13th Feb 2026 21:06
(Alliance News) - Celtic PLC on Friday reported a decline in profit for a first half that saw a "great deal of change and disruption", with the football club on its third manager of the season.
Glasgow-based Celtic won a fourth Scottish league title in succession in May, but results on the pitch since have not been as emphatic this term. It believes there is "all to play for", however.
At the boardroom level, meanwhile, Peter Lawwell stepped down as chair at the end of December, being replaced by Brian Wilson on an interim basis.
In the six months to December 31, Celtic's pretax profit slumped 70% to GBP13.2 million from GBP43.9 million a year prior, with revenue sliding 29% to GBP59.4 million from GBP83.5 million.
Profit from player trading fell to GBP14.1 million from GBP21.5 million a year prior.
The revenue decline, Celtic said, was due to it participating in the UEFA Europa League, the secondary European competition, instead of the Champions League like a year prior. In the current 2025/2026 season, Celtic exited the Champions League before the league phase began. In the prior season, it made it out of the league phase and into the February play-off, succumbing to German champions Bayern Munich.
"Participation in the Champions League carries great financial as well as footballing significance," Chair Wilson added. "The decline in H1 revenue compared to the same period last year is primarily due to Europa League participation as opposed to Champions League participation, which we had last season.
"This reflects the lower media rights values associated with the competition along with lower ticket pricing."
Wilson added: "We witnessed a great deal of change and disruption in the six months to 31 December 2025. After winning our 4th successive league title last season and the 13th in 14 seasons, we were looking forward to the next campaign with positivity. We had no prior warning of the resignation of our then first team manager."
Brendan Rodgers left the manager position in October, so Celtic turned to Martin O'Neill on an interim basis to restore "stability". Celtic then appointed Wilfried Nancy as permanent manager in early December, but results were less-than-stellar, and he was then dismissed.
"We again turned to Martin, Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham and their backroom colleagues to steer the club through to the coming summer and are pleased to have seen Celtic return to winning football matches in early 2026. We owe them and the players, who have also had to deal with change and uncertainty, a great debt of gratitude," Wilson said.
"We are in contention in the SPFL with all to play for. We have progressed to the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup and the knockout phase of the Europa League."
Wilson added: "In recent months, the board has acknowledged that mistakes have been made. We are endeavouring to develop, enhance and refresh key areas of governance and strategies.
"The immediate priorities are to restore stability, achieve unity and deliver football success. These have provided the foundations for the achievements of the past 20 years - a period of outstanding success within the club's entire history."
Celtic shares rose 2.6% to 200.00 pence each in London on Friday.
By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor
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