Not for the first time around Ibrox, we’re deep into denial territory than an insolvency incident is imminent. A whole load of irrelevant questions have been answered; they will not go into administration on ‘Sash Wednesday’, nor will a board meeting be convened today, but the pertinent question, whether club consultant Philip Nash, and director Graham Wallace, have held pre-administration talks, remains curiously unaddressed.
My information is that administration is only one of a number of options under consideration.
They have alternatives. A sale and leaseback of the stadium and (still magnificently named) Murray Park could provide the club with enough money to see them through until season ticket renewal time next year, when they have a chance of being in the Premiership. If it was your objective to maintain shareholder value, this must surely be considered. Cast your mind over what we know about the bulk of the shareholders and there should be no doubt about their priorities. These are not shareholders who will accept cumulative losses or even a pound-in-pound-out model.
They could continue to secure assets against borrowing from hedge fund-shareholders at an interest rate of 30%. This is an attractive return for a hedge fund. If they secure the stadium in return for a future loan they will be in a position to earn attractive returns from whichever club plays there for many years to come.
If you are a fan, or indeed, a director of Oldco, who set on a path to liquidation, this reality will feel intolerable. Those responsible for strategy, oversight and governance at Oldco set the wheels in motion; Newco’s burden is a consequence of Oldco trying to put their rivals in their place, and allowing the wolves in.
Intolerable though the situation may be, I’m not sure what can be done about it. Using season ticket sales to threaten to subvert the value of investments made by hedge funds, and shareholders who have made it their absolute priority to remain anonymous, is incredibly risky. Incredibly. Risky.
Here’s the question, are those anonymous investors likely to submit to threats, or are they the kind of people who can afford to play hardball and would raze the stadium to the ground rather than be bullied?
My guess is we are talking about hardnosed, wealthy individuals, who will forever remain anonymous and who have never been bullied by minority shareholder action in their lives. It’s easy to whip football fans into a pitchfork-esque revolt, 10 years of CQN has provided regular evidence of this (mostly over comparatively trivial misinformation), but if this was my club, I’d be going off my head at the behaviour of just about everyone involved and I don’t think I’d be able to sleep at night.
‘Seville’, the book detailing the incredible stories you, the Celtic support, experienced and set down on record, is out this month. To order your copy click on the link below.
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******6 days remain to submit your CQteN dream team******
Over 200 dream teams entered to date. Don’t miss out on submitting your team of the decade!
HH
CRC
“CQteN Dream Team”
Now is your chance to select your CQteN dream from the last decade
Email us on doccqten@gmail.com
Rules are very simple:
Select 11 players from the list below, forming either a 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 formation
So you will need:
1 goalkeeper
2 full backs
2 centre backs
3 or 4 midfielders
2 or 3 forwards
and of course….
1 manager.
Each player on the list below has made at least 10 starting appearances from July 2004 to date during the CQteN decade.
So no Henrik, then!
When you are selecting the players, you should ideally base your selection on their performances during the CQteN decade, but then again that is your choice.
Send your selection to us by email to doccqten@gmail.com with your CQN blog name (if you do not have one, then you need to get thinking as well)
Anybody can enter: bloggers, lurkers, friends and family, but you can only enter ONCE.
The closing date for entries is 3pm Sunday 9th March 2014
The CQteN dream team will be announced at the CQteN night on Friday 14th March and will be published online soon after. There will be a couple of prizes for the closest teams selected to the winning team.
Good luck and get selecting.
HH
CRC
Goalkeepers
Appearances Clean sheets
Artur Boruc (G)
220 82
David Marshall (G)
30 9
Fraser Forster (G)
177 88
Lukasz Zaluska (G)
40 20
Mark Brown (G)
14 6
Rab Douglas (G)
19 11
Full Backs
Appearances Goals
Total Total
Adam Matthews (D)
82 4
Andreas Hinkel (D)
101 1
Cha Du-Ri (D)
35 2
Charlie Mulgrew (D)
144 25
Daniel Fox (D)
22 0
Darnell Fisher (D)
10 0
Edson Braafheid (D)
11 0
Emilio Izaguirre (D)
132 1
Jackie McNamara (D)
44 1
Lee Naylor (D)
134 3
Mark Wilson (D)
116 3
Mikael Lustig (D)
57 5
