 Thursday, November 03, 2005
Brian Quinn interview - no dividends for the foreseeable future – Prudent no longer the watchword
Over the coming months Celtic fans and shareholders will be asked to participate in a £15million share issue. This money is likely to treble the anticipated value of the company at the end of this season – and will arrest the slow slide to insolvency.
It will reduce the interest repayments on the debt – and, if small shareholders do not take up their allocation - it will increase the concentration of shares in the hands of the one man. Even Celtic fans such as myself, with no axe to grind with Dermot Desmond, should be concerned about who owns these new shares.
The last five years have given me my greatest times as a Celtic fan – irrespective of the disintegration last season. While the football plan clearly succeeded during this time, the financial plan failed – Celtic accumulated unsustainable losses of £38million.
Celtic chairman, Brian Quinn CBE, agreed to speak to Celtic Quick News, about how he planned to turn this situation around.
In this audio excerpt, Brian Quinn explains that this loss was the price the board were prepared to pay to get “Celtic back into a position of prominence, for restoring the football fortunes of Celtic, for becoming, once again, a force in Europe”.
The problems they faced when Basle eliminated Celtic from the Champions League during the Seville season, and what happened to the income stream that season, makes interesting listening.
He also explains that the watchword at Celtic is no longer “prudent”.
I made the mistake of asking about the 2001 share issue, I was certain the club had promised to build a new training complex with the money raised.
“Oh no we didn’t” came the reply. “If you read your prospectus from 2001 you will find that we said we would invest in the team and we would invest in youth development. Since 2001, the youth academy has grown four fold and now supports hundreds of boys with qualified coaches at 40 locations.”
I have had a nagging concern that there was a management vacuum at Celtic. Brian Quinn lives in England, our major shareholder Dermot Desmond lives in Barbados and we have had an unsightly churn of three chief executives in the last five years.
During this time, the budget for football operations had galloped beyond the clubs ability generate income, which made me question of how the different layers of management work with each other. Do sufficient controls exist?
In this excerpt, Mr Quinn explains how the board, the executive, and the football management work at Celtic. While he would not directly criticise the previous chief executives, I was left in no doubt that he believes Peter Lawwell has made a major impact on the business during the last two years.
It will be interesting to see if Lawwell is retained beyond what appears to be a three-year glass ceiling for chief exec’s.
He also discusses the threat to the board becoming “stale” and the need to re-energise.
One point he was quite adamant on: “The links between the boardroom and the dressing room are as good as they have ever been at Celtic Park”.
He also accepted my assertion that the board failed to control the clubs public agenda, when the fans, the media – and the dugout – were all screaming for more money to be spent, was “Blunt, but fair”.
My principle concern about our future is that a predatory, profit seeker will eventually own Celtic, together with most other large football clubs.
The days of vain fools buying football clubs are over. Malcolm Glazer is only the first of a new generation of owners who will bring hard cost control measures to some of the worlds most robust revenue streams, which at a club like Celtic could easily generate a £10million annual dividend.
While Dermot Desmond has done nothing in his eleven years on the board to indicate that he will do this, with almost 30% of the club controlled by one man today, we should at the very least have an open discussion on the dangers inherent in such a concentration of control.
If Celtic fans and small shareholders are complacent – just as Manchester United’s were a few years ago, when they had an opportunity to buy more of their club – our time will come.
In this audio clip, Brian Quinn said: “All I can do is look at what is in front of me, and what is in front of me is Dermot Desmond, who has not got the slightest intention of this happening.
“We structured the share issue the way we did to try to ensure that inadvertently or otherwise, we did not dilute the small shareholder.
“I don’t thing that Celtic are just a company or a club, Celtic are a movement. We are a worldwide movement.
“People have an affiliation with Celtic which has got no match anywhere, and I don’t think Celtic supporters or the small investor would accept it at all.
“Dermot’s got no intention of doing it.”
Football shares – bought and owned by fans – are different from virtually any other type of shareholding. Our objective is not financial reward; in fact, most of us would prefer no dividends to be paid.
Celtic are legally obliged to pay dividends on their ‘Preferred Ordinary and ‘Preference Shares, however the club have not paid a dividend to Ordinary shareholders in over a decade. As the proposed issue is for Ordinary Shares, I was interested to know if this would change.
To this concern, Mr Quinn answered: “We will not pay a dividend [on ordinary shares] for the foreseeable future.
‘Foreseeable future?’ I asked: “We have made it absolutely clear on a number of occasions that on the ordinary shares we will not be paying a dividend. So the fans must not think that we are in it to make money for ourselves.”
