 Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Two Match Day Hospitality Prizes to be won by Celtic Quick News readers
Our old friend NeilR, who corresponded daily before emigrating to Chile, was back ‘home’ earlier in the month and treated me to a bit of pre-match hospitality at No. 7 before the Aberdeen game - all free gratis with his Celtic MasterCard points.
A five course lunch before the game (main course of fillet streak with bacon, black pudding and haggis), was followed by a comfy seat to watch Big John stick the ball away.
Oh yes, there was also a free bar - got a lift home that day.
Anyway, why am I boring you with all this? Neil, always one to look for ways of helping Celtic improve its commercial earnings, was digging me up a bit about not having a Celtic MasterCard.
You see I keep on talking about how Celtic should be doing this, or renaming that, to earn a bit of extra cash without reverting to our collective pockets, but I do not have a Celtic MasterCard.
Pre-match lunch at No. 7 is an excellent once a season jolly, and if it brings in more money to the club, then I suppose I should be doing it. With the amount I stick on plastic I will soon get there.
Anyway, I am getting to the point, Neil, sticking to the point of this web site - helping our beloved club - has offered two Celtic Quick News readers Hospitality Pre-match Lunch at No. 7 before a game. To enter this competition all you need to do is one of the following:
1. Renew your season book and apply for a Celtic MasterCard. Or
2. Apply for a season book (or join the waiting list) and a Celtic MasterCard.
This package has been selling for £175 per game, which is just about enough to cover the bar bill of a quite North Stand resident let loose in the sweetie shop for a day.
As we all know, we are being held back by our low non-match-day income. There is no point waiting on Celtic to fix this, after all, it is our club, no-one else’s.
The competition will close on the 31st May, though if you have a season book you only have until this Friday to renew. You can renew on the Celtic web site, or by calling 0870 060 1888.
You should have a MasterCard application form with your season book renewal, if not you can apply on the Celtic MasterCard web site or by calling 0800 028 2440.
To enter, send an email to 1967@lisbonlions.com with the subject 'Hospitality Competition' and stating your name. Verification of your applications will be required before the prize will be confirmed.
I know, I know, shamelessly trying to bring commercial income into the club, where will we end-up if this kind of nonsense takes off, England? (Ed. shhh, that is the next article).
153 Comments:
-
Paul,
I have only read the first 2 paras so far and need to ask the question.
Are you David Murray?
;-)kidding.
No, I read the first 2 chapters and thought straight away ""He's ripping the "Ewan Cameron"(rhyming slang) out of "Jabba The Hut"(lookalikey) here."
The other person I feel who is mainly getting the "Ewan" ripped out of them, is the dark nemesis - David Mordor.
DD's latest comments have attracted unbelievable spin from the scribes...
"DD forced into financing Celtic to the tune of £15M, as banks close in on the club in debt", or words to that effect. I can't recall who printed this story, but it is an absolute "Ewen" take from DD to DM(ordor).{remember last summer.......}
Now this is where I start to struggle?
Are these well paid journalists really so thick to write this stuff, or are THEY taking the "Ewen", and therefore presenting us with the double whammy?
Or,
Do they know a more believeable version of what is happening, and so believe that keeping it real close to their chest {and all knowledge of this blog, ;-)}, they will GET THAT SCOOP (as soon as they have the balls to print it!).
Or I ask again. Are they really that thick?
I'm away back to read the rest of your article now.
duc
-
What a shameless attempt @ capitalism? It saddens me to see such an erudite media such as CQN sleek to such depths!
It was pushing commercialism enough to promote early renewal of season tickets, given the backdrop of such a difficult footballing season, married to the lack of player investment of recent years, but to transfer the in your face matchday experience at Celtic Park of those smiley wee souls punting Celtic MasterCard with their clipboards to hand from the stadium concourse to CQN is just not on!!
Pauk67, methinks you have outed yourself once & forall in the light of recent comments.
What was & can still be a really positive vehicle for Celtic "Supporters" seems to have sold out!!!!!!!!!!
Shame on you
-
Finished.
First thoughts are that,
1. you will get a lot of backing from this article through inevitable postings and participation in the competition, from regular contributors and occasional visitors.
2. some posters will inevitably get on your case and the accusations that you are a puppet of the board will commence again.
I know from reading your posts for the best part of a year, that you can handle any criticism that comes your way.
I hope such criticism is in the minority, and that the readers realise what you are trying to do, is solely for the good of Celtic Football Club.
duc
-
This is going to be a real interesting blog.
morethanjustaclub 1
apologists 0
ImAlanRoughsittingonthefencesomyvotedisnaecountCSC :sticks tongue out:
-
that does it paul, i've got to say something.I strongly advise you to desist from posts of this nature if you want to preserve the the integrity of this site and keep some kind of balance inherent. Why?............well I dont want to go to deeply into the base tenets and structure of democracy in the modern world but the introduction of blatant commercialism into your "BLOGG" makes it entirley clear where your coming from and what you(or who)your bidding represents. I come to this site to get away from this, but i am forced to comment. Normally I only read, reading this site usually adds another prespective to my own thoughts on various issues concerning celtic and I'm sorry to say this may be my first and last post unless you can convince me unequivocably that you will restore the the "blogg" atmosphere to the site. In fact you might even lose me as a reader and I suspect a few others. Tread wearily mate.
-
I truly believe that Martin O'Neil will be the Celtic Manager for another 5 years. If he was to leave Celtic, I believe he would walk away from the club and football, for a minimum 2 years.
I also do not foresee the board excusing Martin from his contract in the next 5 years, as I believe he will continue to deliver success to the fans in this period.
I look forward to the next stage of the modernisation of football as we know it, and I'm happy that Celtic Football Club are going to be a part of the imminent odyssey.
I'm backing the apologists!
And do you know why?
Because I believe in what the board are doing. Fergus started the revolution, and the current board are continuing to lead us on the correct path.
You doubters should trust the people in charge of our club. This is the most successful time we have had for years and I want them to continue.
I believe DD, C, BFox et al are ready to bury DM and his arrogant bigoted club, and at the same time distance ourselves from THEM in more ways than one.
Keep the faith,
duc
-
morethanjustaclub's 2
apologist's 1
Alan Rough's scorecard.
-
How would the morethanjustaclubs' feel about Sutton, Hartson, Thommo and Lennon leaving this summer?
>> 1. Would you welcome this news or blame Martin and the Board?
or
2. Would you find this the last straw for Martin and the Board?
or
3. None of the above - I have my own opinion of this scenario, which I will post forthwith.
-
I would like to think that our scouting department are ready to prove their worth very shortly when Martin enters the transfer market. Five years has been a long time for Tom to come up with the goods, but let's believe that that has been his remit for the past few years, and his expertise is now going to be put to good use.
A few middle aged seasoned profesionals and a couple of highly priced well scouted young twenty somethings will do me this summer.
Bellamy will be the cherry on the cake.
duc
-
Before I sign of to the land of nod...
Bobo Balde's contract?
Could it be possible that Martin took Bobo aside at the end of the transfer window in January and told him this;
"Bobo, if you sign this 4 year extension, I promise you that come the summer, there is no way you will want to leave this club.
If you do want to leave come July 1st, I will let you go for nothing and you can write that into your new contract.
If, come July 1st, you still think that Middlesboro is the place you want to play your football, I give you my word that I will not stand in your way, and your clause will kick in"
duc
-
Paul,your true colours are starting to come out as clear as day.
I noticed in a recent post when asked about the share issue all you really had to say was I'm not allowed to say at the moment, so who is not allowing you to say anything?We will not be taken for fouls.If we wanted a Celtic credit card we would have stopped outside Parkhead and filled in a form,same with the season ticket renewals,will be done in our own good time,you seem to be pushing this season ticket renewal and the buying of shares mighty hard.You are a lot closer to the men in suits than you are letting on.
"Only a North stand punter" we get the message no need to repeat this continually.
No,I'm not a hun before anyone asks.
Orwell84
-
morethanjustaclub's 3
apologist's 1
that's if Orwel84's post is a one of and not one of those made previous.
this is hard. think i will stop this poll now. anybody want to take up the scoring?
Alan Rough.
-
The Mastercard arena?.
To the tune of the maley song.
To get into debt the glasgow celtic way - Ohh they gave us 18 percent and how to get into debt another way, they gave us celtic tv, setanta and a trip down bankrupt way - and soon the pay per view will put us on the brew and get into debt the glasgow celtic way
Ohh they gave us 18 percent and some mastercard points every day,
they gave us debt management but oor hooses were still taken away
- and as per its the punters who always pay -
Ohh they gave us 18 percent for the players and board to live a certain way ,they gave us more misery and now we have to pray
and most of the timaloy are now down the pawn shop
to pay their debts the celtic mstercard wayyyyyyyyyy.
----------
When they hassle you with the boards just say 2 words second ones aff and let them put the first word to it.
-
I was at Henks last league game v Dundee utd courtesy of accumulating 5000 points on Celtic's mastercard.
Fantastic end of season treat and a genuine credit card incentive scheme.
-
How much more money do they expect to suck us fans dry for?We are already above the average fan when it comes to paying money into the club compared to most other European teams.
Time the board got their thinking caps on and did a bit of raising capital on their own,how about an ice cream van run?A bingo hall?
When we the average fan puts a lot of money into shares(for the small salaries we get on average against DDs millions)what happened?The share price dropped like a lead balloon.When the real money men arrive on the scene and buy big along with DD & friends,there is only one way the shares will go and that is sky high.I'm with you all the way Negative Anon.
Now why didn't our Irish friends buy shares a few years back,(when needed most to continue the level of Seville era)'cos they new what way the prices were going at CP.
Usual,get all the money off the fans then tell them what they are going to do with it,that way they don't have to lie about building youth camps before hand.We don't have a first team training ground never mind a "youth camp" Can't use the training ground excuse,they have used that one too, a bit of spin and the money is for Youth,why have youth if you don't play any of them?
Never ever cross their minds to tell us a few weeks before renewals?
Sorry they have already done this too,running out of ideas of how to screw the fan.Get off your lazy arses and get some investment into Celtic on your own.
Anon 6.34
Very well put together but I think your version is a lot better,it strikes at the very heart of what is going on.
Why don't Celtic just put up three big balls up above the main stand as sponsors as the board is ripping US off anyway not Celtic(one in the same)
Time to keep the money at CP and not get flogged doon the Barras for a song.
passionate fan
-
Terry,how much interest did you pay on your credit card over the space of a year?You could be one of the very lucky people that pays all your balance before the 30 days and have no interest.One of my interest payments alone would have bought a season ticket,free? nothings free in life,if your not paying it,I'm paying it,the board aren't paying it.
