Tuesday’s Telegraph suggested Mike Ashley is about to increase his shareholding in newco to 29.9% via a share issue, in contravention of his agreement with the SFA on multiple ownership. This morning the club informed the stock market the Ashely’s appointee, Derek Llambias, is now chief executive.
The key passage in the Telegraph article is:
“There is no certainty of anything like unanimous approval, but many in the higher reaches of the Scottish game acknowledge that a revived Rangers, capable of resuming the Old Firm rivalry and renewing the club’s presence in Europe would make Scotland more attractive to broadcasters and league sponsors, with general benefits.”
This has almost certainly come from the same kind of club source which in another lifetime were assuring journalists that HMRC would agree to a CVA; I know for sure the SFA are far from ready to rubber-stamp an Ashley land grab.
There are a few points which, despite blanket coverage of this issue, are not getting a proper hearing:
At current trading levels, Ashley is earning around £4m p.a. from newco as their retail ‘partner’. He is also their exclusive wholesaler, so the club is worth even more to him, let’s say £5m p.a. in total.
Anyone who tells you his financial pay-off is through having newco wear his branding on a European stage is either wholly compliant in an attempt to mislead newco fans, or is simply regurgitating information handed to them by PR agents, without the wherewithal to digest the information correctly.
He’s making £5m per year and he therefore has an interest in ensuring the club continues in its current condition.
The second issue is around the legality of multiple-ownership. It is not against Uefa rules (you can simply comply by one club not competing) but does breach rules in Scotland and England. I recommend not getting too hung-up on this point. In the event he was asked to disinvest from one of his clubs, Ashley could with pull a Blue Pitch Holdings/Margarita stroke.
For all you know about those two newco investors, I could own them. It’s a paper exercise for Ashley to move his ownership beyond the reaches of oversight, and there is nothing in the rules to prevent this.
The question for the SFA, and eventually the FA, is what level of Ashley’s influence, not ownership, they are comfortable with. There are no guidelines on this point.
A further consideration is that whoever briefed the Telegraph at the start of the week is likely to have painted a scenario that without Ashley’s next bung, newco is likely to go the way of oldco. This is far from certain.
If all newco need to survive another season is circa £8m it’s not a figure beyond the realms of possibility for some of the blowhards who have been trying to disrupt Ashley’s strategy in recent months.
My hunch is that the SFA and newco’s fans will be presented with a fait accomply – it’s Ashley or bust. What is certain is that the club will be vastly more inhibited by Ashley milking it dry than with a unifying figure. He has the makings of a memorable Ibrox owner, a true heir to Sir David Murray.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Magners ticket competition yesterday – and who donated to Mary’s Meals. The answer to the question, who do we play on 27 December, is Ross County, which proved to be trickier than I thought. Draw will be made this afternoon and winner informed thereafter.
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Oh shot I’ve got the three amigos on me now ;)
Another board hater, and prob. Sitting there salivating on a dundee United win against us tomorrow, thank god we going to win, rid us of this lot for a few days, as everyone keeps saying opinions are fine, but it’s the same shit from the same mob every fekin day.
btw
All the above is a figment of my imagination… no way would our beloved club be dragged into such a corruption.
TonyDonnelly67 1111-
I`m not sure that labelling people who you believe to be critical of the PLC board, or who question some decisions taken by the club, as “Huns” or “battery lickers” (whatever that is, it doesn`t sound nice) is an example of positive support for the club.
Going to every home and away game and singing for the whole 90 minutes – I call that positive support, more so than being the self-appointed keyboard bodyguard of Peter Lawwell and the rest of the PLC board.
10. THIRD PARTY RIGHTS
A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no right under this Agreement except to the extent that each of the RFC Scottish Football Creditors and the RFC European Football Creditors are due to be paid a sum or sums by Sevco in terms of this Agreement, each of them may to the extent of the sum or sums due to each of them rely on this Agreement against Sevco. The consent of the RFC Scottish Football Creditors and the RFC European Football Creditors will not be required for any amendment to or variation of this Agreement.
“We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars”
Oscar Wilde.
(And others are barking at the moon)
tonydonnelly67
Hee, Hee….just when you thought it was safe….the board haters arrive.