As he brought up making money for the board, I thought I would ask if we were going to see changes in director’s remuneration, once we had a few million more in the bank.
I can accept that they need to pay the executive directors the going rate – especially as I want to see them keep the good ones - but what had he to say about the pay of non-exec’s like himself? “The board’s fees have not been increased for eight years.
“The board will not increase its fees until we think its proper to do so, and any money that Celtic makes as a result of changes in the business plan will go back into Celtic for the advancement of the club.”
The financial performance of the club would improve dramatically if it was to join the FA Premier League. We hear lots about moving to England, but I was keen to hear if we were merely spectators, or if we in active dialogue with clubs in England.
This is what Mr Quinn had to say on the subject: “There is a group of clubs in the FA Premier League, who I think, if it were offered to them, through another source, that if they would restructure the league they would say yes.”
“We are in contact with them, we keep our ambitions in front of them, we see them regularly.
“Peter Lawwell [also] knows all of them at the chief executive level and the chairman level.
“We have got a close watching brief, both at the institutional level in Brussels and at club level too.
“To use an analogy… the pack ice seems to me to show signs of breaking up.
In committing not to pay discretionary dividends, and to reinvest our money back into the team for the foreseeable future, Brian Quinn went further than I expected him to go.
It is clear that the board were being pulled along – just as we all were - by the Martin O’Neill success story, and the Irishman charmed more money out of them than anyone else would have.
They have learned lessons from the last five years, and now must deliver a financially viable plan for the club that allows the team to flourish.
That Celtic are in dialogue with clubs in the FA Premier League, as well as the European regulatory bodies in Brussels is encouraging - they are not idle spectators.
I remain convinced that Celtic will have a date to leave the environs of the Scottish Premier League within the next few years.
As anyone who heard me speak at the Celtic Quick News Golf Day in July will tell you, I believe the Glazer takeover of Manchester United was a wakeup call for Celtic fans.
If we do not secure diverse ownership of our club among thousands of Celtic fans, we will eventually be stalked by a predator.
Nothing I heard made me think that buying shares in Celtic will be a financially rewarding experience, and I know that with Christmas coming up money will be short for many, but for those who can afford to buy, you might just secure the future of the ‘Celtic Movement’.
© Celtic Quick News
295 Comments:
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Did I win?
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Yeah
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It's all well and good warning us about Man Utd's troubles, but you've missed the biggest example of all: Hearts.
Within hours of going above 50%, Romanov sacked Burley then went after Anderton. Foulkes, who I actually feel sorry for, appears to have been caught up in the flack.
Hopefully the FSA might have something to say about all this, especially given the odd clue at the press conference on the Friday that Burley didn't have a future (he wasn't on any of the photo material given out.)
Anyone for a flat in Gorgie?
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Its a bit of a poor show when you find yourself scrolling frantically through Pauls post to get to the 'post a comment' link. I blame Noel and Big Joe for this, you've turned a grown man into a bairn !!
Better go and read the post now.
Hail Hail
Bhoy O'Bhoy
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"I don't think of Celtic as a company. We're a movement. Celtic are a movement, a World Wide movement" wit a quote!
Hats off to the wee man.
/Bishop B
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I read that Liam Miller is joining Leeds on loan. What might have been, eh Liam ?
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BTW Paul67.
Well done mate!
/Bishop B
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Paul, a word of advice - never say you have a great piece to post the next day, as when the rumours start, it's never possible to meet those expectations! I was waiting to hear that King Henrik was going to be on his way back and that DD was about to give us £100M to spend on players in January and that Celtic had watched my performance in Clydebank last night and were willing to pay me £20k a week to star for the bhoys! Unfortunatley none of those then!
Seriously though, great article! Can't wait to get home to listen to all the interview (no audio at work!). Bhoy O Bhoy, you'll go down in CQN history! Although, if I were you, I'd watch how you step for a few days, Noel's after you!
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Intersting new developement in your delivery of info Paul67. Good work. Mr Quinn agreeing to the interview obviously shows your efforts are being watched and appreciated.
On to Mr Quinns views on us joining a revamped EPL...... ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!! The dangling carrot to encourage investment I believe!!
tpb
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I am very encouraged by the 'close watching brief' comment. Increasily I find the supertanker of my scepicism, regarding the board, is making a U-turn.
They appear to be doing all the right things to bring the debt under control, short of sacking the first XI.
Good informative article with lots to ponder.
As it happens I was listening whilst reading the prospectus for the share issue, which also has a lot to ponder, particularlt the 19million deficeit.
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Paul
Quite a coup, no wonder you built it up. As Chick Nick would say, in terms of blogs this is quality.
