Thank you to everyone who participated in our auction for the Lionel Messi signed shirt, which raised £1020 when it closed this morning, a clear £20 more than the Celtic top signed by the Seville squad, which closed a few days earlier, you are a credit to the club. Our summer fundraising for the 1254125 campaign and other good causes is off to an excellent start.
We have seven weeks until our first Champions League qualifying game but the qualifying rounds do not end for a full 12 weeks. These timescales will determine how seriously Celtic take interest in our star players. Right now, there will be little attention to these matters.
With a couple of new contract offers unsigned after 8 months, I expect Celtic will have a sale valuation in mind, but business is often done in the final days of the transfer window, and until then, efforts will continue to re-sign players. Celtic are in the fortunate position of not having to accept an offer to keep the lights on, so if valuations are not met, as was the case with Gary Hooper in January, we can afford to let players leave for nothing.
Willie Wallace’s autobiography, Heart of a Lion, sold out initial stock at the mail-order fulfilment centre and several retail stores last week. The fulfilment centre is now back in stock, all orders should be shipped and with you in a couple of days.
Order your copy (in time for Father’s Day) below:
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As always Le Carre remains a fascinating individual, for all those who believe establishment conspiracy begin and end in what you refer to as Salmonland, i hope the article below may broaden that viewpoint
Le Carré Gives Swan Song Interview at Hay Festival
In a wide-ranging interview that John Le Carré described as his ‘swan song’, the celebrated novelist railed against plans to introduce secret trials, insisted that the UK government’s ‘spiritual home is the secret world’ and explained why he will never write a memoir of his time as a spy.
Le Carre’s 90-minute interview with the journalist Philippe Sands returned time and again to the author’s complex relationship with his ‘bent’ father and the ways in which the British Establishment was inextricably linked with the secret services. Echoing the words of his most famous fictional traitor Bill Haydon, he said, ‘[The secret world] is the spiritual home of the Establishment, it’s the font of power.’
This fascination with secrecy was not isolated to the political sphere, le Carré continued. It extended into the legal profession and the media, too. ‘We pretend we haven’t got a political Establishment – that’s utter nonsense… It’s pretty formless as an Establishment in many ways, but its spiritual home is the secret world. It’s based on what access you have, what committees you sit on, what secrets you’re admitted to… This notion that there is an élite of the indoctrinated is very pernicious and far more widespread than we suppose… [It goes] beyond the legal Establishment, into the press… The people who are brought into the circle – the political editors of newspapers, the foreign editors of newspapers – sooner or later they all get the touch and the touch is intoxicating… People – particularly in people entering politics – become intoxicated by that touch and it’s very easy to sway them.’
One effect of this indoctrination of the top tiers of political, legal and media power into ‘the secret world’ that le Carré singled out for criticism was the drive towards ‘secret courts’. This theme – that allowing judicial proceedings to take place behind closed doors is dangerous – runs through his latest novel A Delicate Truth. ‘We must remember how bad the intelligence services have been in relation to the major crises of the past 50 or so years,’ he said. ‘To imagine that superior knowledge is invested in them, and that…you can create a kangaroo court where the accused is not even aware of the evidence presented against them – these are the instruments of a really bad society.’
He illustrated his argument with the case of George Blake, the Soviet mole whose life and career had been discussed at Hay earlier in the day, adding, ‘Finally he was caught…and at that moment an entire judicial process kicked in where everyone involved in it was taken aside and shown material. The question of guilt or innocence could not be examined. I believe precisely the same thing could happen.’
Despite his ambivalence towards the activities of the secret services, lé Carre also said he had no plans to write a memoir of his time as a spy. He said: ‘I know nothing that could now endanger people, but when I went into that world I did take a simple vow… The deal was you never spoke about it. I find myself almost physically unable to discuss that world now.
‘I think the really interesting thing I would like to talk about is the social composition of that world. I mean joining MI5 in those days was a bit like joining the Royal Automobile Club… A whole lot of things I swore to keep to myself I suddenly find myself reading in black and white written by other people. But I couldn’t do it. I would choke on it.’ He did add, however, ‘I wish I’d kept a diary of those times I will never talk about.’
After the event, and a standing ovation from the 1,700-strong audience, it was announced that le Carré had chosen to donate his appearance fee to two organisations: Listening Books and the Storymoja Hay Festival in Nairobi. He was then presented with The Hay Festival Prose Medal by the Chair of the Hay Festival Revel Guest.
Top quotes:
‘[I had] two educations in criminality. One was my parents and the other was teaching at Eton.’
‘‘The reason the secret service has produced so many bad eggs is because they look for them.’
‘The power of story is greater than the power of fact – alas.’
‘[John Reid] was a pretty shameful Minister of Defence, who guided us secretly into Afghanistan and is now working for a security company.’
starry plough
15:03 on 3 June, 2013
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Excellent summation of Scottish Fitba!
