JUST GO NOW
Celts fans call on Bankier to quit the club
CELTIC were last night forced to defend club chairman Ian Bankier after three separate supporters’ groups demanded his resignation.
The Celtic Trust, Affiliation of Registered Celtic Supporters’ Clubs and the Green Brigade accused him of an ‘unforgivable slur’ on fans opposed to the re-election of his fellow director Lord Ian Livingston.
They all put their names to a stronglyworded attack on Bankier, who had accused some fans of ‘criminally racist’ online abuse of the Tory peer.
This followed Lord Livingston being targeted for removal by a section of the Parkhead support after he recently voted in favour of the UK Government’s tax-credit cuts policy in the House of Lords.
Bankier later clarified his comments after last Friday’s AGM, insisting: ‘I have not branded our supporters racist and it is
outrageous to suggest that I would ever do that. ‘I was only referring to a small number of specific comments which have been made on social media, which I believe are unacceptable, and I know Celtic supporters would agree with me.’ But Bankier, who also pointed out that Celtic ‘are not a conduit for political statements and campaigns’, came under fire in a statement released on behalf of the three fans’ groups yesterday. It read: ‘Following the disgraceful remarks made by Ian Bankier, chairman of Celtic PLC to the Celtic PLC AGM, the undersigned organisations feel it necessary to express our anger at these allegations. ‘Mr Bankier’s claim that fans opposed to the re-election of Mr Livingston to the board have engaged in “criminally racist” social media postings is an unforgivable slur on the Celtic support. ‘For him to then evoke the name of Brother Walfrid (founder of Celtic) to justify his unfounded assertion is utterly shameful. ‘We are now, since the AGM took place, aware that there were some postings on social media which we condemn and we would back the club, and Mr Livingston, should they take action against those individuals. ‘None of this is a justification for the generalised smearing of the support and, in particular, those of us who voted against Mr Livingston’s re-election. ‘Mr Bankier committed an error of judgment and showed a complete lack of control at the AGM and this is not acceptable. ‘We would like to condemn his unprofessional behaviour and the subsequent attempts to suggest that his words had been taken out of context, as this patently was not the case. ‘Ultimately, we are of the belief that Mr Bankier is no longer able to redeem himself following this attack on the Celtic support, and his failure to apologise immediately afterwards, and we call on him to give serious consideration to his position.’ Celtic last night came out in defence of the chairman, saying: ‘Ian made his position clear on Friday when he thanked, praised and commended supporters and shareholders and clarified that he had not branded our fans as some had suggested. ‘Ian was referring to those individuals that the Trust in their statement have also condemned, so we seem to be in agreement. ‘We are surprised and disappointed that a public statement has been made without any dialogue with the club.’