CQN is rising to new unchartered heights...
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Great article Paul and well done for getting an interview with BQ.
I haven't listened to the audio yet (not keen to do so at work) but I like the things that BQ has to say. There is a lot of common sense in there, and if our club continues to be run with common sense and pragmatism then we will be successful in the long term. The EPL move may or may not happen, but it is imperative that we at least look at the viability of it and I am glad to hear that we are "sitting at the top table" in any discussions so far.
The interview to me seems simple, straightforward and answers a lot of questions from the last few years. My only gripe is why was none of this communicated at any point in the last 5 years? Or is it the case that it was communicated but got shouted down and lost amidst various other crises of the day?
You are right to keep banging the drum about the dangers of who will own our club in the future and I hope you keep doing so. This is a major worry for all of us and I am afraid it is something that will always be there in this corporate age. All we can do is buy what shares we can afford and keep as much of the club as we can in the hands of the fans.
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Hey, Santa, can I have a spell checker for Christmas?
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Paul,
A real coup to secure a BQ interview, and you've obviously not shied away from asking the tough questions.
However, I can't say I'm surprised by any of the revelations herein, and I don't expect that many dedicated CQN readers will be.
What is interesting is how many of the points you've been making over the last few months were actually reinforced by BQ in his comments.
While he takes a defensive stand on the 2001 share issue, BQ grudgingly admits that the club's PR has been less than effective. This acknowledgement is progress in itself, and one can only hope that Celtic as a club are prepared to take the imortant issue of PR and marketing seriously.
I've mentioned the Nakamura/Du Wei match programme mix up here before, but that is the kind of slipshod amateurism that should have no place at our club.
As for your fears over the new brave new Glazer-flavoured world of football, I have to concur. Celtic must look like a very attractive target for any mercenary businessmen out there. A hugely undermarketed club (brand?) with huge hardcore of loyal fans, significant potential for growing that fanbase, their own 60,000 seater stadium, strong European pedigree and on the threshold of a new lucrative league setup.
I think DD has actually been quite protective of interests, and if he was about to turn Glazer, he has had plenty of earlier opportunities. The worry is DD selling out, no buying in.
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Thanks Paul.
It's great to get info directly rather than via the media machine. Let's all treat the initiative with the respect it deserves so that it becomes a regular feature of CQN.
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too much information for young baa baa to take in at once. will have a wee look at it and then a ponder, but notice already my charity donatiuons look likely to be zero.
Right now, I'm happy to see the end of the word prudent, but am praying finances do not get our of hand. I'd rather see prudent than squandered.
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Paul67,
Without a shadow of a doubt, the best article you have written to date.
I will listen to the audio clips at lunch.
I like how you addressed the governance and management of risk in the business, the control environment is so important too....music to my ears.
Full praise to you in getting the interview, and for Brian engaging with you and us.
Oh and get it right up yer daily retard....I hope you will be trawling the papers to see any breach of copyright over the next few days....
Celtic News, Not Lazy Journalsim...at its. BEST
Hail Hail
PS Can't wait for part 2.......
PPS I'l be buying my shares....
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Nice coup that.
Dispells some of the myth that BQ has no time for the average supporter. I take it as such as he regarded you as a supporter and spoke to you as a supporter and not a predatory news-hack.
Did you ask him does either he , DD, the board read or even heard of CQN or other Celtic websites? It would be interesting to know if they do feel the vibes from the average supporter?
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Whether or not a new training facility/youth academy was promised in the prospectus is, in my opinion, almost irrelevant.
It was very clear that this is what almost all Celtic fans expected. The Celtic board knew this yet did or said absolutley nothing to clarify the situation.
To me, allowing the support to continue to believe this, when they knew fine well it wasn't the case, is equally as bad as promising it and not delivering.
They had ample opportunity to put the record straight and they didn't.
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Well done Paul
Excellent use of technology. The word from source plus an interpretation, this is the way forward. How do you do it, I'd like to try this in courses I'm involved in.
Brendan2k
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So were a movement now. Personally I think Tommy Burn`s description of a "people" is more suitable.
Does B.Quinn mean movement as in tractarianists? lol. Oops there`s that subject that riles so many, surely its not that kind of movement he means eh. Does that make us movers rather than customers then?.
Nah a people will do just fine for me tyverymooch.
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Thank you, Paul and Brian.
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Maybe I'm sticking my neck out as I'm not an established poster here...
...but do we need the 'my post was first', which 'star trek actress looks best' chat? It's not exactly productive and it comes across as pretty sad.
I enjoy reading the news, team discussion and speculation here, but when alot of the 300+ comments are totally irrelevant, it can become quite tiresome.