-
Great reaction guys.
The opportunity to get something back for basically doing what you were planning to do, renew your season ticket and then look at a credit card (most of us will have one already) and consider the benefits compared to the one you currently have.
It's a free choice, you do not suddenly lose the right to your seat if you choose not to do it.
We want better players and a bigger stage to play on and yet some are not prepared to even consider options for bringing in extra finance.
Crack on Paul great job.
-
Paul,
I wholeheartedly agree that the Mastercard (MBNA) Celtic card is a great way to both give something to, and get something from, the club. I've had my Celtic card for a year now and was able to treat myself and the wife to the No7 feast (I had the steak and black pudding as well, you're obviously a man of discerning taste). A free bar and the chance to chat to Tom Boyd, George McCluskey etc. Unfortunately, it was the 0-2 Hearts game, which took the shine off the occasion.
This card is a win-win. I even transferred all my direct debits to it, as this keeps the points rolling in. The club makes money and we get freebie days out, happiness all round.
One word of caution, though. IF (deliberate big IF) you are able to clear your balance each month, this is a great card to have, if you can't, there are better cards on the market in terms of interest charges.
(see moneysavingexpert.com).
Keep spreading the good word
Liam H
-
There have been a lot of people on this site waiting to take a run at Celtic quick news in recent weeks. I wasn't one of them but this latest "offer" is absolutely disgusting.
It will also question just how objective Paul can be.
Paul - how much commission are you on?
Sadly Celtic Quick news looks like going the same way as previous fansites.
Matt Mcglone sold out, John Cole and bhoyzone sold out, Etims sold out....and now Celtic Quick.
Celtic Quick Buck.
-
Anon 8.46
You posted 'It will also question just how objective Paul can be'
You need to explain that one to me.
Sorry mate, I don't see how suggesting ways to help our club is in some way 'selling out'.
-
I'm a bit confused about all the hand-wringing going on here. If you want the card, get it. If you don't don't! Not difficult is it?
If you already own a (non-celtic) card and can afford to pay off your balance each month, why not change? It is not Celtic "sucking more money from the fans" it is an offer, no more, no less.
Honestly, from some of the comments on here you'd think people were frogmarched into the superstore to buy shirts, mugs etc. I wonder if these are the same supporters who demand that millions are spent every year and who are not going to renew their books because they've spat the dummy?
The Alan Rough Scorecard?
Morethanjustaclub's 0
Morethanjustaclub'sbutwantsomefinancialsense 500
C1888
-
Hi Paul,
Stick to the blogging, most of us know about the Celtic Mastercard being season ticket holders, having visited the Celtic website or having visited various stores. There are many ways these are advertised and i'm sure there are specific people responsible for the sale of these particular products. Stick to what you are appreciated for - your non commercial CQN blogging website.
cheers
Freddiebhoy
-
Astonishing Paul67 that you have gone down this road. There is a time and a place for things. Have you lost your marbles ?
-
Mmmmm. Interesting. Having a credit card does not equal financial irresposibility.
You have your choice of credit cards with benefits for an organisation. Many 'charity' cards, many for sporting clubs etc. Is the point of earlier posters that we should not be doing this at all-when every other major club is doing it?Or....
is it that Paul shouldn't be 'encouraging' people to get into debt? Frankly, the notion that it is the latter is ridiculous. If you are going to be irresponsible with credit then that is your look out.Or don't we have free will any more? Yes, there are issues with banks giving cedit too easily. So for the sake of CQN readers who don't what happens with credit cards here is the health warning:-
YOU ARE CHARGED INTEREST IF YOU DON'T PAY THE BALANCE IN FULL EACH MONTH. IF YOU PAY ONLY THE MINIMUM PAYMENT EACH MONTH IT MIGHT TAKE A HELLUVA LONG TIME(I.E. FOREVER) TO PAY THE THING OFF. IF YOU DON'T FANCY THAT DON'T GET ONE AT ALL, NEVER MIND ONE THAT WILL BENEFIT THE TEAM YOU SUPPORT.
-
The dominie,
I questioned his objectivity because as soon as Paul is privvy to information that ordinary supporters aren't then he is no longer one of us.
Sometimes this will be good as he'll be able to provide information he would be able to do otherwise.
However it's also possible that the board use him to their advantage. For example let's say their is not substantial investment in the team this summer. Paul might say but there are things you don't know about but it's the correct way to go....I see someone has alluded to this above.
The mastercard add and the line
"As we all know, we are being held back by our low non-match-day income. There is no point waiting on Celtic to fix this, after all, it is our club, no-one else’s. "
No point on waiting for the club to fix it?????
Anyway I'm just going to finish reading the Brother Walfrid booklet. I wonder what he'd make of it all.
-
Paul - I think some of the boys like this site because it gets us all away from the corporate world we work in, that's maybe why there's a backlash to your post. Personally it doesn't appeal to me either & i don't think it's suitable for the site, but what's wrong with a polite 'no' rather than all the aggression from anonymous posters. I wouldn't take it to heart, but at the same time you don't want folk coming on & selling Golf Shoes , Sky Dishes, Ford Capri's etc - if you know what i mean.
Anyways - Lambert getting the Livingston job doesn't sit well with me at all. Basically in the final year of his Celtic Contract we paid him £30 grand a week to be trained as a Coach in Germany. Lambert has been a big player for Celtic & i wish him every success, but it really riles me especially as many punters make big financial sacrifices for Celtic.
-
Really cannot see what the fuss is about! I am not a lover of credit cards and choose not to use them. If I did, then why not use one that would bring some benefit to the club at no extra cost to me? And if you are going to renew your season book...
Paul, you have been accused of showing your true colours. Well, the only colours I can see are green and white (hoops!) to the core. You have also been accused (recently and in the past) of being a mouthpiece for the Board. I don't believe it, but if it were to be true then at least somebody in a seat of power and influence at Celtic Park is talking some sense these days (unlike the dark, misguided days of the Kellys, Grants, Whites etc)!! Keep up the good work.
-
Ah Paul
Rather disappointing. I wouldn't dare impugn your integrity. I'm fairly content that you're not a stooge of the board and the morals of credit cards are a mystery to me. But this stunt was a little crass. The negative reaction was predictable (why didn't you see it coming) and serves to divide at a time we should unite.
Don't undermine previous godd work.
The Doc
-
I don't have a problem with the Lambert thing purely from the point of view that clearly he is not ready for a job the size of Celtic so why not let him take the reigns at a club where he can learn his trade? There have been calls recently for the likes of McGeady to be loaned out to a smaller club to get the week in week out match experience. Isn't this the same? I know the argument is still there that Lambert will no longer be contracted to Celtic but how do you know there isn't a gentleman's agreement that if ready he will be offerred a job at Celtic in a few years time. In fact I would be surprised if there isn't.
-
Paul, I read your latest post with dismay. I thought that all the people who stated that you were a mouthpiece for the board were wrong.
I still think that they are wrong, but I think that your latest offering, albeit done with the best intentions is ill advised. Stick to the football please, advertising for credit cards hopefully aren’t the way forward. I understand that the club receive finance for this type of thing- we pay more than enough – end of story !!
Paul Lambert – you’re having a laugh surely. As posted previously – I was happy with Lambert doing the coaching and remaining on the wage bill as I believed that his experience would be used coaching the Celtic youths – how wrong could I be the first opportunity he is off, a slap in the face for the fans and he has gone done in my estimations considerably.
-
why don't you just redirect your site to www.celticfc.net, and be done with it?
what's next, a free CQN keyring for anyone who signs up for Celtic Replay.
-
Shock horror, why didn’t I see it coming GingerDoc?
Absolutely did see it coming, and this is the point:
As far as I am concerned Celtic is my club, not Dermot Desmond’s or Brian Quinn’s, mine. And it is in my interests to look after it.
If you have happy to leave the responsibility of pushing Celtic forward in the hands of the board go ahead. I am not.
As far as I see it, it is my job to develop the club as best I can, and I believe we all share the same responsibility.
“Ask not what Celtic can do for you…..”
We, as a support, need more creative thinking, not less, or we will become limited to the abilities of a small number of suited men.
-
I would like to apply to get points to use for the benifit of myself. I am one of those lucky souls who pays off the full balance every month, with a monthly credit card spend of about £400. I cannot on the online application see how much I need to spend to collect points, i.e., is it 1 point for every £1 spent. The benifits are as follows:
Earn points towards Celtic Rewards** every time you make card purchases with your Celtic MasterCard!
Tier 1 - 750 Points
Celtic Merchandise 15% discount voucher
Celtic Replay - 1 month's free subscription
Tier 2 - 1500 points
Matchday programme - 1 month's free subscription
Celtic Visitor Centre - 2 for the price of 1
Signed photo
Tier 3 - 2500 Points
Celtic World Huddle - Select membership
Pre-season friendly tickets - 2 for the price of 1
Domestic Cup Tickets - 2 for the price of 1
Tier 4 - 3500 points
Signed Football
European Match Tickets - 2 for the price of 1
Tier 5 - 5000 Points
Signed Shirt
Reporter for the day
VIP Matchday Hospitality for Two
Closed Training Sessions
Official Club Photographer
Tier 6 - 6000 points
Lunch with The Manager/Celtic Icons
It says I will get details after I apply - well I want to know upfront what I would be signing on for !!
-
I already have the card and have submitted my season book renewal. Do I get entered into the draw?
-
Guys, i think that if the majority of people do not like this way of Paul trying to promote the club as "our Club", then instead of accusations of him selling out maybe you should think of better alternatives to getting more cash into the club.
We complain at watching poor performances from tired old legs, but if we as a Club do not earn more money then MON as no alternative to offer those who have done the business longer contracts.
It is after all our club, there was someone in the last post suggesting that we get all 9 million Celtic supporters to chip in 20 quid each for the purchase of players. In my mind i see no real difference, Paul is thinking how to help Celtic...our club!
I don't believe Paul is selling out, it's our friend Neil R who is putting the money up for the day out, we need some perspective here!
I think if we truly believe it is our club then lets think of how we can help.
I know that a lot of people spend a great deal of money on strips, season tickets and many other things that put cash into Celtic.
Many of us supporters who are not living and working in Scotland do not have that opportunity,but we would love to be able to help out more because we love the club.
I do not think we will be short of season ticket holders after the summer signings and the overseas supporters will not have contributed to that, it does not mean that we would be adverse to contributing in some way.
Anyone got any ideas how we could do this?
Regarding Lambert going to Livi, maybe it will prove good for us in the long run, if he is a success then he may well be the future manager of Celtic.
