I know I’m not the only one who was keen on a league challenge this season, preferably from Aberdeen, not the effervescent Hamilton Accies, who made some early running. Aberdeen, of all other Scottish clubs, have the potential to push Celtic further.
That all came tumbling down during the steak pie yesterday, as I watched scores on my phone. A challenge is OK, but the temerity to go top of the league in January is something else.
Celtic had largely sorted their early season performance problems but an undeserved defeat at Dundee United and a wholly deserved point for Ross County opened the door to Aberdeen, who have threatened to get their act together for 18 months and finally appear to be delivering. The frustrating thing for Ronny Deila and his squad, is that Aberdeen will fancy their chances in all of their upcoming games, while it’s another 8 weeks before Celtic will have an opportunity to take points off them.
Some of us pondered that we need competition to sharpen wits and muscles. It’s welcome, although I may reconsider if we’re not back on top after the Aberdeen game on 28th Feb.
Anyone fretting about the prospects of Four-in-a-Row is respectfully invited to get a grip of themselves.
Neil Doncaster, what a wit*. He sat in the meeting which rejected newco Rangers’ (then Sevco Scotland’s) application to join the SPL in place of oldco Rangers, who were then on their way to liquidation.
Doncaster met Craig Whyte along with SPL chairman Ralph Topping, in London in October 2011 when Whyte laid his cards on the table – and co-opted Doncaster into selling his doomsday scenario:
‘We’re going down the lavvy, the world will end, but you two can sort it all out, let me flush the detritus and nip into the SPL as though nothing had happened.’
He even suggested the whole episode would be over and done with within three months. Doncaster was caught in the headlights, dreading having to lose a club midseason, and no doubt had genuine doomsday fears, he folded in the face of that cunning operator, Craig Whyte, and tried to sell Whyte’s plan to SPL clubs. He failed, after considerable fan pressure.
Yesterday’s interview contained nothing he didn’t say two years ago, but it’s timing raises questions over what exactly he’s doing for his salary, that an inexperienced gardener couldn’t do.
For the record: Rangers appointed a liquidator and changed their name. Sevco Scotland applied for and received conditional membership to the SFA and Scottish Football League. They received permission from Rangers administrators to use the name ‘Rangers’. The newco played its first game against Brechin City….. then oldco Rangers had their SFA membership rescinded. Oldco and Newco existed as two separate members of the SFA at the same time.
Not since the Big Man explained transubstantiation has anyone tried to sell the same story. Until Whyte and Doncaster. Explain the simultaneous memberships – and we might take you seriously, otherwise, leave that patter for off-mic. comments to eager Bears.
*edited for appropriateness.
251 Comments- Pages:
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Aiden Bhoy
IMHO
You are totally correct
Skullduggery from the 6th floor of Hampden becoming clearer by the day ,everything happens for a reasons and that includes donkeys outburst yesterday.
Paulandtony,
Celtics football budget needs to be properly spent. Our budget is 10 times Aberdeen and there is not a great deal of difference between us and them. From memory Maribors revenue was around £6M around 10% of Celtic yet they put us out. We need to fix that first.
Secondly we need to stop the wasteful investment in Lawwell/Park Projects which must be running at close to £15M in the last 3 seasons. Celtic need to buy some experience just like auld and Simpson were needed by the Lions.
By managing the budget properly and cutting out dodgy low cost projects Celtic would have £10M per year to invest before any strategic investment.
Also the ROI for Lennoxtown needs to be reviewed. Would it not be more cost effective to take the best Hibs, Hamilton boys as we do anyway.
Celtic is at a crossroads. Continue as we are and the downward spiral continues or show some ambition and go after the prize.
Did Lyon go for such investment?
Doing well domestically….
2nd a point behind marsaille
Point ahead of free spending PSG
and 7 points clear of free spending Monaco….
But got horsed out of Europe by our recent opponents Astra
Imagine if they financially depended on reaching Europe…. what a disaster that would be ???
Hmmmm who can we attract to the SPL
Marseille: Aberdeen
PSG : Dundee it’s
Monaco : Hamilton ACcies
oooooooh the glamour of Ross county Inverness Dundee Motherwell away….
No sevco… hibs or hearts
Besiktas and napoli spent £10m each to reach the CL
And we’re oot on their arses…
Can we afford to speculate to accumulate?
Or realise our level?…. where CL is a bonus not a must
if the powers at be insist that the old Huns did not die then the game against them should be cancelled as our insurance certificates do not cover against injuries to our players by the new huns …… basta
Personally I’d go for legias Zyro and their att centre mid …. £4m max
And forget the 6m cifti and Armstrong
IMHO
Worth a follow on twitter
https://twitter.com/TracingAgent
Neustadt-Braw
Can I ask you a question please. Do you stay anywhere near Bremen ?
So the King and the three furry ones…….things starting to happen. But who has control?
I don’t take that much interest in the goings on in the south side of Glasgow.