(and I make no mention of the religious debate!)
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Paul67,
Well done. Keep up the great work.
Celtic FC,
Glad to hear about the delisting (Something I suggested 18months ago).
Hail Hail
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Great post Paul.
Another nail in the coffin of the traditional media outlets.
Keep it up.
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Firstly Paul67, Congratulations on the professional, Informative and Innovative article!!
Is this the first ever CQN EXCLUSIVE?
I like what I heard (literally) from Mr Quinn and it re-enforces what he spoke of during the AGM, Celtic are being run more "Sustainably" than most other clubs in Britain. I feel that this year (no CL money) came too soon to test that sustainability but the fact that the club can still operate and look to next year shows that, financially, we are performing better than we have in the past.
As BQ spoke of, we would have been in BIG trouble had we not made it to Seville, as failure to qualify for the CL that year would have crippled us, to the extent that Henrik and who knows who else would have had to be off loaded.
But alas this year failure to qualify has not had the same disastrous effect, setback would be a better word I feel.
"The Celtic movement"... loved it Brian!
Again Congratulations Paul on an excellent thought provoking article.
TBE.
P.s. Next CQN exclusive- Peter Lawwell???
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Paul-
You didn,t disapoint us.
Your webcast was very professional.
However the message contained within it leaves me on the horns of a dilemma.
I have a grand stashed away-
Do I use it for its intended purpose i.e.-xmas presents...
Or do I tell the weans that Santa is dead and blow the lot on Celtic shares ?
Yashin- you even commenting on the people who so openly covet the position of 1st post and that babe from Star Trek
just gives them the credence that they so obviously desire.....
:P
noel.
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Paul67
Long time lurcker and admirer. Can't wait to get home and listen to audio.
I hope this will become a long term communication channel for the club.
I wonder how many hacks have been surfing in today.
J
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Paul
Can I raise a delicate issue? (Keep the heid - it's got nothing to do with religion!)
As you take CQN onto a new level, we need to consider how you will be able to continue to manage the site as well as you do. I know little about you but I assume you have a career and you've said you have a young family. Where will youi find the time? And then there are the costs involved.
You have never even hinted at payment but isn't there some sort of facility nowadays which would allow those of us who might want to to make occasional donations to help meet the costs of maintaining and developing the site? Have you dismissed the idea of attracting even limited advertising?
You regulate the site really well and you are the ideal person to continue to do so but is there anything we could do to help spread the load?
Finally, the best complement I can pay you is to say that I am really happy for 'outsiders' to view CQN as it gives a really positive message about what it means to us all to be part of the Celtic family. Yes, we argue and sometimes fall out but we generally do so intelligently and without descnding to abuse and vulgarity. FollowFollow, on the other hand, brings shame to Glasgow and the Country.
Paul, you are achieving great things on our behalf but you need to shout if there's anything we can do to share the load.
Here's to the future of CQN and the Celts!!
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Good day all round for MR Quinn then - first audio blog on CQN (well done P67) and the following from today's FT after the abandonment of the BCCI trial:
"Brian Quinn, another former head of banking supervision, had preceded Mr Cooke into the witness-box in July, and was the only other person to have given evidence in the case.
The judge told Mr Cooke: “My consideration of Mr Quinn’s evidence and of your evidence have left me in no doubt that the very serious allegations of impropriety and dishonesty against you are wholly without foundation.” "
When you see him again Paul - tell him "Minesastella" :-0
Yashin 12.26 - well said.
Lawlerm - seen some of your posts elsewhere. Not sure why you post here, because you have nothing to add to the debate. Get lost!
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Paul67
Couple of issues with the story, possibly more interesting regarding the points it didn't talk about:
1) Phonegate
2) PL's expanded role now MON is out of the picture.
3) Continued poor service
4) Post Seville hiatus
5) Share issue structure
6) DD's rant
7) Training ground particulars: Sale and leaseback?
8) CP upgrading: Internally / externally / surrounds?
Arena / new road, will these make a difference?
How will the club make the most of these opportunities?
9) Football budget: £20mill in "Total football costs" in 2006/07?
10) Greater "Charity" element: £5mill pa by 2010?
11) Growth Strategy
12) Five year plan: Do we have one?
13) MG: £790mill mug or visionary?
14) Best place for the club: EPL, Atlantic League or "Big" Euro "Sat" league?
Consequently good start but I think we need to know more.
What are we doing to maximise our ordinary share price in 2007?
The DD questions won't go away.
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Am hearing rumours of 1pm press meeting at Mordor with Hiztlar sorry Hitzfield lined up...