Regarding the EPL, would we rather see us competing with Barcelona for the likes of Van Bommel than competeing with Wigan or West Brom for an English first division player? We should go there if we get the opportunity, we may not win the league every year but we would still be a major force in Europe and a better team to watch, and instead of waiting to the 31st day of every transfer window we would be one of the first to be buying players of quality we can only dream about at the moment.
Time to ask ourselves better questions that ridiculing those who genuinely want to help and improve the present and future of "our Club"
Tony, Latvia
-
Guys,
For all you celts backing up Paul, I ask you this question, What does he want us yo invest in season tickets and mastercards when the board refuses to tell us what our money will be spent on? Is this unreasonable?
Also why will no one tell us for certain if a share issue is being raised and of this money, what is going to buying players (not paying them)?
I bet DD denies there was ever a share issue, the day after the season book renewals and when he is well on his way to another 10% dividend!
I also ask these idiots who ask us to trust this board, to breach themselves for more disaapointment this summer.
By the way I see Jock Brown was showing his true colours at the weekend, an ex celtic whatever he was, another great apppointment by one of our recent boards!
-
Aren't you obliged to mention interest rates here Paul67? Surely you should, at the very least, be telling people what the APR is because some people will be happy to buy anything with Celtic's name on it regardless of the consequences.
A polo shirt is 3 quid. A polo shirt with a Celtic badge is, what? 18 quid? Yes, we buy this because we want to wear the colours, but apart from a free lunch (and we all know there is no such thing) what benefits are there to getting into more debt than is necessary?
As for the ETims selling out comment by one of the posters, would you care to elaborate?
TC67
-
CQN FINANCIAL SERVICES
Disgraceful, Shameless, nothing more than an exploitation of your ability to draw the attention of a section of the celtic support. Shame on you.
This is absolute confirmation to me that this board is full of big jocks who are better suited to the confides of your golf clubs and discussing your expense accounts and which local authority gravy train you are going to plunder next,what financial qualifications do you hold ? for you to encourage supporters to take up a credit card with a near interest rate of 16%, this is i think wholly irasponable.
Celtic Football Club would be better off rewarding there bread and butter season ticket holders for there faith to the club with rewards opposed to a select band of prawn sandwich eating big jocks who would not have been able to find celtic park 10 years ago.
Keepin it Real in the North Stand Lower- Section 101 CSC ( formally known as Guus Hiddink CSC)
-
On a different note, we have successfully got Mcleish and Fudgeson to the top of the table on www.punchacelwb.com let`s al work on ricksen he`s currently 19th let`s get him in the top 3
-
sorry that should be www.punchaceleb.com
-
What a load of guff I've read here from sanctimonious pseudo-socialists who would rather our club was a withering, third-rate outfit strangled by unmanageable debts in a decaying stadium. Face it guys, Celtic is a public limited company with directors, shareholders and annual accounts. They're looking to make profits - the difference being that whatever surplus is made goes towards improving the football team we all love. Just consider how far we've come in the last 10 years in terms of stadium, turnover, annual football budget and trophies won. Just compare 1995 to 2005 with the previous decade.
So where do we go from here? We all want the team to compete at the very top in Europe, but to do that the manager needs more cash to fund transfers and pay ridiculous salaries to attract players of a sufficient calibre. To increase his budget, the manager needs the plc to be more successful. For that to happen, the company needs its customers (US!) to maintain or even increase their revenue streams. The club's corporate sponsorship has mushroomed in recent years and certain much-maligned figures have greatly increased their investments. But how do WE help?
Season tickets are an obvious first step. Do we not renew them as a protest about the amount of money MON is receiving? A tad self-defeating, no? Buying club products also helps. But no one is forcing us.
Almost all of us have a credit card. So why not have one that gives SOME help to our club? Again, no one is twisting our arms up our backs.
Paul67 simply chose to introduce a kind offer of hospitality by encouraging more fans to back the club in a practical way. If that's selling out, then I bet even MON wishes more of us would do the same. Our genial host simply introduces a topic and lets the rest of us ramble on about it for a while. Then he posts another, and we all gibber away again. As far as I can see, there is no censorship or visits from the thought police.
As George Galloway would say, it seems some people have taken this chance to kick Paul in the bona fides. Given the amount of time he puts into this site for no return (spot any advertising?) I feel that is grossly unfair.
Now let's all get back to waffling on about four titles in five years.
-
Paul,
Where is the 'creative thinking' in plugging the Celtic Mastercard. I thought re-naming the stadium was an idea worth considering to boost income. Its the right commercial people you require at Celtic park not fleecing the the already fleeced. Oh and by the way who do you think they will want to buy shares in the new issue - you guessed it - the fleeced. I'm afraid i can only afford to give so much to Celtic (so my wife and kids have told me).
cheers
Freddiebhoy
-
The least Lambert could do to repay celtic is take fernandez off our hands we might be able to use livvi to loan players out for a season those on the fringes.
-
Hey guys we all seem a bit on edge this morning...must be the nerves!!
Paul67, It's your site and it is the success it is because of you. Go your own way and dont mind these downcasts.
And to the downcasts, it's simple either DONT enter the competition OR Dont read the site.
We all appreciate that we are paying a lot of money into the club but at the end of the day we have a choice. Dont we!!!???
-
Before everyone lambasts Lambert remember he stated that he would stay fit and be ready to be recalled at any time, which he did.
Lambert in addition also played with the under 21s at playing fields and broadwood etc.
His experience and knowelege passed on to them will be invaluable in the future. Also consider he might be a manager of celtic in the future .
I for one wish him all the best.
-
Anyone else think Paul Lambert`s timing is all wrong? He could have waited till after the cup final or at least wait till monday. I know he doesn`t get a game but he`s still the club captain and after all the club has done for him this season i think the least he could have done was wait till at least the Motherwell game was over and done with.
-
well the moral majority certainly got out their beds early this morning.
Why does paul want us to invest in season books and mastercards (how do you invest in a mastercard?)
Answer= generate more cash = invest in players.
Getting into more debt than necessary? you would think that celtic have just invented this evil plastic known as the credit card.
Idiots who trust the board? would that be the same boards stewardship which has seen the most succesful celtic in 30 years.
Mud slinging is easy, come up with a credible alternative and maybe I will listen!
On DD and his 10%, of course I would rather he took nothing but mental millionares are thin on the ground.
Businessmen want and need a return. 10 % return on your money aint all that for £10 million investment with no capital guarantee.
To the we pay more than enough gang, keep your hand in your pocket but dont bitch and whine when there is no investment in the team.
Who do we expect to stump up the cash for what after all is our club.
If you want it to be the board/venture capatilist, then we really lose any control we have ever had.
If we go into major debt we are playing fast and loose with our future.
We bemoan the fact that the majority of our funding comes from the fans, this is our greatest strength, this makes it our club and gives us a say over its future.
-
Long time reader- first time poster.
I cannot believe the criticism being directed at Paul67. Personally , I won't be getting a Celtic credit card, but I see nothing wrong with suggesting I go out and get one. As pro Paul67 posters have pointed out- everyone wins with the credit card (as long as you are able to pay the card off in full each and every month- if you can't- you shouldn't have a credit card in the first place), Celtic get a premium and you collect points get you some impressive sounding awards.
Keep up the great work Paul.
Hail Hail
GingerAvenger
-
Nothing wrong with promoting such a scheme especially when you`re given a full explantion on how it benefits OUR club.
It is becoming more and more apparent that this site could be a great link between the supporters and the men at the top.
Keep up the good work, enjoying every article
-
Well Paul you certainly let off a stinker with this one.
I for one was a bit annoyed by the post but rather than put my fingers to the keyboard and vent my anger straight away,I decided to have a cup of tea and watch breakfast tv for a while.
The way I see it is,if you still had no direct contact with the club in the last few weeks then I guess you might not have had as many "in with the board" theories but I'm sure you would have still had a few.
But now that some fans think you have a foot in the door all of a sudden words like Sell out,McGlone,Coyle,Bhoyzone come to easily to the lips of some people.
Give the guy a chance,if he is in with the board etc., then it won't take long to replace him,he's surely going in the right direction for now,if he goes astray,then let him know.
You must understand,Paul is no different to any of us,he is no polished journo (is there such a thing?)
He has some very good points to make,in fact he has a lot better points to make than most of the bloggers but yes he still makes the gaffs.
If YOU were in charge of this site would it have lasted as long before becoming a laughing stock,I know if it was me then it would all be finished by now and I'd not be able to show my face in public for a long time.
Yes Paul goes off in his tangents from time to time,but is usually good as he is willing to sit back and listen to what others have to say about these topics.Often he changes his views when a better reasoning comes a long or at least meets in the middle.
I certainly don't agree with a lot of Pauls thinking,just as I don't always agree with what NegAnon & others have to say.
Both,I would say are both correct to various degrees,as you have a good balance with the reporting on CQN.
The fact is,it's NOT Paul67 that makes this site what it is,it's ALL of us Celtic supporters collectively as fans,friends, enemies that bring the reasonable conclusions to the top of the agenda and the one line Anons with no arguement to be made that are quickly forgotten.
On the matter of the Credit card & renewals Paul,after the cup of tea I see where you are trying to go with this,
If you have a credit card already, then why not transfer to the Celtic card,we don't need to go into the politics of credit cards and what they can or cannot do to peoples lives.
Don't read into too much what Paul has said,it's simple(I might be wrong Paul)If you have a LloydsTSB card,Barclays,etc. why not have a Celtic one instead?
If your paying off the bill in full each month then,WHY NOT?
Free(I know some poor bugger is paying for it)lunch and drink at a game and some extra cash to Celtic.I know it's not as simple as that,but they are the basics.
I know it's a debating website but no need to over analyse things,I have trouble just deciding to have a Guinness or Lager.
Big arguements over Credit Cards,wait 'til the big story comes out Bhoys & Ghirls,get the boxing gloves on.
OK Paul,I can't type anymore,Can I have my Free CQN T-shirt now.
If your giving out prizes Paul67,then don't forget for the future that there are Celts around the world on this site and many of them,from Seattle to Paris,Vancouver to Latvia,Spain to Perth(Australia)Dublin to Warsaw.
So don't forget that us guys are the bread and butter of the club but the overseas family are jam in the middle,they can't buy season tickets or have access to the Celtic credit cards.throw them a biscuit now and again.
Positive thinking takes first prize every time.
Cabbage McFlabbergaster
-
Paul67 I support you for trying to improve the club that we all support.
Obviously there is a risk with credit cards and they are not suitable for everyone. Yes that is probably in the small print but remember that Football support goes beyond the rational.
