Celtic’s Annual General Meeting, held at Celtic Park today, was a livelier event than usual. The board received a hostile response to their refusal to back a resolution to provide all staff with at least the Living Wage. Several impassioned points were made from the floor, which convinced chairman, Ian Bankier, to dispense with his prepared response and provide answers to specific questions.
The vote went against the resolution based on the proxy votes cast by the chairman but the board have never lost the floor so convincingly on any prior issue.
Resolution 12, encouraging the club to purse the game’s authorities on matters relating to the governance of liquidated Rangers was adjourned indefinitely by the requisitioners. On proposing the adjournment, a spokesman for the requisitioners (our own Morrissey23) explained that they had met the club and received information not previously known, and that further meetings were planned.
Fergus McCann made an unexpected contribution to the AGM by email through the chairman, extoling the virtues of financial director, Eric Riley, who he commended for 19 years’ service in pursuing Celtic’s interests. Fergus asked for, and got, an applause for Eric Riley, which resulted in the first unanimous show of hands to re-elect a director I have seen at a Celtic AGM.
AGM questions can be a tortuous affair but they were on the money this year. We had poetry, questions about financial governance including a question as to whether the club owns all of it’s perceived property assets. Ian Bankier confirmed it did, before planting his tongue in his cheek to insist “I’m not going to show you the deeds”.
When one shareholder expressed frustration that a new Scottish club is pretending to be a now liquidated club, chief executive, Peter Lawwell, retorted, “Rory Bremner can pretend to be Tony Blair”.
Many thanks for the many CQN Annual orders, which are now shipping. You can order here:
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Battered bunnet – my point is that this isnt an explanation and there appears to be no date/time when this is going to be concluded. Nor does it appear that this will then be publicly debated with the celtic suppurt.
Neg Anon,
The details will be worked out by Morissey Auldheid and BRTH as they’ve been the most active and closer to home.
Bobby M – You are still young enough to remember the likes of Desmond White.
Ernie – No club on this earth does more for charity than Celtic.
Labour is responsible for that minimum wage injustice,not Celtic.
The Sevco fiasco?
Go and see the SFA,it’s their responsibility to ensure that fairness and transparency takes place.
They are paid a fortune.
vespa
Yes – 3D for this bhoy
El maestro…..this might not be popular on here….but an ‘Everton type team’ first 11 would beat us more often than not.Celtic squad at present would struggle against most top half EPL teams, like it or not it’s true.
NegAnon2. I think you have posted many fine posts this afternoon and asked some pertinent questions.Dont waste it fella by name calling others.H.H.
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
“If not then we will deserve all the criticism that will follow”.
Not in my eyes you wont(IMHO) where yous have got this to is unheard of at AGM level . yous have taken the word of others in the hope that WE get the answers we are looking for.
If WE end up been duped then I will in no way critize those that have worked on my behalf( the dupers on the other hand will be a different matter ) although I have a good feeling about this, It could have quite easily and expectedly been dismissed out of hand and voted down.
Thank you and others for getting it to where we are today which has surpassed any expectation I had when you first came up with the idea.
Till later all
ps forgot to congratulate SFTB on winning the picture.
16 roads – Wee Oscar the Celtic warrior.
16:46 on 15 November, 2013
‘Ernie – No club on this earth does more for charity than Celtic.’
Is there a league table somewhere? I’d appreciate it if you would post the link.
‘Labour is responsible for that minimum wage injustice,not Celtic.’
Labour introduced the minimum wage, beyond that I’m not sure what your point is.
Gene’s
Anticipation is better than realisation
ryecatcher,
Its just your opinion and that doesnt make it true
Auldheid, after reading back, can I also point out I was responding to Canamalars specific point, which was:
“a few being kept in the loop.”
To give that context here is the full sentence.
“if anyone has any further info or if new info comes to light then a few will be kept in the loop but probably no be allowed to say anything, thats my reading of it and hence my reluctance.”
I don’t think my presumption that I was being asked to take things on trust was unreasonable, given the poster and his involvement with the resolution.
I didn’t envisage that being everyone who backed the resolution being “a few” nor “in the loop”.
I imagine that is quite a large number.
But not to get bogged down in semantics, this development is a welcome one.
16 roads….No CLUB does more for charity?
Change CLUB to FANS and I might just concur with that view.
Celtic fans…..more than just fans
Celtic PLC…..no more than a PLC
Celtic Underground@celticrumours18m
So to recap – AGMs are smashing and every club should have one. #ticagm
Hunskelperextraordinaire…..
Doesn’t make it wrong either.
I think it’s true anyway.