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Long time reader/viewer not having posted on this blog before as busy with own site www.dubaihoops.com but some free time now that Ramadan has finished and we are enjoying Eid Al Fitr, and the accompanying long weekend. Anyway, fellow Celts of whatever persuasion or none, greatly impressed by the level of debate and free flow of ideas on CQN. Want to say that the support for (the currently struggling) St Pauli discussed here; have spent many happy hours in their company from time to time, and intend that their cause will be taken up by our local CSC and a collection raised at our forthcoming function on 10th November where Charlie and the Bhoys will be playing and Macca and Tony Roper will be in attendance.
Have just read this back and it sounds like an advertising blurb………..not the intention……….although happy to highlight the Dubai Hoops CSC. Cheers and Hail Hail …………….TBM
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Noel90 - no offence..... but I think you might be one of the nonsense bloggers yashin is referring too!
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Paul,
Well done - changing the face of journalism in this country is a fantastic step forward - remember my wee story about changing the world! Great start. Its also testament to your patience and forebearance (rather than my, ahem, occassionally antagonistic approach).
I can't listen to the comments but will get back with some views tonight.
Mr Quinn - if you read this site regularly you will know I'm a critic - but well done to you on this initiative. This is a great step forward in engaging directly with the support. I will of course continue to question - but in gaining trust this is a massive leap forward. If we start to fully trust you then we can feel united probably for the first time I can remember.
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Excellent scoop Paul67, it's a yardstick of yours and all the contributors good work that you've been able to manage this. It certainly points the way to the club being able to communicate with the fans without Rory's spin.
I'm certainly encouraged by Mr Quinns comments, and would also back up his comments re- the 2001 share issue. I could be wrong but I think it was the tabloid press who said the money was for a new training facility and not as was intended, to further youth development. I think now we are beginning to see some of the rewards of our youth policy - U21/U19 league winners etc.
Good work!
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thepolarbear-
you really think so ?
:)
noel.
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no! I enjoy your inane ramblings immensely. \0/
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On the subject of football clubs being taken over, there's a half hour report on Radio 4 this evening entiltled "Billionaire Boys' Football Club". It may be of interest to some.
The preview says: "Foreign billionaires want to join one of sport's most select clubs: following in the footsteps of Abramovich, Al Fayed and Glazer by buying themselves a football club. It doesn't matter where you're from or how you made your money, all that's important is that you have lots and lots of it. From West Ham to Edinburgh, overseas investors want our clubs.
Simon Cox investigates why billionaires from Eastern Europe to the Far East have been queuing up to get their hands on a club, and how will it affect our national game".
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Minesastella:
If you'd like to actually dispute anything I said them i'm all ears.
If you have something to "add to the debate" then maybe that would be a better use of a post than dishing out orders to people you don't know?
And i've made a grand total of 3 posts (this one not included) in the last 3 weeks. If you don't like them then don't read them.
Just a thought...
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Paul67:
You sly devil,and more to come i would think.
I listened to the audio and the first thing that struck me was BQs willingness to let it all hang out.
I congratulate you on your scoop and look forward to more dialogue with the board ,DD include in the future.
Now what about news from accross the city!
Well done old son.
JonG
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Mr 67,
I doff my cap. Haven't listened to the audiocasts yet (probably not a good idea in work!) but will be download to the iPod tonight, for listening use later.
The text, however, is very informative. Excellent to see that he has taken the opportunity you have presented to communicate directly with the fans, with no spin being added by the press.
Now we must ask: Are you the "Citizen Kane" of the Blogging world? Keep up the excellent work.
Yashin (12:26) - it is these diverse subjects that make this site what it is. Thanks to CQN, I now understand the "A" word, have dabbled with Chomsky and considered the merits of Jeri Ryan and Karren Brady. Accept us for what we are - the CQN movement (sorry Mr Quinn!!)
G
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Does anyone know where I could download a copy of the new share prospectus (pdf)? I've had a look over at the official site but can't see it anywhere.
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http://www.celticfc.co.uk/corporate/rissue/agree.aspx
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Hi Paul67
I appreciate your efforts at keeping us up to date no more so than todays thread.
What puzzles me is if the watchword is not prudent then what is it.Youth academies only produce a few capable of holding down 1st team places at any one time,the EPl still is a pipedream but I have to agree those who can who are fans should take up their new share allocations.I bought when Fergus took over and will subscribe to this issue.I dont want to see Celtic fans in denial as Man U's were standing outside their stadium with placards saying Man U are not for sale when in effect the deal was done.
