Two-thirds of Celtic fans are in favor of establishing an independently elected Fan Advisory Board, as revealed by recent research conducted by the University of Glasgow. The study, led by Professor Jeanette Findlay and Dr Marco Guidi of the Adam Smith Business School and funded by the British Academy Leverhulme Trust, sheds light on the areas where Celtic fans feel change is needed within the club.
The survey, which included input from Celtic stakeholders around the world, indicates a growing desire among fans for increased involvement in decision-making processes. This comes in the wake of widespread calls for greater fan participation in the wake of the European Super League debacle, which prompted the UK government to launch a fan-led review of football governance.
While England is moving towards establishing a new football regulator following the passage of a bill in parliament, a similar response has not yet been seen in Scotland. The survey results reveal that over 67% of Celtic fans support the creation of a Fan Advisory Board, with even higher levels of support among season ticket holders and fan organization members.
Notably, fans expressed dissatisfaction with Celtic’s current level of fan engagement, with a quarter of respondents rating it as either ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’. The study also found that active fans, such as season ticket holders and shareholders, were more critical of the club’s engagement efforts compared to the fan base at large.
Key findings from the research suggest that between 40 and 50% of fans believe the Fan Advisory Board should be established and managed by the Celtic Trust in collaboration with Celtic PLC. Additionally, a majority of respondents believe that the Board should be integrated into the Articles of Association of Celtic PLC.
Furthermore, fans expressed a preference for elected representatives to be chosen from a diverse range of supporters, including fan organizations, individual season ticket holders, and small shareholders. Professor Jeanette Findlay emphasized the importance of fan input in club decision-making processes, noting the increasing role fans are playing as stakeholders in the world of football.
The research findings are currently being shared with various stakeholder groups, including Celtic FC, to gather feedback before the final report is released. The hope is that these findings will stimulate meaningful conversations and lead to enhanced fan engagement and satisfaction within the club.