Celtic chairman Ian Bankier will stand down from his role at the club from January 1st 2023.
Bankier joined the Celtic board as a director 11 years ago and was appointed chairman later in 2011. He has led the Parkhead club through an enormously successful period, including the 2016-17 invincible season, although calls for his exit arose during a disastrous 2020/21 term that saw them lose their quest for 10 titles in succession at the final hurdle.
Now Bankier will 'work closely with the club on a period of smooth transition.' He said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the club I will always love, as chairman, for more than ten years. Our aim was always to deliver success on and off the pitch and, above all, to give Celtic fans a club they could be proud of.
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"During this time, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work with so many fantastic people who have had Celtic in their hearts and worked so hard for our Club.
“I know the rest of the board will continue to seek the very best for Celtic at all times and will seek to ensure that Celtic maintains its position as the biggest and best club in Scottish football, as well as progressing as a force in European football.
“I wish the board, our fantastic manager Ange Postecoglou, our players and staff, and, of course, all our supporters' much-continued success as our great club continues to move forward.”
Director and principal shareholder, Dermot Desmond, commented: “I would like to thank Ian sincerely for his contribution to Celtic across the past decade.
“Ian has provided great counsel and stability across a sustained period of growth and success for the Club, and I wish Ian and his family well for the future.
“We will ensure that we work very closely with Ian over the next few months to deliver a smooth and effective transition prior to announcing his successor.”
Michael Nicholson, Celtic chief executive, added: “I would like to wish Ian the very best for the future.
“Ian has led the board with great skill and dedication during an important time in the club’s history and a period of success on and off the field.
“Throughout, Ian has been a source of constant support for all members of the board, and we are all grateful to him for that."
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