AGM ahead

Are you looking forward to the AGM tomorrow? As always on these occasions, the questions after the votes will be far more interesting than the formal business of the day. The Living Wage appears on the agenda for the third year, courtesy of the Trust. Celtic now pay at or above Living Wage rates, although they have not signed up to the Foundation and the pay increase for lower-waged members of staff was accompanied with the withdrawal of a discretionary bonus.

Not sure what the cost of this was, or the impact on staff, but we’ll no doubt hear about it tomorrow. I should also say that I’m not signed up to the Living Wage Foundation either, as it has no relevance for my business.

The performance of the team (imperious domestically, impervious to improvement in Europe) will be the central concern from the hall. Celtic are a Champions League club, this is our focus. We need to be competing on that platform regularly.

I expect, and hope, shareholders get an update on Resolution 12, which looks increasingly relevant. You can bet questions will also be asked on whether or not there was a conspiracy to break tax, SPL and SFA rules, and to subvert an SPL Commission.

There’s not a great deal Celtic can say on this matter for now, beyond their statement last week.

Many thanks to Jim Craig and Brendan Sweeney for joining us on the blog last night. These events see the blog at its best and last night’s was no exception. You can buy Brendan’s book, Celtic: The Early Years, or Alex Gordon’s latest, The Winds of Change, Managing Celtic from 1991-2005, at the CQN Bookstore.