10 years ago today Jimmy Calderwood was manager of Aberdeen. If a nostalgic journalist troubled the Tanned One on what his old club could do to prevent Celtic disappearing further over the horizon, can you imagine him saying: “The board need to bridge the gap with Celtic, spend big and put Aberdeen back where they belong”?
It would be a ridiculous suggestion. Celtic turnover circa £65m more than Aberdeen, trying to match the champions in any meaningful way would jeopardise the club’s 112 year history.
Calderwood, isn’t so daft. But Walter Smith, who 10 years ago was Rangers manager, now advises Newco to spend big in order to catch and stop Celtic. Newco will turnover around £50m less than Celtic.
Football clubs who are engaged in a competitive struggle, either cut their cloth to suit their circumstances, or are destined for insolvency. Of the tens of thousands of registered football clubs in the world, Newco, more than any, should be wedded to a strategy of matching expenditure to income. They should know better.
Live within your means, pay your bills, build up a track record of responsible trading. Develop youth talent to the best of your ability, plan seasons in advance, and you have an excellent chance of improving as a football team year-on-year. Whip up unreasonable expectations, become a serial loss-maker, crave short-term hits like an out of control addict, and your chances of sustained development are zero.
It beggars belief that in 2017, not five years since the shadow of liquidation walked up Ibrox’ marble staircase listing every asset in the building for sale, that a hugely experienced authority is putting a futile trophy hunt before the financial security of the club.
The ball is rolling on this now. The vast majority of fans only hear “Spend, spend, spend”. Responsible voices suggesting Newco spend what they earn, irrespective of the consequences on the league table, will be abused as heretics (been there).
David Murray’s ‘speculate to accumulate’ narrative needed Rangers to be competitive at the top end of an inflating market. It worked while these conditions were in place but fell apart when the market in England softened in 2001. Rangers could no longer sell their duds at a profit and the game was over. It’s not been a viable strategy in Scotland for 15 years. The subsequent crash and burn was inevitable (although liquidation wasn’t).
Any team wedded to a strategy which requires them to spend money they can ill afford, to achieve an outcome which is beyond their reach, is destined for insolvency.
Is competing for second place really that bad that you need to risk it all to ‘stop Celtic reaching 10’? Aberdeen, Hearts and Motherwell seem to enjoy their football in this reality, most fans pitch up week-after-week despite lesser ambitions. I haven’t heard a single voice of reason on the financial strategy across the city from within their own ranks.
You know how this story ends.
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ernie
What is perceived to be the likely outcome of the BTC Appeal?
JJ
Unknown CQNer
Another Unknown CQNer…………….
……….. Moderators
Benito Mussolini
Adolf Hitler
Ian Paisley…………….
………….Mad Orators. :).
BRTH
Don’t know if you still have my email address from the sleep out sponsorship but could you forward me the travel details also please. In case you don’t have email I can give you this one below.
fee1421@gmail.com
HOT SMOKED on 11TH JANUARY 2017 10:50 AM
I think HMRC will win. I think there’s a general view that tax avoidance had got out of hand and needs to be reined in a bit.
That’s just my opinion though.
Would be very ironic if John Reid was one of the Judge’s who puts the final nail in the Huns coffin.
ROBINBHOY:
“Ironic”… ?
Are you another who thinks God doesn’t have a sense of humour?
Divine retribution…. you never know when it is going to strike, nor who will be the messenger/executioner.
“In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti
AMEN
Ernie,
Thanks. I realise it is `just` your opinion but I find it reasonably reassuring.
Are there any on here with a grounding in these matters who don`t (or do, for that matter) share ernie`s view?
I have to go out but will check for any responses later.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
Red Bull – Austrias own IronBru. A bit more potent and a lot more successful.
Surely they wouldnt risk sullying their reputation by getting involved with such a toxic brand ?
Had a quick google.
Lord Reed although Scottish is not John Reid. One of the other judges is also a scot, Lord Hodge. So I’m not optimistic.
Thoughts and prayers with philbhoy and Delaney’s Dunky.
ROBINBHOY on 11TH JANUARY 2017 10:57 AM
Lord Reed, not Lord Reid. I’ve seen suggestions that they have similar allegiances, football wise.
Lord Reed is the guy who advised a bank robber to send a bank teller a bunch of flowers as a token of apology for distressing her ..
Lord Carnwath , lord Neuberger and lady Hale are the other judges .
Paul67 and I think Auldheid have both said they can’t predict the outcome
What is holding up Eboue , joining Celtic,as I said the other day ,as usual our club is dragging it’s heels,it happens all the time when ever the transfer window opens,my own view is ,that there won’t be any new players coming in this month, why because like all Celtic managers before Brendan,come out with the spin,we have targets in mind,but if nothing happens then we will just have to go with what we have,and before anyone says I’m Bhun, look back on previous transfer Windows.and you will see it’s all spin,and bad communication,from Celtic Football Club .
Whatever is going to be… will be,,, such is the future.
10 in a row
TIMBHOY3:
You are so worked up and raged, you smell like bhun.
RAY WINSTONE’S BIG DISEMBODIED HEID 1013
Oh,very good. That’s getting nicked!
HH
TIMBHOY3 on 11th January 2017 11:38 am
Celtic have done all they can; they have agreed a fee with his club; they have agreed terms with the player; he has passed a medical; Celtic applied for a work permit.
As is standard, because he doesn’t meet the standard criteria, it was rejected. Celtic have appealed and await the (expected) approval of the work permit.
As far as I am aware the player is in Dubai with the rest of the team but he can’t participate in any sessions until he is given full clearance and officially becomes a Celtic player.
KTF
Beware the Ides of March eh?
I have no problem with Lords Reed and Hodge.
Reed is a specialist in human rights and commercial law and Paddy Hodge is a thoroughly decent individual who was a civil servant before he went to the bar. He also sat as the Exchequer Judge in the Court of Session, an appeal court judge in Jersey and Guernsey and was the Procurator to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
I had one of my most fun days in court against him …….. he was very nice afterwards if more than a little frustrated at getting the runaround!
BROGAN ROGAN TREVINO AND HOGAN:
Correct me if i am wrong, and I hope I am, I really do, but did you not endorse the integrity and intelligence of Lord Nimmo Smith prior to the Scottish Inquisition?
TIMBHOY3 on 11TH JANUARY 2017 11:38 AM
You asked same question yesterday or day before
Gonnae read the replies this time
BRT&H
their personalities do not matter. This will be determined on whether then like to shake with knuckles and pressure!
On that basis I will give it as a victory to BDO.
MWD
MOONBEAMSWD:
When a mason shakes my hand i play the piano on his knuckles and smile. Big smile and look him straight in the eye.
Scares the shit out of them.
JFK had his faults but he and Bobby Sands are my heroes…. And they both swung sledgehammers at the worth of supremacists.
I see Sky (spit) have moved the Sevco game to Sunday 12 March.
Lots of Tims missing out again due to travel, work etc.
Stolen from Twitter :
Whaurs yir troosers? Oh, they’ve been pished oan!
new article posted.
Bom dia