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Having read it all for a second time, is there any chance that we could have a more regular update from the board hosted by this site? I'd like to think we've got a good mix of posters, and I know loads of Celtic fans who read it daily but don't post. I think it's an excellent opportunity for the board. More of this kind of thing, which can't be diluted or misinterpreted by the media, is what we need.
Yashin, I think the humour on the site adds to the enjoyment rather than detracting from it. I would however agree with you if you were focusing on some of the off topic chat such as last night's religious debate.
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Paul,
Great stuff and possibly pretty timely, moving the blog up a gear and stamping a bit of real quality on it. Hopefully we as contributors will follow the lead.
I can't help feeling this is the way forward for many, many supporters - independent non-lazy journalism with no agenda other than the truth, understanding and progression for Celtic that we just can't get from traditional sources. Involvement from CQN contributors would be a good next step.
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So-did he mention whether Henke was coming back or not? ;-)
Listened to all of the audio-spoiled with my own office!-as madmitch points out not all of the questions are answered but perhaps the most significant thing is the willingness to bypass the normal media and do this.
Well done Paul. Dawning of a new blog age.
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Well done on the BQ interview Paul, just listened to it and was fairly encouraged by the whole thing. I feel we ARE in good hands and that the 'people in high places' do have Celtics best interests at heart. PR still needs to improve though. More interviews like this would greatly enhance this cracker of a site.
On Sunday I think we really have to pay close attention to Russell 'Bob Marley' Latapy. The past twice he has been given too much space resulting in him creating chances for himself and others. Close him down from the start and hopefully Falkirk wont pose too much of a threat.
Yashin
I agree with you, it is sad. But lighten up eh. I didnt get any particular thrill from having the first post, I did it due to the sacred '1st Post' being mentioned on so many previous posts and thought I would mention it when I realised no one else had posted on this topic. Did I detect some sour grapes from Noel perhaps?
Keep the Faith
Bhoy O'Bhoy
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Thanks Lawlerm!
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Paul - well done on convincing Brian Quinn to take the time to do the CQN interview. It says a lot about yourself & the nature of the site that he was willing to answer your questions
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Must say I think all this talk of 'we were promised a youth academy years ago' is a red herring. What would you rather have? Barrowfield, Maloney, Marshall, Beattie, Wallace, McManus, McGeady or Murray Park, Burke and Hutton? Bricks and mortar you can get any day. The right people and the right set up is much more difficult to achieve.
Hats off to Mr Quinn for giving the interview in the first place. He always comes across as a thoroughly decent chap in my opinion.
Mad Mitch, I usually totally ignore your posts but read yours today. I will be ignoring them again from now on. You need to get out more.
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Great wee scoop.
I'm slightly worried about the 'watching brief' aspect - this suggests that we have no influence on events, but then again, I suppose there's not much more we can do at this stage.
The problem for me is that Celtic are now asking us to cough up for more shares - an emotional investment.
Well I have shares, and a season ticket, merchandise et al, and I can't help feeling a bit of a dupe to reach for the chequebook again. Does purchasing 2 lots of shares give any more emotional satisfaction than buying one ?
By the way, BQ hardly takes any money ( relative to his responsibility ) out of Celtic personally, and he deserves great credit for this.
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On a totally different topic and completely from left field.....
We've had a few chats about the loss of Majic and Beats and their undoubted pace from our forward line in the coming weeks and a worry about going with a Sutton & Hartson partnership.
We do have a very pacy player on the bench who was a successful striker at Hibs when we signed him. Of course, we used him as a wing back and then as a full back.
Any thoughts on trying him out for half an hour at least against Falkirk?
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Paul67: What a coup! How many red tops will attempt to copy this in their sad excuses of a newspaper. Have not listened to the Audio yet can't wait to get home.
On a more serious note did he know the words to the CQN Mantra???:)
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Paul
Excellent work, straight from the horses mouth with no biased intepretation.
I like the copyright stamp at the end of the article, i wonder if you will recieve a few requests from "journalists" to reproduce. Why not allow the interview to be be reproduced by Mr Spiers or another impartial journalist (not many to choose from), and let this be communicated to the punters who dont visit your website. This would achieve 3 things.
1. The inormation being presented to all celtic fans (who buy the right newspaper)
2. Seriously peev off the tabloids.
3. Strike a wee blow to Mr Murray.
Well done and look forward to the posts over the coming days. Should be interesting.
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Martinobhoy
I see where your coming from and would defintely offer something different, but his lack of shooting prowess and inabilty to header a ball effectively counts him out. Id rather go for McGeady or Maloney with one of the big men...
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Paul, Congratulations,a real scoop,looking forward to reading and listening to more. Well said Negative Anon,hope this article makes you feel more positive.