If it wasn't for emotional commitment who would invest in a football club (Glazer excepted).
However, if you currently have a credit card and you are comfortable with it and are aware of how much the charges are then take a minute to consider the Celtic Card. If you have a charity type card already then this appeal doesn't probably apply to you.
If you have a standard bank credit card then WITHOUT changing your spending habits you can benefit the CLUB and YOURSELF instead of a bank, who make profit.
I think this highlights one of the problems that the club faces.
Supporters spend huge amount of money supporting the team I don't think anyone can deny that.
The problem is how much of that money spent do Celtic actually see?
The Club need to address this with the supporters. Take the new strip, how much money will the sports shops JJB, Greaves etc make from selling this?
The cheapest place to buy the shirt should be through the club, this would ensure the majority of the sales went through the club. They could do a deal with all the CSC's to take orders and then send out batches etc to keep the postage costs down.
sorry fer the ramble.
Hail Hail
-
Another first-timer. All Blogged up now.
Maybe some raw nerves out there. Even if there is a sinister motive here (raising cash for Celtic FC) no need to get bent out of shape.
This site has been consistently entertaining and informative, sometimes boring (what with all the co-efficients and amortiwotsit stuff) but never manipulative. We're all free agents, after all.
KUTGW Paul
-
Evening Paul, fellow tims.
We all own one anyway,why not give the fees and percentages to Celtic instead of to some other entity?
Don't really see the issue here.
Paul, have a look at the "Reality lesson" article by Frank Kane in The Guardian.
Beats the hysteria nonsense we have seen elsewhere.
-
Paul,
I currently use a Switch Card which I spend about £1000 per month on for my various day to day costs.
Are you aware if Celtic operate with Switch as well as Mastercard?
Tony Mallaghan
-
Ah well, there goes my chance of a meal in the No 7. Count me out of the draw Paul.
When you have a missus like mine, believe me, you don't want credit cards floating about the house.
She'd put Richard Burton's ex-wife to shame. Not in the stunning looks department you understand. No, I'm talking of the financial aspect.
I think however, some of the attacks on the bould Paul are a wee shade OTT. He IS only making a suggestion after all. Albeit, one I won't be taking up.
By the way, anon 10.41am, as one who has yet to SEE a prawn sandwhich, never mind taste one, just what is the obsession everyone seems to have with this obvious gastronomic delight? I was always a piece 'n' slice man myself.
SB Paid In Full Today CSC.
-
Anon 9.20 Sorry I was not meaning it as a personal attack on you, I just disagree with you. I think the articles on here are very clear open and interesting and if Paul knows something it is his right whether to share it with us or not.
Generally he seems to analyse publically available information that I am too lazy to look at or research (as most journalists seem to be)and put another angle not found in the press.
This idea of promoting the clubs products is his idea of trying to benefit the club, surely thats a good thing.
As for brother Walfrid I'm glad you brought it up, I suspect I'm with you on that one. It annoys me that there seems to be an eternity raising money for a statue to a great man. How much money is needed. Is the statue to be solid gold? And there are still millions starving. What would he want us to do?
-
Credit Cards, I've had a few. But I'm like a floating voter I like to move around every so often. Unless I see the direct benefit to the bottom line, I won't be taking out a card that offers me points and prizes. I'd rather the credit was made cheaper, that way I get to choose how I want to spend the dosh I've saved.
I'm pretty cynical of all financial institutes, it is their business to get there hands on my money. I'd change my bank today, if I could find another one which I thought would treat me any better. I'd change my credit card again tomorrow if I could make a saving.
Gripe over? Not yet... I cleared all my credit cards about 6 months ago, since when I've been bombarded with junk mail and junk phone calls asking telling me teh benefits of transferring my credit to these cards with 0 balance. When I say I have no credit (besides the usual mortgage and car loans) they tell me to how to buy my summer holiday. The reason is not because they want to do you any kind of service, they just want to make sure that if your using a credit card your using theirs.
.. and another thing.. Isn't it Mastercard (might be Visa) who are sponsoring the next World Cup, and the only way to purchase match tickets will be with their credit card. I'm sorry nobody tells me how to spend my money (except mad jack, my old school bully).
That apart; it’s a commendable idea. Just my own neuroses and mistrust of all financial institutions that prevents me from taking on a credit card for some fringe benefit. I know that I’m paying for it somehow, and handsomely.
Anyway, is this the FT blog or what?
-
thedominie
I had the pleasure of attending the unveiling and reception for the Brother Walfrid Statue in Ballymote Co. Sligo. I fully expect the Glasgow tribute to be just as good.
cheers
Freddiebhoy
-
Hello Anonymous at 8.22 am. I've never paid any interest on any credit card.
Once you have used up the free interest period just switch the balance to another interest free provider.
The way i looked at it, i was spending that level of money anyway.
The day out at paradise
with the missus was a delicious drunken delight a truly fantastic reward scheme in my opinion.
-
Paul, may be you could do a feasibility study on how many pish poor players MON could buy if we all re mortgaged our houses, those living in council houses could sell a kidney.
If we could also get people to have their wages or benefits paid directly to Dessie's plc, we may even get the bus park finished.
Keepin it real in the north stand lower 101 CSC
-
funniest thread i've read so far without a shadow. Just because they sell fags in the shops doesn't mean you need to buy them. if you don't like animals falling of buildings and hurting themsleves on tv then don't watch it.
Mind you Mary Whitehouse made a carreer out of moaning about people showing their bits onn the tele so maybe theres something out there for these poor unfortunates that feel compelled to buy anything and everything. I mean what do you do when you pass an advertising hoarding? Avert your eyes?
Newsflash. This isn't 1888 anymore. Some of you might even earn money from a job and you might even pay taxes.
Bleet Bleeting on - 'I don't trust the government, the media, the NHS, advertising companies, the Celtic Board, the local shop, my granny' get a life.
while i'm at it, for those that don't trust the Celtic Board can you tell us all why? Can you back this up with actual facts and figures?
-
Paul, time to post a new thread me thinks :-)
-
Taggsybhoy
I do not understand the language of "sell out" etc. Sell out to whom exactly? Celtic Football Club? Since when is Celtic our enemy?
I'm a 70s nostalgist as much as the next guy. I loved those sidies, the hoops, the shorts with numbers, being able to buy any white socks without the ubiquitous branding, the terraces, the power strikes, Arthur Montford etc. But guys, those days have gone, and they are NOT, I'm dead sorry, NOT coming back! You are freee to vote for the SSP as much as youlike, but capitalism has won. Its how we use capitalism in a humane and useful way that's the debate now.
Football whether we like it or not is now about generating cash to buy the best players to win the best trophies. We will not find, let alone keep, 11 world class guys from Scotland to win a European trophy again. We can, if the financial Luddites have their way, be happy being a successful Scottish team with 5-6 feuds with TFOD a season, but I want more.
I want Seville again. I want every team in Europe to fear playing Celtic. I want the best Scottish talent. I want the best world talent. But guess what guys, the best talent doesn't say "I'm no' fussed about the money guys, all I want to do is wear the hoops". Me or you might say that, but Craig Bellamy won't. Neil Lennon won't either.
So, wise up guys. If you are eligible for one of these cards, you're over 18 and capable of saying No. You are also capable of choosing whether to support Celtic with your purchasing power or the Royal Bank of Scotland, M&S, Oxfam or whoever. The choice is yours. If the Celtic support puts its colossal purchasing power into the club, the money goes towards players and the club.
The club should be spelling out its spending plans to the supporters much more transparantly (apart from obvious transfer funds and appropriate behind the scenes wheeling and dealing. Trust is required here.)wherever possible. I, for one, hope Paul can be "used" for this purpose. Keep up the good work Paul.
-
Before any says I'm jumping on a band wagon, I applied when the renewal forms came in. I would have applied last year, but the mrs was mentioning Stan Petrov a lot when she saw the rewards scheme....
That said, I haven't heard anything back from MBNA yet.
This blog did surprise me a little on first read, but after a wee think about it I wondered if this was perhaps the trade off Paul had to make to be accepted into the inner sanctum, as it were.
Anyhow, as was said earlier, you don't need to apply for a card if you don't want to....
Keep up the good work, Paul.
-
Newcastle have just agreed fee with villa for bellamy.
I hope the potential euphoria of a double will help us fend off these approaches.
Lets hope we are at the races with the personal terms
-
Credit Card. Question 1 is below.
Now forget all about the rights and wrongs of Paul67 getting involved for a minute.
However should we really be promoting a card that doesn't let the Irish sign up? After all Celtic are essentially an Irish club playing in Scotland.
So you can eat in the Walfrid restaurant under this deal - as long as you are not resident in Ireland. You couldn't make it up!
Q. Who can apply?
A. Anyone who is a UK resident aged 18 or over.
-
Aye, it's just like buying fags. Do you pay interest on your fags, more than the fags in other shops? It's Paul's site, he can do whatever he wants with it, but all I think is there should have been an obligation to point out that Celtic Mastercard can give Celtic money, precisely because their interest rate is higher than other high street credit cards.
In other words robbing Peter to pay Paul. Nice that you can get a free meal, wow!
For the record, I pay my credit card off every month, so this is the kind of thing that I could make some "points" from. I just think that from his position, Paul could have pointed out some of the downsides to this. A bit like the Join the Army and learn a trade adverts in some ways.
TC67
-
Paul gets my vote on this one, simply because what he is suggesting would benefit the Celtic, and we all want that right guys? - apart from the likes of 'Keepin it real in the north stand lower 101 CSC' what they wants is anybody's guess, a good moan I suppose, and really there's no harm in that providing you have the ability to blank out moanin faces when required. To repeat what Brendan has already stated 'Just because they sell fags in the shops doesn't mean you need to buy them', an observation that is absolutely spot on. Wee Tam.
-
-
Thanks for the thought Cabbage McF..But I personally and sure many others of us overseas Supporters are not looking for a biscuit to be thrown in our direction.
Ok it seems like the credit card idea has upset some people, many of the anons have a bold agressive attitude and nothing to back it up with. What would they suggest as an alternative to getting more money into the club?
What if the overseas supprters bought a shirt each when the new one is released and send them to somewhere childrens institition or care home in Asia where i believe we sould be building our fan base, or send them to a political asylum institition in Scotland to get these folks supporting the club?
Just a thought. Anyone from overseas with me on this one?
Tony, Latvia
-
Just putting my tuppence worth in.
I can't believe people actually think that Paul is on commission or is being accepted into the inner sanctum. And as for being 'undercover' !!! Do you really think people like DD & BQ would operate in such a manner ??? The internet can truly be a conspiracy theorist's dreamworld.
