and the club’s second-largest shareholder quietly stepping back, the AGM could prove one of the most consequential in years. Despite financial strength off the pitch, Celtic enters the meeting facing unresolved tensions, governance challenges and a fanbase demanding answers.

Whether tomorrow delivers clarity or deepens the crisis remains to be seen. But with another mysterious share reduction landing on the eve of the summit, all eyes will be fixed on Parkhead as the club braces for a defining moment in its modern era.