I think you know where I stand….I don’t like them, they aren’t Celtic fans, merely businessmen who like the huns.
HH
hamiltontim
Never a doubt you’d be in on this as well, yes I’m sure you have seen me ripping in to some in here, it’s a question whether they are Tims or not as there are HUNS in here, but yes the ones I slag are mostly like yourself when they start slagging the board or pl or rd or the club, me, I stick up for them why? Cause that’s just me, not saying your a HUN but?
C’mon the tonyd67
TonyD
C’mon now Tony be serious. I’ve paid £25 for a ticket tomorrow in the hope that we get beat?
the glorious balance sheet
He can say what he wants about me, I don’t take any offence, I won’t get my blood pressure up and go squealing to Paul about his indiscretions.
What did he call me… a battery licker?
Oh! my God he killed Kenny.
Going to every home and away game and singing for the whole 90 minutes – I call that positive support, more so than being the self-appointed keyboard bodyguard of Peter Lawwell and the rest of the PLC board.
Any chance you can have a word with the away support as you seem to be in the know?
What did he call me… a battery licker?
Aye.
HT…enjoyed your contribution at 10.58.
Started reading Caesar and the Assassin and noticed that on page 59 where the author speaks of the infamous 1980 Cup Final, he states ‘ a young man from Johnstone, in Renfrewshire, had other ideas. Mike Conroy was immense…’
It is possible that Mike was born in the Maternity Hospital in Johnstone, however he lived all of his earlier life in Port Glasgow. In fact, when I lived in the Port I drove Mike senior to young Mike’s first game for the Celtic at Easter Road.
Surprised that St Stivs or Exslaimuirbhoy or other Portonians on here have not noticed this mistake. Then again I am not sure if they read books in the Port.
I am surprised
Aww wee Tony sitting there bashing away defending PLS and the board and calling everyone Huns.
Bless.
Does anyone on here really believe that Celtic Football Club would help keep the huns alive. Talk about paranoia!! The press really have go to you if you think this is true.
He doesne go to the games
Oh no he doesnae go to the games
He doesne go to the games
Oh no he doesnae go to the games
He doesne go to the games
Oh no he doesnae go to the games
He sponges in the Gorbals
Oh yes he sponges in the Gorbals
He sponges in the Gorbals
Oh yes he sponges in the Gorbals
He never went to Uni
Oh no he never went to uni
He never went to Uni
no he never went to uni
want’s his head up Peters Arse
oh yes he wants his head up Peter’s arse
want’s his head up Peters Arse
oh yes he wants his head up Peter’s arse
TonyD
You’re right, there are huns on here but you’re banging the wrong door if you think it’s guys you’re disagreeing with just now.
Making up quaint insults………bless
Kit stop mentioning uni!!!!!!
kitalba
12:36 on 19 December, 2014
Doc:
To what extent do you personally think Celtic are corrupted?
————————————————————————————–
I would be surprised if some within Celtic, at a high level weren’t aware what was going on.
Whether they agreed with it, or felt they could affect it if they didnt agree with it may be significant.
The truth is of course, we will probably never know.
Sorry for the tardy reply, had lunch with some of the good Ghuys and missed the question.
—————————————————————-
kdc
12:34 on 19 December, 2014
Doc
12:17 on 19 December, 2014
GreenPinta, he had his journalistic priveliges withdrawn, but was welcome to buy a ticket to enter the ground. HK spins it to suit his agenda.
Pretty surre thats right.
_________________
Pedantic CSC
————————-
Again, sorry for the late reply.
I don’t think that’s pedantic at all, there is a clear distinction between banned and having journalistic privilege removed.
6th Class St Attracta’s NS Ballaghaderreen singing a great song about a great Scotsman. Let’s hope they don’t ask Kano foundation to to help them come over and sing it at Celtic Park.
Down witht hat sort of stuff ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T1E6ImarVI#t=47
Inter ————-
Lot of noise in the Italian fitba media re Inter punting Guarin to Spurs and doing a deal to take Aaron Lennon and Lamela . Nothing substantiated .-could be guff.
Lamela was wowee good at Roma but has looked lost and disinterested at Spurs .