Suggesting a Celtic Mastercard is exactly the same as saying if you're going to buy a football top then why not buy a Celtic top.
On the subject of the Celtic Mastercard if 1 pound spent equals 1 point then the matchday hospitality seems a very decent deal. Normally 5000 pounds spent would earn you 50 pounds worth of something.
JimV
-
anon 1.21 at a guess most likely uk only due to being UK regulated, would need alternative arrangement for overseas.
We are a scottish club rightly proud of our irish heritage not an irish club playing in scotland!
-
Milkray, the way I see it is if Craig Bellamy decides to move to a middle ranking EPL team when he has a chance to play for Celtic, then good riddence.
We'll need to endure a lot of this tosh over the coming weeks and would do well to ignore it. Indeed, as I've said before, be prepared for a media furore if he goes. They'll look for some scapegoat and it sure won't be the standard of Scottish football.
GM
-
Great posting "Brendan"- I agree 100% with you. All these people who are coming on here with their socialist ideals are the ones funding GBP 40,000 p/w player wages. We live in a capatilist society. If you don't like it- get out!
-
So Pauls a sellout just like all the other fanzines(confused).
We havent had it as good until CQNs came along.
I have personally learned more about finance and all that and amorisation from CQN than i did doing bus org at secondary school.
Pauls a good writer, some of his articles i havent personally agreed with that doesnt mean you have to post (other times i didnt post was just to lack of time and lack of internet I use internet in my college).
You aernt forced to post. Just like the song goes "Silence is golden"
-
Anon 1.21 pm - Is this true ? Have Celtic banned Irish people from their restautants ?
-
Guys,
give the man a break. No-one forces you to read this sight. I presume that you do because you either enjoy the articles or the cut and thrust of the debate that often follows.
Paul has stuck his neck out on a number of issues and taken some flack. At least he is thinking and airing those view to us. More than can be said about the board.
If you don't like the idea fine, but less of the selling out crap. The Celtic credit card is a reasonable idea. It is your responsibility to manage your own finances. Don't blame the card for it's features. If you don't like it, don't apply. I know people who pay everyithing with their money back cards to get a couple of hundred quid each year. I think hardly worth it, but they say better in my pocket than theirs!!
If the Celtic CC fits your financial state go for it. It has the added advantage of helping the club, the token points thing (you'd be spendig the money anyway) and my Aunt had the pleasure of watching the manager in the Rangers shop squirm when she got the lettering on the back of a new Celtic top done there (Celtic shops machine was broke) and paid for it with the Celtic CC. I wish I'd seen his face.
Anyway, my point is, if you don't like it say so but no need to traduce the man for trying to think of ways of helpng OUR club.
Now, never mind the punch a celebrity site, get on the Coca Cola one and get the club some dosh.
www.coca-colafootball.co.uk/football_league_mailouts.asp
Besides, if you want to punch ferguson have a night out in Bothwell. I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities.
Keep up the good work Paul (not that this was one of your best- my tuppence worth!)
-
What's the big deal? - I wasn't aware that using a Celtic Mastercard attracted reward points, so I'm glad it was pointed out - I will consider getting one now. If I think it's not worth it I wont. Easy.
Hassling Paul67 for wanting to promote ways of making the club money is a bit of a kop out.
Have Waterstones had a run on Das Capital today or something?
Chris Collins
Near Lidl, New Stevenson
-
The boo boys are out in force today I see. I bet the ones slagging off Paul are the same "fans" who booed Brian Quinn onto CP a few weeks back when our friends from Villareal were receiving a presentation from the club. I was disgraced at some sections of the Celtic fans behaviour that day.
I don't understand what peoples problem is with Quinn. He is a Celtic fan like you and I and I'm sure he would love Martin O'Neill to be given millions of pounds to spend this summer and each and every summer- however, he is operating a business under tough operating conditions.
Where does all the money go that we plough into the club I hear you say? Players wages!!!!! £400 for a season ticket doesn't go very far when we have stars earning £30K per week. Does it?
R&WD
-
Souness medalling in our affairs, stirring shit, mixing it up for his hun mates???? No never surely not.
If Bellamy wants to play for a mediocre club that's his bag. The Celtic Jersey doesn't shrink.
As for the great credit card "debate" I take the point of those who are "upset" and I agree that Mastercard are not interested in guys who pay their bill monthly as they make no money for the company. I'm not offended and let's face it there are plenty of folk these days with champagne taste and lemonade wallets but Paul isn't asking you to get into debt is he?
-
i know it's paul's site, and we can all like it or lump it, (mostly like it)it just seems a bit odd, that's all. it's not paul's job to flog credit cards. yeah, encourage investment by all means, but haranguing the punters on a blog to subscribe to particular products is a bit heavy.
and there's nothing wrong with being socialist.
marty bhoy, i'm not a regular at any of these, but i have caught some of the games at "the surprise at pimlico", and "the pimlico tavern". best atmosphere in london? "the kingdom" on kilburn high street, "the wishing well" in cricklewood, and there's one near euston that's name i forget. the prince of wales on harrow road is a howff. howff, howff, howff.
the wishing well in reading is good if you're ever out that way.
anyway, can't get enough celtic talk this week, even if it is capitalist propaganda and false class consciousness.
come the revolution we'll make bellamy play for 300 quid a week and like it.
pimlico bhoy
-
Pimlico Bhoy,
I have heard that a couple of city met bhoys are starting "PJPII CFC" in the city for next season (some boozer near houndsditch near Aldgate). This will be mainly for midweek games such as Europe which is a bonus if your round this way!
Keep you posted.
Hail Hail
-
Paul,
One day in the Celtic Park news room appears to have gone to your head!! We receive enough marketing from Celtic by e-mail and don't need anymore.
Hail! Hail!
-
Paul,
One day in the Celtic Park news room appears to have gone to your head!! We receive enough marketing from Celtic by e-mail and don't need anymore.
Hail! Hail!
-
Credit Card companies charge the vender for the privilige of accepting the card.
So if you spend £100 on your card, 2-3% will go to the card company. This is how some can afford to give 1/2-1% cashback.
This is nothing to do with paying your bill off each month. If you don't then the company charge you aswell.
-
Thanks for those who supported the article. Apologiges to those who I have clearly offended (rampant socialist voting capitalist that I am).
Took a wee risk here, I know. Took one last week speaking to the Daily Record and also got the “sell out” comment thrown at me.
Did the risk work OK last week? You bet, ‘use the strength of others to your own ends’.
Cabbage and Taggsybhoy have delivered excellent analysis as usual.
No trade-off Georgiebhoy, I wish.
I PROMISE you all, I have a really good story that they big shareholders would rather not be told - which is all about money in their pockets or in ours.
Just to ensure I make enemies on all sides in equal portion, I’ll write it up after the weekends business is taken care of.
I'm away back to my bunker now.
-
Others may know of this site which maybe of some interest to people who post here it is http://www.footballeconomy.com/ .
I have copied 3 articles (below) which relate to issues raised here, the embolden is mine.
CHELSEA EXECUTIVE FANS FACE BIG PRICE HIKE - 17/5/2005
Some executive fans at Chelsea are facing having to pay £6,000 for a seat that cost them £1,750 for the season last year. The increased prices follow reconfiguration of the seating in the old directors' box area in the East Stand. The club argue that they are offering increased facilities and that alternatives are available, although the cheapest option of £2,500 would take them from a prime location on the halfway line near the penalty area. The outraged fans argue that the club is trying to cash in on its success and it is certainly (and understandably) doing that in other areas of commercial activity. Chelsea Broadband is being offered in conjunction with Viatel which signed a similar deal with Manchester United and is in talks with ten other clubs. Chelsea fans will get a two megabyte connection speed, unlimited downloads and a year's free subscription to Chelsea TV online. The Chelsea and United packages will sell for £28.99 compared with £19.99 for a similar offering from Easynet. Deals like this offer top clubs new possibilities for distributing content to fans. In the longer run it may raise questions about whether media rights should be split between companies such as BSkyB and broadband distributors. That might in turn widen the financial and playing gulf between the top clubs and the rest. “
GLAZER TAKES CONTROL - 16/5/2005
As expected Malcolm Glazer has secured the 75 per cent of shares he requires to take Manchester United private. Attention is now focusing on the way in which he is financed his takeover of the club. Some debt experts are arguing that he has used an expensive and inefficient capital structure designed to get a positive recommendation from the United board which was ultimately not forthcoming. He is already borrowing £540m, about three times the turnover of United, of which £275m relates to preference shares with punishing annual interest rates of more than 15 per cent. The interest on loans will cost Glazer nearly £50m a year. Mr Glazer has used an expensive instrument known as 'payment-in-kind' (PIK) loans which will be sold to hedge funds. They can have yields that are close to double those of more traditional instruments that are junk grade. The short-term benefit is that interest is rolled up, only becoming due when the loans are redeemed in the future. PIK bonds pay interest in the form of more bonds rather than cash. They are typically a 'top of the market' debt financing instrumment. These speculative bonds, a risky form of debt because they rank near the bottom of the capital structure, can have yields that are close to double those of more traditional bonds that are junk grade, hence the high interest rates. However, they are tax efficient which is likely to make them less expensive for the Glazers. The yield could in effect fall to 12 per cent taking into account tax benefits/ It is likely that the Glazers will refinance the club in two to five years. At that stage they are likely to redeem the PIK loans, which would put the business on a more conservative footing. If they redeem them at the earliest point, after one year, the £275m of Pik notes could become £334.5m, if one assumes compound interest of 18 per cent. After five years they could rise to £629m, giving a total debt obligation of £829m after taking account of the £265m of debt secured against United' assets. The Glazers' initial focus on improving media revenues is likely to be on international television rights. In two years time, however, they could be in a position to challenge the collective selling agreement, a move which could have major implications for other Premiership clubs. The Premiership keeps pointing out that such a move would require the support of fourteen other clubs. However, they are sticking their heads in the sand because the collective agreement is vulnerable to a legal challenge on the grounds that it is incompatible with competition law. Meanwhile, more fallout from the bid has hit JP Morgan with Sir Roy Gardner, chief executive of Centrica, the FT 100 energy company, vowing to sever his links with JP Morgan Chase after the bank's role in financing the United takover. The bank is the utility group's stockbroker. Sir Roy is believed to be unhappy because of JPMorgan's involvement in a bid he perceived to be hostile. It is unclear how Sir Roy's threats will be carried out.