Sometimes I feel isolated when I post on here, as being more concerned about the failings at CP than the circus on the south side.
One comment I would have regarding Mike Ashley, is that I suspect he could sell up his entire interest in RFC or whatever they are called these days, and be considerably wealthier as a result.
I have no idea what price he paid for shares, or how much money he lent , but I’m pretty certain he could walk away, quids in & spout some nonsense about giving club over to true Rangers men etc …we shall see.
Denswil played against us at Celtic Park last season.
He breenged into a needless challenge on Anthony Stokes and gave us a really cheap penalty which James Forrest netted. He also deflected Kayal`s long distance shot into his own net.
So he has already assisted in 2 goals for us.
Denswil is out of contract I believe in the summer and is 19 years of age so fits our player profile of young and cheap.H.H.
BCW ,,,yes ..well 100 clicks….I fly with Ryanair from there once a month…I am between Bremen and Hannover …
pick you up any time …braw
gordon_j backing neil lennon
17:37 on 2 January, 2015
Yes, at the shopping centre
I completely agree to disagree.
What day is it ?
Artemis sold their Lehman Brothers derivatives days before the latter went bust so they may know something about Sevco’s future.
Neustadt-Braw
Thanks.
I’m considering going to the Werder – Hamburg match in April. I was wondering about the availability of tickets. Any idea how easy or difficulty it is to purchase.
Been to the stadium before when they beat us. Stayed in Oldenburg.
The Green Man
Thanks fur the Reply..
Which..May a say.. has bin Couched in very Safe n Sane Language.
Which Ah fnd rather .. Pleasing,
Ah believe that you are wrong in your Thinking the Peter Lawwell’s influence.
is All Pervasive at Parkheid oan The Clyde..
Ah believe that His sphere of Influence lies chiefly..in the Financial Area.. of Celtic Plc
There is a Board of Directors.. whose Function..is tae Take Care of The Well Being n the Direction in Which oor Club should be Headed.
All Matters concerning .. Transfers.. in And Out… Must take place..after Proper Discussion of those Matters by the Celtic Board of Directors…
Agreement , must be reached within the Group.. before any Financial Moves are Allowed tae Happen.
That is Why we hiv a Board of Directors.. n.. a Chairman tae Oversee it..
No single Person.. Such as Mr.Lawwell..as You Claim..
Hass the Authority..
‘
For want of another Term..
Te DICTATE .. a A Policy .. which was his Own. without the Approval of
That Board of Directors..
There ur Built in. Checks N Balances.. Especially , in a Plc.
That’s how a well run Business is Ran/Run
N..in Ma Opinion.. Celtic Fitba’ n Athletic Club is a Well Run/Ran.. Business.
Noo… Ye Know..
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Noo. Ah gotta Leave…
Seeya.
Turkeybhoy @ 16.56hrs
You make a lot of good points in an excellent post. You give a solution when many only give the criticism.
But as you state its a blog and opinions will be divided.
IMO Basel is not a valid example of the way forward. Switzerland has a population of over 8m. Basel average crowds of 27.000 with their top attendance of 33.000. This is not a team or a path to emulate if we have ambition to fill our stadium.
Unlike Basel, we have a huge global fan-base and our potential is massive. To emulate Basel we would require to downsize our infrastructure leaving us vulnerable in the future to fall foul of FFP.
Controversially we should look nearer home how to fill a stadium. Why do Newcastle keep filling their stadium, even against unfashionable opposition like Burnley:-
The majority of fans detest their owner.
They are a selling club, with minimal investment pro rata.
They have no intention of competing in cup competitions.
The majority of fans detested their recently departed manager.
The majority of their fans have never seen them win anything and are unlikely to in the foreseeable future.
Yet with a fan base much inferior to ourselves and mainly limited to the NE of England they continually sell out their ground.
I will never accept that they are more passionate or faithful than ourselves. Is there something I am missing or is it totally down to the EPL factor..
HH.
Leftclicktic
Think that’s just about right
If Gary Payer’s ex caddie has 15% and the three furry ones have 16%…….cant they force an EGM?
Ally resigning,
SFA meeting,
SFA knocking back Ashley
MSM STV in particular stating it was the three bears
King becoming largest single shareholder
Doncasters announcement that Rangers cannot die
Tanks parked up against Ashley.
Ashley controls 26% of shares and is single biggest creditor
Ashley still in control.
Easdales positioning becomes more interesting.
HH
Clashcitybhoy
A boycott with no purpose would be plain stupid and Celtic supporters are not stupid.
In fact they are by and large smart enough to know when they are being duped ( unlike the soo side fan club).
A boycott is not necessary but a desire to know that the ST purchased in the summer is not one that is going to support an uncorrected and indeed corrupt governance system seems to me to be a reasonable objective for any self respecting individual.
It also seems to me that Celtic have more than enough evidence to support the view that their supporters have not had a fair deal.
