Since their formation in 2006, the Green Brigade have been a defining force in the Celtic support—combining relentless backing of the team with strong political and cultural identity.

Based in the North Curve, their displays, chants, and social activism have become inseparable from the modern matchday experience at Celtic Park. But behind the spectacle lies a growing rift between the group and the club’s board, with relations now at a worrying standstill.

The group recently spoke to fan outlet 90 Minute Cynic, outlining how all official contact with the club ceased in December 2023 during a ban imposed by Celtic. Since then, multiple attempts to re-open dialogue have been ignored or brushed off.

For over a decade prior, the Green Brigade engaged in structured meetings with board members and Supporter Liaison Officer John Paul Taylor, allowing concerns on both sides to be aired and tensions managed behind closed doors. That pragmatic, if not always smooth, relationship has now evaporated.

A key source of frustration is the approach of CEO Michael Nicholson. While he had previously been part of productive meetings with the group in his earlier role, they say his promotion to CEO marked a stark withdrawal. He is now described as a “bland nothingness”, with the group accusing him of offering platitudes and political posturing instead of honest engagement.

Peter Lawwell, for all the clashes during his tenure, is credited by the group for at least maintaining open lines of communication. It was under Lawwell that the Green Brigade were first granted their section at Celtic Park—something they remember as a product of negotiation and mutual recognition, not always agreement, but a working relationship nonetheless.

Beyond internal matters, wider issues have further soured trust. There is a growing perception among the Green Brigade and other supporters that while the club’s board happily market Celtic’s heritage of Irish identity, working-class roots, and solidarity with global causes, they do not allow those values to be expressed organically by the support. Displays highlighting social justice or standing with the people of Palestine, for instance, have often drawn punitive responses from the club or outside authorities—with little backing from Parkhead.

This sense of double standards has been compounded by recent policing controversies. The kettling of supporters by Police Scotland before the Glasgow derby in March sparked outrage across fan groups. Yet while the club told the wider support that they were engaging with official supporter associations in response, the Green Brigade say no such meetings or discussions have taken place. The club have commissioned an independent inquiry into the incident.

At a time when clubs across Europe are under pressure to stay connected to their roots, Celtic find themselves at risk of turning their back on one of the most passionate parts of their support.

The Green Brigade are not without criticism—but shutting the door on them, and on genuine supporter concerns, does little to protect the club’s identity. If anything, it puts it at greater risk. The board should be doing more.

For those looking to understand more about the current situation—and to hear directly from the Green Brigade themselves—the full conversation is available on the Cynic podcast. It offers valuable insight into the group’s perspective and the issues at the heart of their ongoing dispute with the club.

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-cynic-a-celtic-fc-podcast/id1053266080?i=1000710660068