PREMIERSHIP GATES DOWN - 14/5/2005
Aggregate crowds for the Premiership this season are set to fall below the 13m level for the first time since 2000-01. Moreover, the typical television audience for a live Premiership match broadcast on the main Sky channels was 1.23m per game, 9 per cent down on last season's average. The decline in attendance is partly explained by a fall in Premiership ground capacity with the departure of Leeds and Leicester. Expressed as a proportion of capacity, crowds are running at 94.1 per cent of the maximum, only slightly down from 94.8 per cent last season. The decline in average television viewing is in part due to an increase from 106 to 138 in the number of live matches screened. The biggest games remain as attractive as ever with both games between Arsenal and Manchester United attracting a television audience of more than 3 million. At the other end of the spectrum the match between Bolton Wanderers and Norwich City attracted only 150,000. Three other matches (Newcastle versus Norwich, Portsmouth versus Palace and Bolton versus Birmingham) attracted fewer than 500,000 viewers. The decline in average viewers was sharper for Sky's Prem Plus pay-per-view service. Average audiences were down more than 15 per cent compared with last season, but most of the attractive matches were included in the 106 game package available before the start of the season. The return to the Premiership of Sunderland with its 48,300 capacity Stadium of Light may help to boost attendances next season, although the positive effect of their arrival may be offset by Wigan. They attracted an average of fewer than 12,000 spectators to their home games, meaning that they were utilising less than half of their stadium capacity. A more fundamental question is whether the increasing gap between the top three and the rest (exemplified by Arsenal's 7-0 defeat of Everton) will reduce interest in the Premiership as it comes to be seen as less and less competitive.
-
Sorry the embolden it not transfer from word.
Sorry for the length of this post also but some may find it useful.
Paul67 just be careful not to pass any grassy knolls with al the people you are winding up
-
The Celtic fans' natural opposition to any kind of authority or management has always been a rebellious streak to be proud of and has stood us well when people have been threatening to close us down because of the nature of the flags flown or run us into the ground to fill their own pockets.
But we don't need to rebel or moan just for the sake of it, which is what a lot of people seem to enjoy these days.
I still can't forget the shame or disgust when the moron minority booed Fergus McCann for having the gall to not only save our club from liquidation ignominy but run it on a sound financial footing for a change.
So why is it such a crime for Paul to suggest we take out the Mastercard. I ain't doing it for my own financial reasons but if someone helps contribute to the club then that is only a good thing.
We support the team, which is backed by the club, which is operated by the PLC, which should not be a dirty word.
Just because some guys at the club wear pin striped instead of track suits doesn't mean they're the bad guys.
And for whoever posted his nonsense earlier - Celtic are not an Irish club playing in Scotland.
I am proud to be of Irish descent, but we are a Scottish and celtic club for Irish and Scottish people, and we are not called Glasgow Hibernian for that reason.
Keep up the good work Paul and ignore the troglodites amongst the support.
-
As someone once said "Give credit where credit is due"
Changing tack and perhaps doing a bit of crystal ball gazing, Could the ever increasing relationships between Celtic and Livingston, be the foundations of a feeder club playing in the SPL with Celtic in a new league?
-
Newcastle and Aston Villa agree a fee for Craig Bellamy, time for us to get the skates on!!!!
-
It's true that people resident in the Republic of Ireland can't sign up for the Celtic mastercard. Was approached in the superstore on my last trip to CP and while a Six Counties address would have made me eligible, a 26 counties address was no good (which is ironic given that MBNA have a major office in County Leitrim). It doesn't say much for the progress of globalisation if Irish Celtic supporters can't support the club in this way. I'd imagine there are others living outside Britain and the Six Counties who'd avail of this scheme too.
I'm another who clears his credit card every month and if I thought a small portion of the value of the purchases I make on it would go to Celtic then I'd certainly consider signing up for it.
-
As for the reports on Aston Villa agreeing a fee with Newcastle for Bellamy, didn't newcastle agree a fee with another pishy little birmingham club in January only for the bold Bellamy to reject personal terms (which I always assume to be a euphemism for wages)?
Wouldn't get too worried about it. I don't think Bellamy will swop champions league football for mid-table mediocrity in the english midlands.
-
Burtman and Galabhoy, I wouldn't pay too much attention to the chip-wrappers' reports on Aston Villa agreeing a fee for Craig Bellamy.
The only thing that actually matters is whether or not Bellars wants to stay at Celtic. If he does, then as far as I am aware Celtic have first option on signing him at a pre-agreed price (previously reported to be £5M).
Unless CB decides he doesn't want to stay or Celtic decide they don't want him, I imagine that this agreement (and fee) is legally binding, even if another club offer £20M for him.
-
Newcastle have said now that no fee will be agreed for Craig Bellamy until the Scottish season is finished and that Celtic have first option
-
"Newcastle have said now that no fee will be agreed for Craig Bellamy until the Scottish season is finished and that Celtic have first option"
This is rubbish. The Newcastle website states "no fees have been agreed with any club".
-
Anon 4.36. Are you a worried hun???
-
I have just read the BBC website and it says "The Welshman [Bellamy], who played for Norwich and Coventry before joining Newcastle for £6m in 2001, is believed to be available for £5m.
That - plus his reported £45,000 per week wages - probably rules out Celtic, for whom Bellamy has fired nine goals in 13 games during his loan arrangement."
I am a bit perplexed. Is it the £5m of £45k per week that is out of our league? or has the un-noted author got inside information? or is he/she/it just Chic-ing?
HT
-
Anon 4:39
"Anon 4.36. Are you a worried hun???"
No,not at all. I'm just pointing out the information posted is not just completley unsubstanciated but totally false.
-
I don't see Bellamy going to an English side who are weaker than Newcastle. Imagine the abuse he'd take from Souness, Shearer et al.
My main concern about his wanting to join Celtic is that we've been pretty poor since he arrived. Though the prospect of strengthening in the close season may overcome this.
My main concern overall is that he's very expensive and prone to injury.
JimV
-
Malcolm Glazer has been dealt a serious blow to his hopes of Manchester United securing their own TV deals after the European Commission today said they would not support a legal challenge by the club's new owner.
United and the other 19 Premier League clubs have a 'joint selling' agreement by which they negotiate collectively for the domestic and overseas rights to the competition.
Glazer is thought to have his eyes on United breaking away from that agreement, possibly by challenging the ruling in the European courts under free market legislation.
The EC competitions commission have been in conflict with the Premier League over their TV deals before but their spokesman Jonathan Todd has ruled out any backing from Brussels for a challenge to the principle of joint selling.
Todd said: "We do not have a problem with joint selling, and we have recently given our blessing to a similar agreement with the German Bundesliga.
"We have a provisional agreement with the Premier League and we are still talking to them about the terms and conditions of the contracts, but the principle of joint selling is not a problem."
The EC's main concerns are about trying to prevent a monopoly by a broadcaster rather than a collective agreement by a league.
Their position is bad news for Glazer, as an individual TV deal for United would be the easiest way of raising revenue at the club and clearing the £540m debts incurred by his takeover.
United are unlikely to have much luck either at persuading the other Premier League clubs to change the rules. At least 14 of the 20 clubs would have to agree to individual negotiation for either the domestic or the overseas deals and when former United chief executive Peter Kenyon pushed the issue to a vote two years ago he was defeated 19 to one.
The domestic deal is worth £341m a year to the 20 league clubs and the overseas contract more than £100m annually. United earned £31.7m from the Premier League last season, of which £30.1m came directly from TV money and the remainder from sponsorship and licensing.
Were they able to do their own TV deals, United could expect to at least double their income from that source of revenue.
-
Big (good) news Anon, who ran this story?
-
Aston Villa are asking there fans much the same as us at this moment to renew season books.
Ellis has been under pressure to spend money for years and for me this agreement(if there is any)is just Ellis showing the Villa fans look i am doing something.
Would Bellars go to Villa, i would hope not as i would hope that he has a bit of ambition and would want to play in europe every year and be winning honours.
Thats not to say that he will stay with us, but if he leaves he will go to a club that is going places not stuck in EPL mid table nothingness.
Lets just enjoy possibly his last two games in the hoops and wait until the summer before we start speculating
-
Interesting development Paul, about the debate here as to whether you have 'sold out', why you gave quotes to the Daily Record, this Celtic credit cards promotion and to the widespread media and internet reports that ONLY CQN was at last Friday's Press Conference.
Seemingly, Keep The Faith were there too. See Teletext Page 527 and the Keep The Faith website.
-
searched google for "executive competition spokesman Jonathan Todd"
http://www.idg.com.sg/ShowPage.aspx?pagetype=2&articleid=924&pubid=3&issueid=45
microsoft?
-
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11472-1617579,00.html
-
re 4:51 PM, Anonymous
Cant see why this is good news Paul. I thought Glazer breaking free of the joint EPL deal was our ticket to being involved with any new deal. Does this not mean that its going to be more difficult for him to do that?
-
It has just upped the stakes GarBhoy. Glazer now has too much money running on this to stop.
In English football right now everything is negotiable. The perfect circumstances for significant change.
-
Guys
I believe the quote to freddy sheperd re his impending move to birmingham city was "I'm craig bellamy and i dont play for shite teams". I'll eat my credit card if he moves to Villa ;-)
-
agreed , glazer will use every means at his disposal to wreck that agreement , i would be surprised if chelski don't get in on the act too...
-
Gambling all on red
JONATHAN NORTHCROFT
Timesonline
“All gamblers die broke” is a Malcolm Glazer maxim, but he appears to have made a bet on United that involves the club drastically improving its television revenue, an area where analysts believe there is significant potential for increases. Glazer wants United to have an individual television deal, as Italian clubs do, but the Premier League’s constitution and the prevailing mood of EU regulators mean this would be difficult “without going to war with every other club in England”, said Frank Dunne, contributor to and former editor of the European industry bible TV Sports Markets.
Getting extra money out of Champions League coverage is bound by similar problems, but the prize the Glazers may have spotted is United’s international television rights and the possibility of cutting their own deal for overseas games. The Glazers will push United heavily overseas, especially in Asia and the US, and see huge growth prospects for MUTV, which has only 90,000 subscribers but is watched worldwide by up to 30m. If United gain the right to screen their games live overseas, it would be a big attraction with which to sell the channel. Whatever happens, as Gill suggested, life goes on. It’s just that when Sir Alexi Lalas and the 2015 United squad are tucking into tacos at a fast food joint on the way to the world soccer bowl in Pasadena in 10 years, we’ll reflect that after May 12, 2005, it was never quite the same.
-
I don't believe Bellamy stated at any time he wouldn't play for Birmingham. I believe he said he wouldn't go anywhere on a permanent basis as he hoped to go back to Newcastle at the end of the season - hence why he signed a loan deal.
-
Does glazer really need to break the current deal?
