john reid confirmed as new chairman

Gregor Kyle
IT was a day for ‘hellos and goodbyes’ at this year’s Annual General Meeting, with the board and shareholders bidding farewell to the departing chairman Brian Quinn and welcoming his successor, Dr John Reid, to the football club.

The appointment was welcomed by the overwhelming majority of the 350-plus shareholders who gathered at the event in the Kerrydale Suite at Celtic Park, while Brian Quinn received a standing ovation for his past seven-and-a-half years of unstinting service as chairman.

“John will be an excellent replacement,” said Mr Quinn in his welcome to the new chairman. “John is a man of high intellect, of great experience.

“He has run meetings and boards, because that’s what governmental departments are in a sense. He has strong leadership qualities, a great analytical capacity and those of you who have seen him on television and in debates will have seen him posed with really hostile questions.

“John handles that with great calmness and great aplomb, he is a very persuasive person and will be a great Celtic chairman. I have no doubt about that.”

Objections to the appointment were raised by a small minority of shareholders in attendance, with most of those centring on Dr Reid’s role in the Government during the recent conflict in Iraq.

His appointment was, however, confirmed by an overwhelming majority of shareholders, with just 0.79 per cent voting against.

In accepting the position Dr Reid said: “Notwithstanding anyone’s comments today, but I regard being invited to be chairman of this club as the greatest honour of my life.

“I have served in high office, sometimes that’s been an office whose product the vast majority of you would agree with and I am proud that we brought to an end 800 years of conflict and tragedy in Northern Ireland and I thought that some of the commentators might have mentioned that today.

“But let me make one point absolutely clear, I respect the right of everyone in this club to have their own views, their own background, their own religion and their own politics – that is what has made this club different from some other clubs.

“But when we come into this club we leave that background and religious and political division at the door of the club. Celtic Football Club is not a forum for political debate and division.”

The appointment of the new chairman was the main issue at the AGM, although one other appointment was made to the board, with lifelong supporter and former British Telecom board member, Ian Livingston, bringing his vast experience and knowledge from the Information Technology industry.

His appointment was also passed with a landslide majority, as was the re-election to the board of Brian McBride, Eric Riley and Dermot Desmond.

A further six resolutions were then passed by the shareholders, largely pertaining to the club’s Report of Accounts, Re-numeration Report, the reappointment of auditors and concerning shares and share options.

The shareholders were then allowed the opportunity to question the board on club matters and recent business, with Chief Executive Peter Lawwell responding to and clarifying the present ticket policy and allocation of seating for UEFA Champions League matches.

One other concern was what is perceived to be an ongoing campaign in some sections of the media, backed by ‘a very small minority of fans’, against the current manager, Gordon Strachan.

“I have the opportunity here to say thank you very much to the board, chairman and Peter Lawwell for their support because, as Peter says, it’s quite ludicrous what you have to deal with in this job,” said the manager.

“What I can’t deal with is the ridiculous statements, the fantasy world, but what keeps me sane is the support of Celtic supporters who come up and give me their full support. That makes me happy for 24 hours, that keeps me going.”

As the meeting was concluded it fell to Brian Quinn to make a final address to the shareholders and the outgoing chairman concluded: “I am not going to embarrass people by being sentimental, because, according to my sons it’s not in my nature.

“I lack passion because I don’t jump up and down all the time, but they misunderstand. The passion is in there.

“I won’t say I’ve loved every minute, there have been stressful times and there have also been feelings of disappointment. But let me stress, the good has far outweighed the bad.

“From my point of view it’s been a great 11-and-a-half years and a great seven-and-a-half years as chairman. I hand over the club and chair to an able and committed board, headed by John Reid.

“Celtic are on the way up, we can only do it with the support of the fans and shareholders, you have been magnificent, thank you all very much.”