Ryecatcher,
Agreed and your opinion is as valid as anyone elses
Afternoon, catching up after AGM , 3 powerful and passionate speaches for living wage. Shamed board into not even trying to defend their position, if they felt they had a good case present it to the agm. That they didn’t suggests not, the £500k plus cost looks exaggerated
Sad day for celtic family
On resolution 12 spoke briefly to morissey, happy to accept this is better than having it voted and we will be updated as required
Finally well done to the guy from Duns who provided the stand up routine during question time.
Neg Anon
Your words were:-
“I am finding it hard to contain my contempt for the cowardly decision made on resolution 12.”
That decision, to adjourn and not defeat the resolution, was not made unilaterally by the Celtic Board. It was made by the Board and resolution proposers in tandem agreement. Therefore, any cowardice attached to it belongs to both sides of that agreement to defer the open debate.
In paragraph 2 you specify the Board. Why go on to merely repeat the accusation of para. 1 if you intended it to mean The Board and The Board only? I take it, and most of your readers reacted similarly, to mean that the first para aplied to all and now para 2 was about laying into the Board.
You have just had a response from canamalar repeating what he said earlier. You now accept his view, subject to outcome, but it is no different from the explanation offered earlier. There are 3 clear strands to it:-
1) There was a private exchange between the resolution frontmen (and I will brook no accusations of cowardice against them) and members of the Board.
2) The information exchanged, in confidence, persuaded them, not to drop, but to delay the resolution’s tabling, subject to ongoing discussions.
3) This, admittedly secretive, exchange cannot be divulged, at present, to you or me or anyone else not yet privy to it. We are asked to take the determination and bravery and intelligence of the proposers on trust.
Canamalar’s explanation and Auldheid’s explanation on this have remained clear and simple, though, ultimately, secret.
What did you not understand the first time that you do now when you accept canamalar’s word?
Ernie Lynch
Please accept my apologies for the delayed response as I have been out and about, and I also had some research to do on your question about,’ Pairing’.
As is usually the case Ernie, you completely strayed from the various points I made this morning, one such example is the absolute fact that New Labour is solely responsible for the most reprehensible, invidious and insidious Tax ever invented. The Bedroom Tax.
The Poll Tax was an exercise in moderation in comparison to The Bedroom Tax.
I will attempt to answer your question Ernie. You have heard of Pairing, have you Billy?
Subsequent to last week’s House of Commons vote on ‘Abolition of the Bedroom Tax’, it would be difficult for the Labour Party to sink much lower.
Some might find this statement erroneous at first glance. Why am I singling–out Labour for criticism, when, of course, it would seem more logical to praise the party, given the motion seeking abolition of the hated Bedroom Tax was tabled by New Labour, and that it was defeated by the votes of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. I will explain
Clearly, the reason the Bedroom Tax is still in place – still punishing the disabled, the poor and those with no alternative accommodation to which they could move – is because Tory and Lib Dem MPs couldn’t care less that the legislation is entirely unfair. Rightly, the Liberal Democrats are odds on to be wiped-out at the next election for their treachery in propping-up the most right-wing government in living memory. The administration led by posh-boy millionaire David Cameron is even further to the right – even more uncaring – than the largely-despised Tory Governments of Margaret Thatcher.
So why criticise the party that sought to end the Bedroom Tax: New Labour never had any intention of ending the Bedroom Tax. The party’s motion was nothing more than playing politics with the lives of thousands of vulnerable people in towns and cities the length and breadth of the so-called United Kingdom. Labour built-up the hopes of people affected by the Bedroom Tax, but then entered into a ‘Pairing’ arrangement with Tories and Liberal Democrats in the House of Commons, which meant it was impossible for the motion to receive sufficient support to allow the tax to be scrapped.
‘Pairing’ is an unofficial practice that operates in most legislatures. It is used by parliamentary groups to facilitate the absence of members without it affecting the outcome of votes. For example, the Tories in the House of Commons could have two MPs who are ill or who may have pressing personal business to which they must attend. In such circumstances, and where issues being debated in parliament are non-contentious, the Tory Whips Office (the body tasked with enforcing discipline within parliamentary groups) would approach the New Labour Whips Office and ask if they had a couple of members who would be prepared to absent themselves from the debate and the subsequent vote. If agreed, this would mean four MPs (two from each side) were absent with permission from the Whips and the outcome of the vote would not be affected (the government’s majority would remain intact). The UK Parliament makes clear that “Pairing is not allowed in divisions [votes] of great political importance”.
As posted earlier,I sat next to the guy JM?, who followed JF and had to shake his hand in appreciation of his contribution,all of the contributions from the floor on the Living Wage were immense and JF thoroughly deserved her standing ovation,made me proud to be a Celtic Supporter,same cant be said about our Chairman,Bankier rhymes well with what I thought of him,
While I was disappointed as a requisitioner of RES.12 being withdrawn, i have to believe that something to our benefit is going on and will be shown as such.
