Celtic 'vulnerable' to Qatari takeover as Fergus McCann's former advisor explains issue with ownership structure

The Celtic ownership structure leaves them ‘vulnerable’ to a Qatari takeover, according to Fergus McCann’s former advisor.

David Low is a lifelong Hoops fan and was instrumental in the Canadian businessman buying the club in the 90s and laying the foundations that has allowed Celtic to grow into what it has become today. Things off the pitch have never been better with the champions raking in eye-watering profits, mainly thanks to a return to the Champions League group stage.

Ange Postecoglou is keeping the trophies coming on the park, with a second successive Premiership title extremely likely come May. The Viaplay Cup is back in the cabinet and a Treble remains on the cards ahead of a Scottish Cup quarter-final tie against Hearts. Dermot Desmond can sit back contentedly, safe ion the knowledge that his club is in rude health.

But the fact that they are HIS club is what makes a takeover - the likes of which we have seen down south with Newcastle, Chelsea and perhaps soon, Manchester United - a possibility and something that Celtic fans need to be wary of.

"Celtic are doing swimmingly," Low told the Herald. "They are winning and they are extremely unlikely to ever be in a rescue situation. Corporately, they are very well run.

“(However), that hoary old subject, who owns the club. It was always very important to Fergus McCann and I, and to many others as well, that Celtic had the right balance between corporate ownership and fan ownership," he said. "To such an extent that Fergus committed to offering his half to the fans after five years to establish that balance.

"But not enough fans bought shares to enable them to own half. There were four share issues in 11 years (in 1995, 1999, 2001 and 2005). Fans were all shared