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Paul – thanks for the latest offering. CQN at the leading edge – fantastic stuff.
On the new training facility: I think the new academy is a fantastic move - with its main benefit being in attracting quality players and giving the senior teams a quality-training environment, which can only be good for the club. I’m sure it will enhance the whole youth development programme, although comparing the track records of Celtic and Rangers over the last few years shows just how wrong it is to think that quality bricks and mortar will guarantee youth success.
On this point it could be argued that the Rangers facility has become a bit of a white elephant in youth terms – and maybe this is why they went down the road of structuring a separate company to “own” youth players contracts and therefore get a sell on value for those that can be punted to other clubs when Rangers choose to let their contracts run down.
The more you convert youth players into valuable first team players, the less of a white elephant the cost of the youth academy bricks and mortar becomes, and I’d suggest that on recent form, we have a lot to be confident of.
However, there will always be significant youth drop out rates and I just wonder if BQ , PL etc have given thought to the need for Celtic to get some return from the players who will have benefited in our investment in the new academy, but will inevitably go on to get a professional career at a level outwith the Celtic set up?
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Cheers Michael_67
It was just a thought. My thinking was that Didier pushing on would push defenders back and leave space for Naka, Stan and Shaun.
My preference would be Shaun up front and Pearson, Wallace or McGeady taking his place on the left.
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what does BQ mean by another "source" sky...?
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Lawlerm - the posts were elsewhere, but most were a personal attack on Paul67 - I'm sure most were a criticism of the EPL debate.
Like everyone else, you have a right to an opinion, but I would suggest that the comments made elsewhere were just about undermining this blog. I've also criticised where I see fit, but have done so here.
Posting elsewhere about this site is a cheap shot. Regurgitating them, though, won't add to what is, normally, a grown-up debate.
That is all!
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Excellent stuff
I thought that Mr Quinn seemed a lot more relaxed in this interview than he normally appears on screen where I believe he often seems pressured.
Personally I think that unless we have a striker in the reserves waiting for his chance against tfod, we have no real options up front other than the two big fellas or one and Shaun.
Maloney and Sutton might allow Thompson a chance of redemption as he normally plays a big part in any old firm match, unfortunately though sometimes to our disadvantage.
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In today's Herald Steven Thompson has also let slip the SPL's masterplan for getting Rangers back into the title race. While the rest of us get three points for a win it looks like Rangers will be getting slightly more.....
Yesterday, Steven Thompson, a scoring hero for Rangers in Bratislava, said he believed the club could recover domestically and reach the Champions League's last 16.
"We are 10 points behind in the SPL," said Thompson. "I certainly believe it is retrievable. It's just three wins, basically."
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Paul, very interesting article and lots of food for thought. Hats off to BQ for agreeing to talk to you.
Do you plan to leave the interview in bits or will you put the whole thing on the blog at some point? I assume there's a lot more we didn't hear - including your dulcet tones asking the actual questions.
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Paul67...
You've upped the ante regarding CQN. Well played! I doubt if any other club has a resource as well managed or delivered as this. Which is why I imagine Mr Quinn gave you the interview!
It's also nice from the point of view that Celtic finally are ackowledging the support and actually engaging with us in a thoughtful and inventive way. It's been said often that PR has been Celtic's achilles heel, I hope this is the first tentative step toward fixing that problem. I also hope that word continues to filter through to our support that the general media pursue an anti Celtic agenda.
i hope this is the first interview of many, and I hope you would take an adversarial role when interviewing - Hard questions need to be asked from time to time, and if the board have the mettle, they will be able to provide us with answers that are confidence inspiring. Maybe answers we don't want to hear, but coherant and forward thinking none the less.
/p
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Well done Paul, and Mr Quinn.
Communication is the name of the game, and it is good to hear, straight from the top, the answers to some of the questions that have been asked on this unque forum. It's quite clear it is required reading at boardroom level.
I believe this share issue can mark the dawn of a new era for our movement, coming as it does just as the pain of the post-MON transition has begun to be dissipated by the sight of our beloved club at the top of the SPL and playing an exciting brand of football that bodes well for our reintegration into the Champions League arena next year. And also as a new generation of talented, home-bred youngsters are about to force their way into the first team squad.
I am intrigued by the mention of "other sources" in the EPL discussion, and also Mr Quinn's pointed reminder to that league's breakaway origins 13 years ago. Melt, pack ice, melt!
Paul, you will of course, face allegations from some of being too close to the board for objective analysis. Just as well you have all of us to keep you right. ;-)
Once again, well done.
(http://celticfcblog.blogspot.com)
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DessyBhoy the watchword is no longer 'Prudent' but 'SUSTAINABILITY'.