HH
Auldhied, Canamalar
I’ve watched your progress on Resolution 12 with interest and was frankly expecting it to be shot down by the board with a patronising excuse of an answer.
I don’t feel that from todays response, so if you guys are content that there has been effort made by the club and that there will be further discussion, then that is good enough for me as I know you won’t be bullied or brushed aside easily.
I will look forward to reading your updates in due course.
Hail Hail.
Lawrenzo
Canamalar and Auldhied – I think its important that we can hold the Board to account for whatever promises they have made to you. Presumably you will be able to indicate to us quickly if that doesnt happen?
New Sevco CEO Appointed
el maestro
” I have played in the CQN golf singles the last 2 years and every other forum member I have played have stated they wanted the Huns back though probably wouldn’t admit it on here!!”
That just proves what TTTT always said.
All golfers are fuds :-)
Bsr
the old premature jokeulation
NegAnon2
16:41 on 15 November, 2013
El Maestro – its heartening to note that you want to return to the days of sectarianism. Are you also hoping for a return to signs saying “no catholics here” and only getting your soup when you bend the knee?
These issues are about far more than a football game. These issues represent nearly 100 years of anti catholic sentiment and bigotry. Do you look forward to open corruption and cheating and then when you complain being called paranoid? Do you look forward to the SFA deliberately delaying celtic transfers etc etc?
Your not the sharpest tool in the box are you?
Try to keep on topic son, talking from a football point only just football ,am sure we call all go over old ground!! Your not the sharpest tool in the box are you???? p.s if you happen to attend Arberdour next year I will remind you of your attempt at a personal attack against me for merely voicing my opinion.
Continued from my last post
In total, 47 Labour MPs were absent from the House of Commons last Tuesday night, missing the debate and vote on ‘Abolition of the Bedroom Tax’. Some, if not all, would have been ‘paired’ with Tory or Lib Dem MPs. The motion was defeated by just 26 votes.
By agreeing to ‘Pairs’ – agreeing to reduce the number of Labour MPs that would vote – New Labour knew it would not have enough support to defeat the Tory-Lib Dem Government and scrap the Bedroom Tax. By agreeing to ‘Pairs’, New Labour accepted that, according to the UK Parliament’s own definition, ‘Abolition of the Bedroom Tax’ was not an issue of “great political importance”. For thousands of people adversely affected by the Bedroom Tax there is little of more importance, but the New Labour Party of Bambi Blair and Mandy was playing political games: it was posturing, pretending to do something about the hated tax, but actually doing nothing.
Amongst the Labour members who had something more important to attend to last Tuesday and who missed the debate and vote on ‘Abolition of the Bedroom Tax’ were 10 MPs from Scotland, representing almost one-quarter of all Scottish Labour MPs. This group included former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Anas Sarwar (Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party), and Shadow Ministers Douglas Alexander and Jim Murphy. Also missing was Brian Donohoe, Labour MP for Central Ayrshire.
The Labour Party’s actions last week were a disgrace. To play politics with the lives of thousands of people suffering the affects of the Bedroom Tax was a disgrace. For Scottish Labour MPs to be absent from the House of Commons while the motion on ‘Abolition of the Bedroom Tax’ was being debated was a disgrace.
We know the Tories and Liberal Democrats are not to be trusted. We now know New Labour cannot be trusted either. Westminster cannot be trusted.
You couldn’t separate New Labour and Tories with a fag paper.
We Scots can rid us of the Bedroom Tax by re-taking our independence at next year’s referendum. No political party advocating anything like the Bedroom Tax would ever be elected to form the government in an Independent Scotland.
After the rumor that the Easdale Brothers had a word in Bomber Brown’s ear, and suggested he shut up regarding ”Ra deeds”.
And the rumor that the Easdale brothers had chased Dave King back to South Africa.
Is there a possibility that the Easdales found out the address’s of Morrisey and Canamalar and made it clear what they expected to happen with regards to res 12.
The rumor that they both arrived at Celtic Park this morning in a luxury coach is complete hearsay……
:))
From Video Celts website the Bremner joke and the SFA giving leave to the ex clubs participation in the qualifers all in glorious simple language with no techno speak or Latin
PS I did not go St Als I went to St Joes Dumfries much much posher
—-
Lawwell’s Rory Bremner gag at Sevco’s expense keeps fans laughing
Peter Lawwell injected a rare moment of humour into Celtic’s AGM this morning by comparing Sevco to Rory Bremner impersonating Tony Blair.
Among resolutions about the re-election of directors and debate about the club paying a living wage to employees most attention was focussed on the red carpet treatment that the SFA have given to Sevco since they replaced Rangers after the Ibrix club went into liquidation.