Mo Camara (D)
24 0
Paul Caddis (D)
10 0
Paul Telfer (D)
71 1
Ulrik Laursen (D)
15 0
Centre Backs
Appearances Goals
Total Total
Bobo Balde (D)
93 4
Daniel Majstorovic (D) 61 2
Darren O’Dea (D)
49 6
Efe Ambrose (D)
73 5
Gary Caldwell (D)
147 7
Glenn Loovens (D)
84 9
John Kennedy (D)
14 0
Joos Valgaeren (D)
25 0
Josh Thompson (D)
19 3
Kelvin Wilson (D)
72 0
Stanislav Varga (D)
57 7
Stephen McManus (D)
195 20
Steven Pressley (D)
24 2
Thomas Rogne (D)
54 3
Virgil van Dijk (D)
31 4
Midfielders
Appearances Goals
Total Total
Aiden McGeady (M)
194 36
Alan Thompson (M)
56 13
Baram Kayal (M)
88 3
Barry Robson (M)
40 7
Didier Agathe (M)
22 0
Evander Sno (M)
20 1
Efrain Juarez (M)
10 2
Jiri Jarosik (M)
35 7
Joe Ledley (M)
136 30
Juninho Paulista (M)
14 1
Kris Commons (M)
106 55
Landry N’Guemo (M)
43 0
Marc Crosas (M)
40 1
Massimo Donati (M)
34 4
Neil Lennon (M)
130 1
Niall McGinn (M)
15 6
Pat McCourt (M)
19 10
Paul Hartley (M)
74 4
Ross Wallace (M)
18 3
Roy Keane (M)
12 1
Scott Brown (M)
246 26
Shaun Maloney (M)
97 31
Shunsuke Nakamura (M)
157 33
Stephen Pearson (M)
11 4
Stiliyan Petrov (M)
94 24
Sung-Yong Ki (M)
60 11
Thomas Gravesen (M)
23 6
Victor Wanyama (M)
80 13
Zheng Zhi (M)
11 1
Forwards
Appearances Goals
Total Total
Anthony Stokes (F)
100 55
Chris Sutton (F) 43 18
Craig Beattie (F)
18 14
Craig Bellamy (F)
15 9
Derek Riordan (F)
13 8
Gary Hooper (F)
127 82
Georgios Samaras (F)
162 70
Henri Camara (F)
16 8
James Forrest (F)
85 22
Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (F)
89 44
John Hartson (F)
83 50
Kenny Miller (F)
28 11
Lassad Nouioui (F)
10 3
Maciej Zurawski (F)
53 30
Marc-Antoine Fortune (F)
30 12
Robbie Keane (F)
17 16
Scott McDonald (F)
117 64
Teemu Pukki (F)
15 4
Tony Watt (F)
13 8
Managers
Neil Lennon
Tony Mowbray
Gordon Strachan
Martin O’Neill
The most popular boy’s name in Scotland has entered the top 100 for the first time ever. While traditional names such as William, David, Craig and Charles have all dropped in popularity – especially the latter three which had all shown a growth in the past few years – it seems double Christian names have come back in fashion for the first time since the late 1970s when John Paul made a first appearance in the top 10 where it has remained since.
Ten most popular names in Scotland in 2013 (last year’s positions in brackets).
10 Craig (6)
9 Charles (5)
8 John Paul (10)
7 David (4)
6 Brogues (15)
5 Ian (7)
4 Ally (2)
3 Steven (3)
2 William (1)
1 Lord Nimmo ( – )
ASonOfDan @ 18.44
Tony Watt did not pose in an Ireland top. That was a photoshop job.
“John McClure, the head of Unicorn Asset Management, a well-respected small cap manager in the City of London, and a lifelong Rangers fan with 4 season tickets”
What’s a small cap manager? Has he got a wee heid?
King Kenny’s birthday tommorow.
So who was the best?
King Kenny or the King of Kings.
No argument.
Henke
From twitter, not football related but quite funny all the same;-)
http://t.co/PP9RSRODjo
John McClure, the head of Unicorn Asset Management slates the terms of Laxey loan while the founder of Unicorn praises them and works with them on a regular basis.
Here’s one link where he is on Laxey’s side, there are others. He appears to do a bit of buissness with them.
http://www.investmentweek.co.uk/investment-week/news/1358550/unicorn-webb-hits-arbs
SFTB
What’s a small cap manager? Has he got a wee heid?
He makes those paper rolls that bang on toy guns…
In not on
whitecrook tim
18:59 on 3 March, 2014
“Alick from Airdrie”
Does it not make you laugh when you know how he’s hurting?
What’s it called? Oh! Yes that great German midfielder, Schadenfreude.
Hate give SSB a plug but caught an hour of tonight’s show. It was such car crash stuff from Huns who finally seem to have woken up that spivs are everywhere that the off button was not pushed.
The bit I heard was so amusing I may even listen to the podcast when it’s put up later. A very calm bad erudite businessman from Falkirk who was a creditor last time round but still does business with Mark2 was very impressive. The old 72 year old Season book bear fair ripped Swally a new one.
Come on, you know you want to. You’ll not be disappointed ( btw had the strong impression Gerry McCulloch was fair enjoying himself standing in for Delahunt)
yorkbhoy
20:06 on 3 March, 2014
“He makes those paper rolls that bang on toy guns…”
We called them “keps”.
Must have been a Borrheid thing.
Sispini
I was just saying to a bhoy in work that one of Regrets over the last few years was now working in a pretty much Hun free place
Wish I was there to rub it into them
Dr whatfor
Off to goa again on Friday
With all these wealthy rangers men around . why are they skint, bunch of blowhards everyone one of them. aye Dave King making a fortune in South Africa. another f—-r who should be in the jail. wide boy from Castlemilk .