Good news for us. It means that, in future if we can afford to spend say £10M, then there is no need to be prudent and we will.
Cynics out there, of which I would include myself, will say but its the same thing and technically it is..... but it leaves the door open for us to question the level of spend more. 'Prudence' is a much more open and shut case!
TBE
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Excellent post ……..and the audio stuff is first class………
I noticed you have received a lot more replies………..
Than I did on my…… SERIOUS…. Post…………….
on the previous blog…………………… 75 to date…………and rising…….
Where I received ……………………0.………….
So I an now retiring from the serious stuff…………..
And returning to being the Blog Jester.
Bhoy O'Bhoy…………………………..
Don’t blame me………………it was Noel…………
bigjoewhojustwant2beAkid
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Paul67 well done to you but more importantly to BQ and all at Celtic for seeing this as a way to communicate to the fans in new innovative ways.
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Many thanks for all your encouraging words, I really appreciate it.
I would also like to thank Brian Quinn for spending time with me very early on Tuesday morning.
From listening to him reminisce about supporting Celtic, it is clear that he absolutely, madly, rabidly welded to our club. He is also a valuable pair of eyes on what is happening at Celtic.
Martybhoy, part two will be more a look at the share issue, and will not now happen next week (big game on).
TBE, I like to think I have come up with the odd exclusive in my day, but this is the first actual interview.
Welcome jsm69.
God bless you timgreen, oops, don’t want to start the religion thing again.
I asked for views on how to support the site during the summer. I don’t thing advertising will work. It will either generate too little money to make a difference, or so much that it will get me looking for transfer speculation stories.
Some bloggers use a PayPal tip jar system, see Martin at The Copydesk (Martin is my ultimate guide on all things web, and was the person who edited the audio for me - thank you Martin).
I have not gone down this route, as I get enough crap from people when I am not making any money out of it, can you imagine what I would get for my £15 per month if I started earning?
I have actually cut the I put in hours this season and have been trying to treat Mrs67 more often to win CQN points.
The real payback, is to win control of the media agenda for Celtic fans.
Madmitch, I kept away from subjects that get covered everywhere else, such as phonegate and the DD interview. BQ would have his answer ready if I had asked anything on this and I wanted to keep a tight focus.
He said we have a rolling 5 year plan.
Welcome TheBarcaMole
Neg Anon
Thanks for your supportive comments. Lets revert to tribal form this month and change the world next month.
MichaelC
I would be happy to give free permission for other media outlets to use this material. I want to promote the as well as the message, so would like reference made to the site.
Scotcelt56, this was my first recorded interview which was not smooth enough to leave as an ‘open tape’. Will improve next time.
P8ddy, I think Mr Q believes he had the odd hard question. You try telling him there is a management vacuum and get ready for the reply.
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With both Beattie and Magic missing what are WGS options.
Beattie is certainly out of contention for both games against Rangers and the one against Falkirk.
Magic could be back for one of the Rangers games but how match fit could he be.
Thompson is back and could slide into the left midfield slot with Maloney playing up front with either Hartson or Sutton.
Sutton could fall back into the centre of midfield with Nakamura going left and Petrov playing on the right.
He could stick with Sutton and Hartson up front and slot thompson in on the left or indeed Maloney.
They are the options that immediately spring to mind.
Does this however open the door for one of the younger lads to get a place on the bench?. Maybe someone with a handle on the reserves situation would be able to say more on which lad ( a striker} would be best placed.
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Paul67 - congratulations, watershed moment (& blip-free Go Live to boot). The early reactions say it all - this is an invaluable way for the Celtic leadership to build trust with fans. We all know relationships are built on trust. Compliments also to Mr Quinn - when can we expect to see/hear him (& a guest or two) again?
So, the multi-sensory CQN experience edges ever closer. Perhaps you could provide different flavour 'skins' for those with a more vivd imagination? Oh and any progress on inserting a clickable 'scratch 'n sniff' radio button? What aromas would match the interviewees I wonder?
12:42 PM, timgreen - agree wholeheartedly.
I agree with many posters ref upcoming Rangers games. Given our unfortunate loss of pace & trickery in attack I think Rangers will feel able to push on to Telfer & Camara, preventing them joining the midfield & thereby preventing Nakamura & Maloney from peeling away into the inside forward channels. They will allow Bobo unlimited possession & will happily hold a defensive line 30 yards from their own goal. If we are feeling adventurous perhaps we could surprise them a little, a 5 man midfield with Nakamura (exhausted from his travels & so relieved of any defensive duties) playing a free role & Petrov getting more attacking licen |