I must admit I share Bada Bings opinion we should have sold Hooper in January for top money.However,all is not lost sell him to stoke for 10 million plus Peter Crouch tempt Crouch with European football he would score for fun in the SPL and would lead the line well. Wanyama to Arsenal for not a penny less than 15 million.Give Lennie 15 Million to bring in fresh players he doesnt need to spend it all in the one window.If big Fraser wants out price him at 9 Million and let him move on.I am not sure about Dunne for Centre Back but I trust Lennies judgement also the rumour of John McDonalds returning to Parkhead on a free transfer is not good he has had his chance in my opinion.These are just my thoughts no doubt they will be well wide of the mark.H.H.
Teams shaping up for next season
Dunne at centre half, Novocaine from Hearts oan the wing, Newton fae St Mirren in the middle, Sutton and Crouch and Russell up front, where dae ah sign for a season book!!!
John McDonald wis he no the the infamous Polaris Joe!!
starry plough
It’s only just starting :))
Starry
Kris Boyd is looking for a club.
leftclicktic
Don’t worry LCT there’s a whole load of transfer windae madness to come!!
Baton down the hatches…
Che
I’ve got an old 3 iron
Gene
Sounds like a fair swop.
Adrian Durham mugged in Brasil
SHAME
Celtic are ready to break the bank for anyone called Kyle or Ross who plays for Sevco – as Neil Lennon looks to rebuild his squad following the sales of Victor Wanyama to Wolves for £200,000 and Gary Hooper to Grimsby for a box of fish.
See – anyone can make up transfer stories.
The muggers will need counselling after encountering that little git.
Che
I wid deep my scarf and eat it should that fat excuse for a fitbaw player ever be mentioned in the same breath as my beloved Hoops..
Pretty slow on here today has everyone gone on their hols. I presume, Joe, that John McDonald should be Scott.
Nahhh don’t really want to have him back either. Been there done that now move along.
Hx2
SSN has turned into football’s version of TV Evangelists.
#Specialonemyass
Stein
What kinda fish was it?
Look no matter who we sign there will be no credit for it, if hoops and Vic decide to go to the EPL it will be because lawell failed whilst any other named dumpling will be hailed as being positively career minded by joining the revolution in the 2nd division.
THis evening’s Tv highlight is shapin’ up to be the next episode of ‘The Fall’, starrin’ wee Gillian Anderson as the lady detective sent to Belfast to catch an ole serial killer.
Celtic got it right on Gary Hooper – didn’t he seal the Scottish Cup? – and selling when the Juventus tickets were mid flow would have been silly.
Besides who believes MSM mince that we turned down a £7million bid.
I don’t CSC
Che 15:37 on 3 June, 2013
Cod.
I remain hopeful all our big players will still be with us next season.
Joe F-agree ,15 mil minimum for Vic.He might want to stay but we can’t refuse certain bids.
parkheadcumsalford
Got me and my bhoy seats beside each other in section 109 row q Lower.
It’s good to be back on a fulltime basis.HH
‘Celtic dither, while Sevco swoop’
Ramsdens CSC
It was nice to waken on Saturday morning with the Orange Walk in Glasgow expounding love, humaneness, and compassion for all, in a contemporary wee country.
Threesie?
If they won the ole Coupe de Ramsden, they would need to come up with a new ole star to stick on their jerseys.
Serious question, did these orange walks not originate to commemorate a specific date?
gsu
Sipsini, I’ll be right behind you, throwing plastic cups;-)
I’ll come down and say hello.
We’ve waited patiently for CFC to catch on to the wee Knowlesy phenomenon good to see we have with the BECELTIC campaign
Yip, – that would have been a new world record with the ole Ramsden’s – Pawn Star.
Lionroars67
In his latest book,A Delicate Truth,John le Carre,the character Fergus Quinn MP latterly of Ministry of Defence,is a thug,he beats the working class drum,but he’s also ex-Catholic,ex-communist and New Labour.I wonder who he is based on..?
Threesie again?
*runs for the hills*
Dalglish, Nikolas, Viduka, Di Canio, Honky-Tonk, now big Vic……………..same beelin’ frustrated angry misunderstood petulant cheesed off sulking downer everytime year after year we lose a player I dont want us to lose.
Anyway, thats life. Its hard work being a celtic fan sometimes.
Hope we get a good fee for him.
Sorry Bhoys I meant Scott McDonald.Does anyone have a full list of who Celtic have Freed this summer ? H.H.
Fanandpatriot – our very own [and much missed] Philvis?
fanadpatriot
15:56 on
3 June, 2013
Lionroars67
In his latest book,A Delicate Truth,John le Carre,the character Fergus Quinn MP latterly of Ministry of Defence,is a thug,he beats the working class drum,but he’s also ex-Catholic,ex-communist and New Labour.I wonder who he is based on..?
LOL Supporters with signatory banners being up turned would have been a dead give away………………………….
donbrattbakkinanger
I am sure Philvis,I hope he is well,does not have as many faces as this portrayed character.
Gary Hooper was instrumental in the recent Scottish Cup success.Therefore,in my humble opinion,the club was correct and the manager was vindicated in their decision not to sell him in January.
lionroars67
Certainly not a popular man in so many circles.Opportunist comes to mind.