Sorry, the Falkirk businessman was not bad. Meant to say but……
Dobra vecer from Croatia.
Watching St Pauli and Union Berlin. Half time 0 0 good match. Both teams have made good chances and the ground has a good atmosphere. Very enjoyable and washed down with a my favourite Karlovacko beer.
I saw a post about travel from Bishopbriggs to cqten. Anyone wanting to share a taxi from Bishopbriggs Cross with Mrs HJ and me?
eddieinkirkmichael
20:04 on 3 March, 2014
That looks to me that Laxey were doing what they do best; getting their pound of flesh (realisation).
Sounds like Unicorn weren’t happy. I wonder why Mr McClure is still greetin’. Probably missed out on a bonus.
Shouldn’t that be a ‘small crap manager’?
Yorkbhoy- are you originally from Greenock?
Makes me smile all these die hard, rich, Rangers fans, who are absolutely consistent in keeping their arms in their very long deep pockets.
Love that they have all their hopes pinned on a crook who ‘allegedly’ invested a pile of cash in the stench via a laundry once.
SSN say Lying King summonsed to see the Sevco spivs about his comments of late.
Cannae stop laughing
Watching St. Pauli v Union Berlin
Enjoyed our pre-season game against Union (result not-withstanding), decent fans and a great place to visit.
Afternoon all,
As if the huns weren’t apoplectic enough this news will send them to another plane of rage:
Peter Lawwell joins European Club Association Executive Board
By: Newsroom Staff on 03 Mar, 2014 18:11
CELTIC Football Club is delighted to announce that Chief Executive Peter Lawwell has been elected to serve on the main Executive Board of the European Club Association.
Peter will join other existing Board members including Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge of Bayern Munich, AC Milan’s Umberto Gandini, Edwin van der Sar of Ajax and Arsenal’s representative Ivan Gazidis.
The European Club Association is the sole, independent body directly representing football clubs at European level. It is the authoritative, independent voice of European club football, the lifeblood of the European game.
ECA exists to protect and promote European club football. Its aim is to create a new, more democratic governance model that truly reflects the key role of the clubs.
ECA will act to strengthen each of the clubs for the benefit of all and to ensure that club football is recognised by decision-makers as the most direct link to the fans and their communities. The ECA currently represents 214 clubs from 53 nations.
Peter Lawwell said: “This is a tremendous honour and a role which I very much look forward to undertaking.
“European football is an ever-changing landscape and from the perspective of Celtic, it is vital that we ensure we are at the heart of the action and at the centre of discussions regarding the development of the game.
“As we look to the future, I look forward to representing Celtic, Scottish clubs and the other clubs in Europe to ensure that the voice of these clubs and their supporters is heard.”
Hail Hail
1-0 Union Berlin
bob dylan covers……..
http://youtu.be/gPU-Uq_dcZo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF7i93kcKl0&feature=share&list=PL012C08365D22B0A9
https://www.rte.ie/news/galleries/2014/0301/507586-one-this-day-the-re-interment-of-roger-casement/
1-1
How can the daftie club summon anyone who has hee haw officiallly to do with them
Deid daftie’s
On the subject of racism does anyone remember what the rangers end treated us to on the last Old Firm game of 2004 (I think)? It was the year we beat them in all 6 games and the game I’m referring to was the last minute winning chip from Sutton.
Point I’m taking a while to get to is the rangers turned up with potatoes and flung them onto the pitch at various stages in the first half , including at Petrov when he was taking a corner.
Don’t think much was made of it , even by us, because we were too busy laughing at how gash they were that year under Eck.
Right around the time of the one Scotland many cultures campaign as well. And to think those same people think nothing of picking up the phone to the Police when NL puts cups his ears at the end of a game.
The club have also summoned Vladimir Putin, Count Dracula and Donald Duck- just to show how powerful they are
jimmci
20:08 on 3 March, 2014
The one I spluttered my soup at was when discussing the (disgusting) racial abuse of the young ES player…. The pundit said “we like to think we’ve moved on in this Country” …hypocrisy taken to a new level……hunbelievable …..with the demise of the biggest culprits you would have thought THAT would have been the opportunity to move on…..honest to God, SSB has got to be heard to be believed……..worthy of our pity….
Fergus – the Small Cap Man.
Maybe it was Keevins who prompted Sleekit with the SECRET of FATiMAn !
Tortuously contrived, but, hey ho.
Contrast the noise at St Pauli with the atmosphere at CP
A good read from James …http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/hammer-to-fall/
Stairheedrammy
20:39 on 3 March, 2014
The club have also summoned Vladimir Putin, Count Dracula and Donald Duck- just to show how powerful they are
Haha!, Similar to the all powerful Wizard of Oz,
“pay no attention to that man behind the curtain”
Test
Stairheedrammy
Agree good atmosphere
…,but tickets v cheap & their league is competitive
Plus Bundes 2
Cant compare