I dont think so, he must be loving the amount of coverage this is getting. Turns up the heat on everyone else and strengthens his hand when it comes to getting more for man u next time around.
Remember the threat of euro break away led to the champions league to placate the big teams.
This smacks of the same, turn up the heat and wait for the concessions to roll in.
The overseas deal looks a good place to start but what are sky's thoughts on all this? they need football and football needs them.
Is glazer going to play hard ball with them, are they already in on the grand plan.
My guess is that this has already been discussed and a mutualy beneficial agreement struck.
Less for the little teams more for the big, because you can bet the rest are waiting in the wings.
Little teams need more cash? drop the minnows and recruit the mighty CELTIC.
Maybe, just maybe
-
-
Hello the House?
Magister I am indeed gratified to see , that you are ensconced firmly, in my Capitalistic Caravansary.
Bully for you, my erudite friend:
Croesus had it made....... of course there was that little tactile problem.
Harrumph! You win some, you lose some!
The howls of anguish and righteous indignation, could be totally expected, owing to the altruistic leanings displayed in the past, by several self-sacrificing and magnanimous denizens of this admirable blog.
I often wonder if the above-mentioned are capable of surviving the horrors and opprobrious events that occur daily in the real world.
Yes, my dear learned friend, it is a dog eat dog world.
My mantra has always been,
"Do unto Others, Before they Do unto You"
Celticfc should use every financial scheme and money-making ploy,in its pursuit of the aggrandizement and enhancement of its Company Coffers.
Your public suggestion as stated, is a very intelligent and perspicacious idea.
It should be rewarded with accolades and not by a fusillade of afflictive arrows.
To my liberal and self-effacing Brethren, I leave the following rumination:
"A Miser is a despicable apology for a human being.....
But he sure makes a great ancestor!"
Doctora Detroit.
-
There has been a lot of talk on this site lately concerning a possible move to the EPL. It has also been suggested that this may be in the not too distant future and in knowing this MON used it to stop Bobo leaving in January.
Now knowing that there will definitely be competition from some EPL clubs for Bellamy's signature, whether he stays or goes this summer may be a good indication of whether the rumours have any substance (assuming of course that MON wants to keep him).
-
JimV,
when I used the phrase "inner sanctum" I was merely trying to "big up" (as the kids say) Paul's invite to the press conference.
Trying to inject a little humour into a fairly heated blog.
Sorry if I missed the mark.
Georgiebhoy
-
Doctor D
King Croesus of Lydia became proverbial for his wealth and the prosperity of his kingdom. His life and deeds crossed the border between Myth and History; and himself, having been double-crossed by the oracles, crossed with an army the river separating his country from that of the Persians, and caused thereby his own ruin.
The foretelling of the future?
-
Just finished catching up with the comments so far.
First things first,I've just taken out the Celtic credit card.Interest free till January next year,then i'll move it to someone else offering the same benefit.
You don't need to keep it forever,you don't even need to take it if you don't want it,so less of the mock disgust and indignation from those fuming at the suggestion.It's like reading Jim Royle without the comedy!!!
Also,the subtext to some of the posters comments on here at times seems to suggest that unless you are working class and vote Labour,you are not a real Celtic fan.Slightly worrying in my view.
Craig Bellamy - Does anyone on here seriously think he will sign for Villa? Just above Birmingham in the table and he didn't fancy them much did he.
Malcolm Glazer - I have a feeling that Glazer didn't become a multi-millionaire by allowing people to tell him what he could and could not do.
Would the EU not be in breach of their own laws if they allowed clubs in some countries to agree their own TV deals but did not back others wishing to do so?
Celticbhoys' post re. falling attendances and viewing figures for live games tells you all you need to know about the way the Premiership is heading unless things change and change soon.
If Sky offered reduced terms in two years time due to falling viewing figures,where would that leave some of the clubs down there?
BankieBhoy
-
Delighted to be back!
What a provoking article! Got more people talking than most. Again many people condemning the post, without any substance at all, if you are big enough to have a swipe at someone please be big enough to log on, and stop posting anonymously.
Regarding the Bellamy issue, be sure of one thing – he will pick the offer that feeds his ego the most, which I would like to think would be Celtic and European Football, despite the poor standard of the league. Newcastle would also rather he wasn’t playing against them I am sure. I think he will stay as he is too much of a risk for the big guns to shell out millions on at this stage of his career. Ferguson, Mourinho and Wenger won’t swoop and so as far as I can see we will have at least one lethal weapon against the continental clubs next season.
I wouldn’t get too emotionally involved in all the tactical games by agents and clubs over the next month or two.
-
Good point Bankiebhoy...."If Sky offered reduced terms in two years time due to falling viewing figures,where would that leave some of the clubs down there?"
Another way to look at it is were would that leave Man U and Glazer?
He would not have borrowed so much money or indeed would anyone lend him so much money unless he had concrete belief that he could change the TV deal.
Can't wait for Paul's big story on this one!
Tony, Latvia
-
Interesting comment from Glazer quoted from Jonathan Northcroft. He is no gambler.
Doctor Detroit, good to hear from you ‘in sunshine, or in shadow’, as today. Fortified as usual.
Thanks also to Anon 7.21, I had no idea who Croesus was. Have to say, though, it he took his team to play in the Persian league no wonder he caused his own ruin.
There is practically no money in the Persian league! Now that is a board to complain about.
Good on you BankieBhoy, well done.
Got the article circulating for contradiction at the moment Tony.
-
Paul, everyone entitled to their opinions however a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of lunching with the Manager and Peter Lawell courtesy of a brother who uses his card for his business. Everyone there had a great afternoon including Martin O'Neil and Peter Lawell and make no doubt Celtic do very well out of their connection with MBNA. As some have already mentioned if you have a card/want a card its a win/win situation. Minx1888
-
How much commission is paid to the credit card pushers? I was asked before christmas in the superstore if I wanted a mastercard, I said no, I was then followed around the shop and asked a further 3 times when I said no the last time he asked my 15 year old daughter if she would like one. Before home games they come at you from all directions desperate to get you asked. They are just a bl**dy pain in the neck.
I have enough debt with a mortgage without getting a credit card but I have no problem with this subject being discussed,everyone has the simple choice yes or no
-
Way to go Paul, you sure rattled a few cages with this one, personaly I agree, and as others have said, if you can pay of before the end of the month then DO IT, get the Celtic Mastercard.
Lambert off to Livi, good news, one of our favourite sons taking charge of a club, possibly taking on loan some of the younger Bhoys to get first team experiance.
But not negative enough for some soooo! - Bellamy to Aston Villa, this just before the last and very important game of the season.
"Scottish" media my a*se, Hun media more like.
Keep up the good work Paul, if all "sell outs" are like you we'll have a new team fit to take on Europe by the middle of summer, Hopefully I'll see them in Seattle.
Oregonbhoy
-
When Glazer asked JP Morgan for nearly £300M and put nearly £300M of his own cash up, not to mention the hedge fund loans - do you think he didnt consider EPL and EU opposition to individual TV rights? There is no way he or his backers would have put that money in unless they knew some way of getting out of the collective bargaining.
Paul - quick question...I was first drawn to this site by your analysis of Celtic's financial situation. I was intrigued, and ready to believe, your assertion that the amortisation of the big signings at the beginning of MONs reign was coming to an end and we therefore had the cash to splash - if we so choose.
If that is the case, why do we need a rights issue to raise £15M?
-
Oreganbhoy - my thoghts exactly. Celtic should be looking to exploit this route with loan players. We should also be looking into a feeder club in the first division - what have we got to lose! Look at all the great clubs, Man U, Juve etc... Boys just dont come out an under 19 side then transform into champions league material, when will we learn this? Celtic need to start becoming a footballing business not just a footballing club. As a club, we are great, possibly greater than anyone and we have so much scope for improvement on the business side.
Anon 9.07 (give yourself a name!) - very interseting point, was thinking this myself, in the case that has been presented would we not have the money Paul originally suggested plus a bulk of the share issue?
Good to hear from you mcgarveybhoy, yeah the Bellamy saga will continue for a while - detach yourself or go insane!
-
Just a follow on from Anon 9.07. Similar initial attraction to the site (though, in truth, always had a worry that NegativeAnon may have been right). The original position paper suggested that we would have around £20million to spend (not that we'd necessarily choose to spend it). So why the need for this extra £15million? Will it be additional (to however much of the £20 million facility we planned spending)? Like the last share issue, will the £15 million be for wages/debt or will we see some reasonable part splurged on transfer fees?
Oh, the desperation. I'll tell you, it's damn lucky I'm not in change of transfers or I'd buy the first three rejects offered by the first three dodgy agents.
By the way, I didn't get the tactile comment about Creosus. My classics education never got very far, but I'm sure it was Midas who got into bother for touching things. Croesus was just some rich King from Asia Minor who equated wealth with happiness (until he was about to die)...I wonder if this is apropos anything in particular?
-
True tim,
couldnt agree more, a feeder club is a great idea. Even rangers have got their own feeder club abroad and the biggest teams have them. Look at real madrid, their youngsters are mostly brought in from other teams, and although their a bit downhill of late, a dead cert for last 16 of CL.
-
Anon 9.07, good question. It depends what you are building for :-)
The profit is available in the company for a £20million spend.
There are also a few off-field matters to take care off like the training ground. This issue is looking towards the future.
-
sorry true tim - I can never be bothered setting up a blogger name but as I am now an avid reader of this site it's probably worth it. PaulElliotisGod (previously known as anon 9.07)
-
Galabhoy, Tell them your living in Ireland,can't get one then. I was over at the start of April v hearts-bad day,once they heard the Irish brogue they were out of their like a scalded cat.
Hail Hail
-
that last one was from me.
Hail Hail
-
This has been by far the crappest lead article and thread since first logging on some time last July. Asking people to buy the Celtic credit card is a bit like asking me to buy a new top, or do something else equally as obvious in support of the club. It is not Celtic News and does not befit some of the truly outstanding pieces of journalism and financial analysis that have become the norm here and indeed the standard for Celtic websites everywhere.
However, the reaction from so many of the posters here as left me utterly bewildered. Sold out? What exactly has Paul sold out by giving you this not particularly interesting nor newsworthy bit of advice? 'Jim Royle without the comedy' - dead right Bankiebhoy.
And by the way, Taggsybhoy, there's an entire school of political thought that says it has always been the role of socialism to find ways of making capitalism more humane. It is called democratic socialism and is the predominant form of government throughout Western Europe.
Aw, you know what? I'm not getting into this. I'm so utterly bored with the whole thread, I'm off to watch some Spanish telly. I can think of no greater insult.
McGrain
-
Paul 67, you're slipping up mate.
