McKAY EXITS
Celtic chief quits for ‘personal reasons’ after just two months
DOM McKAY last night dropped a bombshell on Celtic by quitting the club ‘for personal reasons’ barely two months after becoming chief executive.
Hired as Peter Lawwell’s long-term successor in January, news of the former Scottish Rugby chief operating officer’s decision to stand down was relayed to the Stock Market shortly before the close of business. A lifelong Celtic supporter, McKay had worked in tandem with Lawwell since April. He was to officially assume control on July 1 but took the reins when Ange Postecoglou was unveiled as Neil Lennon’s managerial successor on June 10.
Although 42-year-old McKay’s departure comes shortly after the closure of a transfer window that has delivered 12 new signings, the development is an untimely blow to the club — just when it appeared that a period of huge transition at all levels at Celtic Park was beginning to settle down.
His position will be filled in the short-term by club legal chief Michael Nicholson, with the search for a successor now beginning.
Last night, a Celtic statement read: ‘Celtic Football Club announced today that Chief
Executive Dom McKay has stood down from his position for personal reasons.
‘Dom McKay said: “I’d like to thank the Board and everyone at Celtic for their support and wish everyone at Celtic every success for the future”.
‘Celtic Chairman Ian Bankier said: “We thank Dom for his efforts on behalf of the Club and everyone wishes Dom and his family very well for the future”.’
The statement contained no words from Nicholson, however, with chairman Bankier extolling his virtues as a ‘team player’.
It continued: ‘Celtic’s Director of Legal and Football Affairs Michael Nicholson, who has been with the Club since 2013, has been appointed to the Board of Celtic plc as acting Chief Executive Officer.
‘Following a successful career in sports law, Michael Nicholson (45) joined Celtic in 2013 as Company Secretary and Head of Legal. Michael was promoted to Director of Legal and Football Affairs in 2019.
‘He has been at the centre of executive decision-making at Celtic during his time at the club, working directly with the Board, the Chief Executive and the Football Department.
‘Michael carries the confidence of the Board and his colleagues. He is widely known and highly regarded in football circles in the UK and in Europe.’
Bankier was quoted as saying: ‘It has been my pleasure to work closely with Michael for more than eight years now. Having been at the heart of the senior executive and reporting to the Board, he has a solid grip on how to achieve our immediate and future objectives.
‘Michael is an absolute team player and he will lead an experienced and talented team of executives and colleagues at Celtic.
‘Everyone at Celtic will, of course, work collectively and focus strongly on ensuring we continue to drive the club forward in every area, on and off the field.
‘The Board, Ange, our management team and all our staff will continue to work together with the ultimate objective, as always, of delivering success for our supporters.’
Aside from Postecoglou’s unveiling, McKay had kept a low public profile since moving to Parkhead.
At a series of meetings with fans groups, he had spoken of the need to modernise all aspects of the club but leaves with the position of director of football still vacant.
News of his departure came after Postecoglou faced the media ahead of today’s home game against Ross County.
Postecoglou had recently spoken about his satisfaction with seeing 12 new players finally arrive — a sharp contrast with the way he publicly aired his frustrations at the slow rate of recruitment following the club’s exit to Midtjylland in the Champions League.
He said that night: ‘Maybe I wasn’t clear enough — I don’t know. I think I’ve been pretty consistent in saying we need more players in.’
At the time of Postecoglou’s unveiling in June, McKay had spoken of his excitement at securing the services of a manager with such pedigree.
‘I’m delighted that we’ve managed to secure Ange as the new manager of Celtic Football Club,’ he said. ‘Ange is an outstanding leader and an outstanding manager.
‘In all my discussions with him to date, I’ve been really impressed by his enthusiasm for Celtic, and his keenness to work with me to modernise and develop the footballing structures and the non-footballing structures to make sure we are the successful club we need to be for the generation ahead.
‘His experience at the international level, having taken Australia to World Cups, is hugely impressive, as is his experience of winning both in Australia and Japan, so I’m excited about securing a winning manager and in securing someone who wants to drive forward the club in a way that I think everyone will be really proud about.
‘We’ve spent a lot of time chatting through the playing side, the coaching side and the footballing operations side.’