LEEDS, ENGLAND - APRIL 19: Fans hold up a protest banner against Liverpool FC and the European Super League outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Leeds United and Liverpool at Elland Road on April 19, 2021 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
A prominent Celtic ultras group has displayed a banner outside Celtic Park directly targeting Dermot Desmond and frontrunner managerial candidate Robbie Keane.
The banner, shared on Instagram by the Bhoys Celtic ultras group, bears the blunt message “Desmonds and Keane f*** off,” making their opposition unmistakably clear.
The protest comes amid ongoing talks between Desmond, the Celtic board, and current manager Martin O’Neill over his future at the club.
O’Neill, 74, led Celtic to the Double last season despite a turbulent campaign, but uncertainty remains over whether he will commit to another year.
Should O’Neill decide against staying on, Keane is believed to be the frontrunner among outside candidates being considered for the role.
The former Ferencvaros boss has proven a deeply divisive figure among large sections of the Celtic support since his name first emerged as a genuine option.
Keane remains a polarising figure in his native Ireland due to his association with Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he launched his managerial career in 2023.
In Ireland, he was branded a “Zionist rat” and “Blood money Robbie,” and those same sentiments have taken root within significant parts of the Celtic fanbase.
The criticism centres on his decision to remain at Maccabi Tel Aviv following the horrific escalation of conflict in Gaza in October 2023, and his absence of any vocal support for the people of Palestine.
Keane eventually stepped down from Maccabi in 2024, and on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast he defended his position, saying: “Let’s make it clear—obviously, there has been a lot of stuff going on. I resigned at the end of the season from my post at Maccabi Tel Aviv.”
He further explained his reasoning, stating: “When it did happen (the war began), we left the country, but I have five staff members and a lot of foreign players who rely on me as their coach.”
Keane added: “We were winning the league, which the club hadn’t won in three years. We were in Europe and doing very well. My analyst, for example, has a mortgage, family, and kids he has to feed.”
He concluded: “The decision to walk away wasn’t only going to affect me; it would affect everybody else too, which made it tough.”
Despite the fierce opposition from supporters, reports indicate Keane is ready to build his backroom team around Scott Brown, Johnny Hayes, and Stephen Glass if he lands the Celtic job.
The banner outside Parkhead signals that a significant portion of the support will not quietly accept his appointment, setting up a potentially fractious period ahead for Celtic’s board.
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