"If you have happy to leave the responsibility of pushing Celtic forward in the hands of the board go ahead. I am not"
This would be the same board who you have consistently told us to trust over the past year, the same board who you keep telling us will lead us to the promised land of the EPL...and yet you don't trust them?????????
In a previous article you praised e-tims about something and you said you'd never met any of them. However I recall reading an E-Tims Rumour Mill around the time CQN was being "outed" as a "Board Plant". E-Tims were positively glowing about you saying they knew you well and even went as far as to offer you a job once you'd stopped CQN. Who is being inaccurate here Paul? FWIW I still think it's a good site but your latest article was not a very good choice.Surely you can't be the In/Law of a club director...could you?
Paul IR
Paul IR
-
Paul, if this original £20M exists in addition to the rumoured "new" £15M, then why can't the club use the £20M to clear the club's debt (with change!) and put the remaining c.£17M towards overhauling the squad?
But there is also an assitional question re: the £15M figure: If this is all given over to fund acquisitions this summer (which is unlikely), will the board repeat the oft used line that this has to fund salaries as well as transfer, agent and signing on fees? If so, then the £15M would just about cover signing Bellars on a 3 year contract!
(This assumes a transfer fee of £5M, a 10% signing-on fee, 5% agent's fee, and £45k/wk salary with an additional 30% of salary for performance and success related bonuses.)
So we may get Bellamy but nobody else, unless the board are planning only to fund transfer fees out of the alleged £15M pot.
Can you throw any sensible light onto this Paul?
-
When did Etims sell out? Did I miss something?
-
Paul,
Having just recently been introduced to the site,
is it always such a raging financial debate????
-
Bigchipsuk
I think the answer to your first question is that the £20m isn't cash-in-hand. It's the ability to raise £20million. So it can't be used to pay of existing debt. Unless, I've misunderstood large parts of the last 6 months...which is possible.
I worry that the answer to your additional question will be yes.
-
The idea of using the relationship that exists between Livi and Celtic to our benefit is an excellent one.
They get some of the best young talent in the country to work with,we hopefully get them back as hardened professional footballers.
Bryanbhoy 67,who are Rangers' feeder club? They can't even spot a player in their own youth set-up!!!
Paul,if DD is certain of a move to England,would it not make sense to spend the whole £20 million up front?
Unlike the last big spend,in two years time we would be pretty certain of increasing our turnover and spending again to challenge in the Premiership.
If they do this in the summer,it would indicate to me that we were on our way south very soon.
BankieBhoy
P.S. I seem to remember a previous poster suggesting some big news this week.Are we holding it till Friday to make the most of the feel-good factor ahead of Sundays game?
-
Ginger doc did you know: croesus VS midas
1. He gave the fable-writer Aesop a court appointment.
2. He minted the first gold and silver coins.
3. He is the subject of the simile "rich as Croesus"
4. He is the man to whom Solon the law-giver said: count no man happy until his death.
5. He is said to have derived his wealth from King Midas' (the man with the golden touch) gold deposits in the river Pactolus.
6. According to Herodotus, he was the first foreigner to come in contact with the Greeks.
7. He conquered and received tribute from the Ionian Greeks.
8. He tragically misinterpreted the oracle that told him that if he crossed a certain river he would destroy a kingdom.
9. He was defeated by the King Cyrus.
10. He was responsible for the loss of Lydia to Persia which led to conflict between the Ionian Greek cities and Persia.
His last words were the true ancient Ghods must sign bellamy and your house will be truly blessed.
-
McGrain, I have written so many ‘worst articles’. Promise to try harder.
Paul IR, never said I didn’t trust the board, often said that they need a push every now and then.
I have corresponded with ETims on several occasions, including before the event you refer to.
I know many disagree with this choice & it is not exactly earth shattering, but I find the self antagonism in the Celtic family for the club less than healthy. Decided to lead from the front as usual.
Publish and be dammed, and please, do not chase genuine debate away with unworthy and completely inaccurate questions over my independence. It would be a bit like me accusing people who disagree with me to be Rangers fans.
If many of us do not work to keep this forum working it will achieve nothing, and for a fans forum to achieve anything we need to be aiming pretty high.
100% independent of club or advertising influence.
Bigchipsuk, the £20million is not ‘cash’, just space on the P & L which can be amortised at £5million per annum as GingerDoc has said.
Bryanbhoy67, the site is only this raging every second week.
Agree Bankiebhoy. The good news from cousin of Fargo was the Glazer news. Still a big story to publish. Looking for contradictions to it at the moment.
-
Rather off topic (if the topics still got any life in it): An interesting take on MU takeover farago and general trends in football governance from Jonathan Michie (Head of Brum Uni's business school) on the Guardian webiste. In short, he thinks the takeover augurs badly. However, the part which tickled my fancy:
"The lesson is that the FA and the leagues - Premier League, Football League and Conference - should be working towards supporter and community involvement in and ownership of clubs. These are the constituencies on which the long-term success of clubs depends. What about a League rule requiring a 30% stake in each club to be made available to the supporters' trust?"
Oh were it only so. Wouldn't it be nicer to be Barca rather than MU? Is this too fantastic? Would this really be less attractive/possible than the current direction? Is it simply not possible?
To the best of my knowledge, and on very brief acquaintance, Michie's not a 'red under your bed' (at least not politically). So, the derogatory comments about socialism/socialists don't really apply.
-
Milkray
2, 3, 4, 8, 9 and 1st part of 10 - check
the rest, I am enlighted.
-
Well Paul
Hopefully the steam has evaporated out of this issue , I have been reading with bemusement throughout the day, and it is clear that as fans, we are not all singing from the same Hymn sheet.
30 odd years ago when I started watching Celtic, almost all of us were from a working class background, but things have changed somewhat. Today we are a disparate bunch from all social and economic groups, and I got the feeling, from the subtexts of some of the postings today, that this rankles with some people. But surely the one thing that unites us is our Love of Celtic.
If this Blog has enlightened the regular readers to anything over the past 6 months, it’s that this club we love cannot go forward without the necessary finances. So why a suggestion that can help the club financially, and benefit the individual, should be met with such fierce opposition from some quarters is beyond me.
If you disagree with Paul, by all means post and tell him, but please keep the vitriol out of it.
Paul must give up a substantial amount (If not all) of his free time to this site, and there are many of us who are grateful for it – Mrs 67 excepted.
-
Leaving all that credit card bile aside for a moment, can I perhaps venture the opinion that Celtic fans should wish to see Dundee win this weekend and their city neighbours get a draw at Inverness.
This would leave our rightly-lauded Lambo the challenge of - through no fault of his own - leading Livingston out of the First Division. A task which, having seen some of the teams from that league this season, he should be well capable of achieving.
So what's in it for us? Well, apart from the vicarious joy of seeing a loyal servant (and future manager?) doing well, I've heard Celtic are looking to put a lot of their young players out to First and Second Division clubs to toughen them up - much like what was done with the Lisbon Lions and Kenny Dalglish when they were parcelled out to Junior clubs.
I'm sure we would feel it safe to deposit a few of them down West Lothian way. With their help, Livingston would coast the First Division, Lambo's stock would rise and at the end of the season we could welcome back more confident and tougher young professionals.
Cynical? Yes. In any case, I wish Paul all the best. I always admired the intelligence and honesty of his performances. I will also never forget his critical second strike in the January 1998 2-0 win over Rangers, after which he made sure his shirt was stuffed down the jacket of a Celtic fan in a wheelchair - a true gent called Patrick Gilbride, who died recently.
Lambo is a gem who will be welcomed back with open arms some day. Good luck to him.
-
-
True Tim: thank you for your comments.I would like to endorse your idea that McGeady should be loaned out to a club. If this does not happen another Another candidate for this role should be Maloney??
Paul Lambert: all the best mate, should go down as a Celtic great, has been a fantastic ambassador for the club!
-
Paul,
I too was at the Aberdeen game free thanks to my Celtic Mastercard. I took my Dad and we both loved every minute of it. He also has had a lunch with the manager which again he loved to bits.
My sons and nephews have all had signed shirts, as have each of the Celtic supporting foster kids that live at my mums. Why not?
I have to say I can't understand the big problem with you pointing out that this card exists. Until I got mine neither my dad, brother or brother in-law even knew it existed or what the benfits where. They all live in Glasgow and have been Celtic supporters all their lives. They have now applied for the card because to them it seems like a great idea.
If someone cannot pay off their credit card at the end of each month then they should consider shopping around and I am sure they will find a better deal. If you can pay it off at the end of the month then why not get the Celtic card. It's a win/win situation.
This site is about Celtic Football Club and the card seems to me to be linked to the club. You have mentioned the card and it's a take it or leave it situation. If you don't want the card don't get it. Simple.
There is nothing evil about this card. If you can't afford it don't get it. I can't afford to see Celtic every week. So guess what? I don't.
Hope some the the sanctimonious numpties haven't wound you up to much as this is, by a country mile, the best Celtic going.
Cheers
Jama
-
Nothing is free in this world Gentlemen.
The free tickets at Pittodrie will be paid for with your interest payments in 9 months.
-
Don't know what the main problem is here - punting credit cards or belief from some that the site's originator is a direct mouth piece for the board.
Firstly having worked in credit cards for over 7 years, it's my job, the initial post and some supporting ones would do some credit card marketing executives proud. All in the same language etc. Someone somewhere will pay, might not be you as you can afford to clear your balance every week, so it will be your fellow fan that can't by late payment charges and interest. But choices are choices and no one is being forced into this.
More to the point, personally I have read this site for some time and enjoy the at times more intellectual Tic debate. However from day 1 I always thought something was slightly amiss. It is not beyond the whit of man to create a site on behalf of the club, get some points over and argue the toss to and for on most debates by having a few alias or supporting cast. That in itself may not be a bad thing.
In a nutshell - I think you are all being had (or most of you). The truth will out.
To balance things I would expect a few anti Celtic PLC/Board blogs in the next few days etc. He's a normal guy though they're having a golfing day.
-
Im a quarter of the way though this conversation, but had to post:
Anon: Maley song remix- Very fitting.
Credit cards: Im upto my erse with them but it might be a bit unfair to encouage the aplication for them on the basis of helping Celtic, that is praying on 'love the club more than personal finance'.
Im on the season ticket waiting list, long story, but what if all Celtic credit card holders paid for their season tickets by Celtic credit card?Im not sure if cards can be used for season book payments.
Hope Im not repeating anything Ive not read yet.
Waiting for the spending, not by me by those at the top.
Estadio Nacional
-
Paul67= board mouthpiece.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
<<
Home
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
|