While the footballing establishment in Scotland avoid using the ‘l’ word in favour of financial meltdown, administration and crisis, supporters across Scotland know the reality of how the SFA have favoured the Ibrox clubs at every opportunity while attempting to give the current club the same identity as the one in liquidation.
“Rory Bremner can pretend to be Tony Blair,” Lawwell joked to the amusement of shareholders gathered at Celtic Park.
Despite the ongoing shambles at Ibrox and attempts to draw Celtic into an ‘Old Firm war of words’ Lawwell has kept a distance as the debate rages between Sevco 5088, Sevco Scotland, the SFA and The Rangers International Football Club.
Two years ago the Celtic chief claimed to have received a £30m bid from an unknown club in an unknown universe following claims made by Whyte that Rangers had turned down a £10m for Nikita Jelavic who was sold to Everton four months later for £3.5m.
Lawwell was speaking today during a Question & Answers section after it was announced that the controversial issue of questioning the SFA over granting Rangers a licence for the 2011/12 season was adjourned.
That motion questioned why a licence was granted to a club with unpaid tax bills which allowed Ally McCoist to lead the club into Champions League qualifiers against Malmo with £6m from the so-called ‘wee tax case’ unpaid.
If the SFA had applied the laws and refused a licence Celtic would have represented Scotland in the Champions League qualifiers allowing the club the opportunity to pick up a £20m windfall as they did in the following two seasons.
Had the SFA refused a licence the crisis at Ibrox would have come to a head much earlier allowing fans of the club to apply pressure on Craig Whyte and preventing the club from completing two thirds of the season without paying National Insurance and PAYE.
The motion to discuss that issue was adjourned due to ongoing talks between the club and the group of supporters that made the proposal.
ryecatcher
16:48 on 15 November, 2013
El maestro…..this might not be popular on here….but an ‘Everton type team’ first 11 would beat us more often than not.Celtic squad at present would struggle against most top half EPL teams, like it or not it’s true.
Agreed pal, however I was inferring to the fact an Everton type team probably wont challenge for much domestically etc.
I congratulate all the speakers from the floor at the AGM today.
They presented themselves well and represented our club as the home of passionate, civil supporters to the world outside.
I felt disappointment when The Celtic Trust was defeated on Resolution 11 but the board’s embarrassing response to it makes me think that the idea will happen in time.
Resolution 12 not being rejected was a jaw-dropper for me such that I had to read the supporting notes again to convince myself that the Board had indeed indicated complete rejection before today. It’s clearly a warning to SFA that their deceit will be exposed soon.
I left the meeting with two thoughts:
1. The top table looked like lunchtime at Muirfield GC; we need female Board Members.
2. I’m going to find out how to join The Celtic Trust.
ernie lynch
16:50 on 15 November, 2013
What I mean Ernie – Labour didn’t introduce that minimum wage to aid,benefit or to assist the proletariat – Labour introduced it to help their business class,corporate cronies bleed the working,or under-class.
Gene’s
The ole I see what you did there. – Has no idea what you did there.
Reading the Blog this afternoon I am sure the Celtic Board will be very happy they did not have to answer resolution 12.Also if CQN has anything to show us is that the Board once again divided the Celtic support and have sowed the seeds of doubt in some minds and completely won the day on not having to pay the living wage ( shame on them ).All in all a good AGM for the Board and one where the Celtic support should learn there place in the scheme of things. H.H.
Auldheid
Just got in and read back somewhat, though not everything. Thanks for your response. Can I make an apology in respect of the fact that, as an infrequent poster over the last few weeks due to work and personal commitments, I was unaware that BRTH and your good self were heavily involved in resolution 12, and therefore omitted to credit you both in an earlier post I made thanking Morrissey and Canamalar for their efforts.
On your response, it was as I thought and I regard the postponement as a very positive sign. Indeed knowing that you are involved, increases my confidence that the course of action being pursued is the best way forward.
On the living wage, I think Mr Bankier has pulled the strings on that one, and listening to the language he uses, I feel he is as far detached from the ethos of our club as it’s possible to be. I’m more than a little surprised that the rest of the board have backed him on this.
Bsr
don’t worry even i don’t get my attempt at humour sometimes.
Looking forward to Fraser’s debut.
setting free the bears supports Resolution 12 & Oscar Knox
17:00 on 15 November, 2013
el maestro
” I have played in the CQN golf singles the last 2 years and every other forum member I have played have stated they wanted the Huns back though probably wouldn’t admit it on here!!”
That just proves what TTTT always said.
All golfers are fuds :-)
Difficult to disagree TBH lol, a bit like saying there is fuds on both sides of the divide eh? I remember being naïve and thinking all Huns were horrible knuckle draggers and us Celtic fans were the opposite, one look on this board at many comments and I beg to differ , quite sad actually!!
Ernie-thanks for response last night re Ibrox Disaster.