This is a situation where both club and support have a mutually beneficial objective. The consequences of not achieving it WILL be reduced ST sales.
Unless the calculation is more will return with return of the rivals in blue.
I’m quite happy with the return of the rivals in blue but only as long as I feel steps have been taken to make sure the lies and deception that began in 2000 and are still being spoken by the SPFL CEO up to yesterday cannot be repeated.
That means at the very least the removal of Ogilvie, Regan and Doncaster along with domestic FFP including an Article 12 equivalent to preserve the integrity of our competitions. That is why UEFA have it so why not Scottish football.
PL Is in a perfect position to deliver and other clubs will now see the advantage to them of an honest game honestly governed.
A boycott? No
Reform? Absolutely with just a bit of pressure to bring it about if indeed it is needed.
leftclicktic
17:31 on 2 January, 2015
Surely they won’t get away with the big lie twice …… wish I was a creditor…
31% combined for Glib & furry trio, Cashley 26% – who owns the rest? The gardner has a small holding still?
BCW….braw is on the job…I ,ll get back to you ….bit of a derby that one…nobody likes Hamburg …they are an embarrassment for the bundesliga at the moment …financial problems like their used to be pals the old huns….
so they will be getting humped…braw …Bremen play in green ….I love the green …but off the top of ma braw heid …you should not have any bother getting a couple of tickets ..and if you are sure of coming I will defo try to join you…
hail hail
Administration, ditch the debt, 15 point deduction, still make play offs comfortably, honest mistakes when required. Doncaster’s intervention yesterday now makes sense. It’s a stitch up and the SPFL/SFA are part of it. A rangers in premiership next season, debt free run by good rangers men and ready to challenge.
Blue pitch & margerita
Hmmmmmmmmm who are they and which way will they twist.
A wee prediction from a “roaster”
Goldilocks and the 3 bears will try to gain control find out who has “The deeds” and the keys to the hoose , force it into liquidation (dont know how they will do that,but feel this is their plan to rid themselves of Big Haunds & Big Mikes “onerous ” contracts then start a 3rd rankers with the SFAs ludge blessing.
I see prince Andrew’s been accused of sexual abuse of a teenager. Now that saville and Rotherham have shown us that abusers know no boundaries have of class, religion, money etc. I hope the sfa and co take time to look back at their emails and learn about their role in protecting vulnerable kids. They thought that was acceptable – only a few years ago aswell.
BIG-CUP-WINNERS
It’ll be well worth the trip Bremen is a smashing City really is something and their ground is very impressive on the river. I’m in Munster as we speak and that’s a lovely city as well around 1.5/2 hour drive south, got a nice little football team as well.
auldheid
17:55 on 2 January, 2015
Nothing less than a new club applying for a license for the bottom division will be acceptable, AND the liquidated assets sold for the creditors to be repaid by BDO….
Having said that, Michael’s next move will be interesting….
gary67in
17:59 on 2 January, 2015
That certa
We have a competitive league this term and it’s quite possible that Aberdeen could win this title race. Losing players like Hooper, Ledley, Wanyama, Wilson and Samaras with possibly Commons and Van Dijk for the off means constant rebuilding and little stability at the club.
When we take a look back at Martin O’Neill’s team we had players like Valgarren, Balde, Mjalby, Agathe, Thompson, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, Sutton and Henrik Larsson who were all at Celtic Park for the long haul and consequently great solidity. It is little wonder that trophies were won on a regular basis and the great achievement of reaching a European final..
a Bremen “Hootenanny” ……….go go go go…..braw
gary67
17:59 on 2 January, 2015
That certainly seems to be the plan but, once again, they recon without th boy from Newcastle….
Admin for Sevco is now a certainty.
Read Emusanorphan’s post earlier.
Parks has talks with Doncaster and Regan
then surprise, surprise Ashley’s
attempt to buy more Sevco shares is rejected.
Followed up by the 3 bears buy out of Laxey.
The final piece in the jigsaw was Doncasters
statement yesterday.
Paving the way for a new Rangers with no penalty.
They are going to sink the good ship Sevco.
Paul67 et al
Thon New Oasis?
Are they the same as the auld Oasis?
Gary67
17:59
Administration, ditch the debt, 15 point deduction, still make play offs comfortably, honest mistakes when required. Doncaster’s intervention yesterday now makes sense. It’s a stitch up and the SPFL/SFA are part of it. A rangers in premiership next season, debt free run by good rangers men and ready to challenge.
——–
I don’t see how Doncaster’s comments make any difference. There has been talk all season(and last) about Sevco going into administration, taking the points deduction and still getting into the play offs.
They don’t have a credit line, and I think Ashley’s loans make him the biggest creditor. Regardless, Doncaster’s comments refer to liquidation, and the precedent for that is clear, to start at the bottom again.
67 Heaven
You can only seek that if liquidation occurs.
They are already a new club.