Inter play Lazio tomorrow night . Last game before the winter break.
I only started going to some of the away games this season, Dens St midden, Pittodrie and Swinecastle, my opinion on the away support. Amazing, The singing just dizny stop. Not seen 1 unsavoury incident. I have seen the polis point hand held video cameras at each & everyone in the Celtic ends, for what ? watching fitba.
I have seen plenty of unsavoury things directed at 3 of the 4 grounds mentioned above with no action taken for behaviour I would fully expect to be lifted for
TD67
Huns is it….well try looking in the direction of the Celtic boardroom, im sure you will find a few there, brown brogues galore.
Just thought id point that out to you.
HH
Peter can I hold it
Oh Peter pretty please let me hold it
Smooth Peter can I hold it
Oh Peter pretty please let me hold it
Peter can I hold it
Oh Peter pretty please let me hold it
Smooth Peter can I hold it
Oh Peter pretty please let me hold it
Peter can I hold it
Oh Peter pretty please let me hold it
Smooth Peter can I hold it
Oh Peter pretty please let me hold it
I voted for you big man.
NegAnon2 1105-
Its becoming clear to me as things unravel that the powers-that-be in Scottish football, including within our board, are addicted to the Old Firm kool aid.
We have a CEO who bemoans the £10 million black hole that he says the absence of the huns creates in our accounts. Why does he not focus on the £20 million CL money that is inherently more achieveable due to the huns implosion? Why, when evidence is presented that the governing body and the huns colluded to deny us of millions of pounds in CL income, does Resolution 12 move so slowly? If Sony caught Microsoft at fraudulent activity would they approach a softly, softly catchy monkey approach?
Heads of the SFA meet Craig Whyte in secret to discuss “managing” an administration event.
The Old Firm must survive no matter what. The assorted folk at Celtic PLC, Spivco, SPFL, SFA, Daily Record are scared at the thought of having to sell tickets and newspapers without there being an Old Firm.
Connaire
I hope you’re well sir.
ive readid loads of books.
hamiltontim
11:29 on 20 December, 2014
TonyD
You’re right, there are huns on here but you’re banging the wrong door if you think it’s guys you’re disagreeing with just now.
In my Opinion they are worse than HUNS, your mates? Your choice,.
Morning Fellow Tims and others.
Haven’t read back, who is fighting with who, who is name calling and jousting to affirm “superiority” on a faceless blog ?
Re the Good guy Huns. Yeah we’ve all met them, great guys on their own; slavering bigots when in “that” company.
Kitalba, you are correct both the SFA and SPL did sign up to the five way agreement.
That doesn’t mean they are not in dispute now.
Even, possibly, about the five way agreement.
connaire12
MC’s younger brother was the year above me at St.Stivs I’m sure. You are right about me no reading books mind. Did know he was a portonian
Exslehuirbhoy with regard to the police treatment of the celtic away support. Because Scotlands answer to sectarianism is to criminalise and prosecute more Fenians.
Oh Peter pretty please let me hold it
Smooth Peter can I hold it
Oh Peter pretty please let me hold it
Peter can I hold it
There is some thing wrong with you mate, seriously, this your mates Hamiltontim?
In our history there has been only one time when we showed true ambition, only once.
It was done because of the financial doping emanating from our nearest rivals.
It would have cost us more than just money had we continued on that path, we didn’t, we made a decision, based on the financial expertise of Brian Quinn, to stop spending money we could not afford.
We have done this and are operating the business side of the club very prudently.
The ambition of the football dept. has not waned in this period but, unfortunately, the PLC dictate how far their ambitions are met.
This is how Celtic has been run, before and since the Martin O’Neil blip!
Even when we were European Champions, our ambitions were not met, as that board operated not a prudent policy, but one of dynasty, to keep the money in the proverbial “biscuit tin”.
When we were European Champions and reaching the latter stages of this competition, regularly, we played our league games in front a 2/3rd empty stadium, unbelievable maybe to you of a certain age.
This was the Lisbon Lions who were playing and latterly the Quality Street Gang, and we only played to full houses in Europe and 1 or 2 League/Cup games a season at home, so half empty stadiums is not a new concept.
So what is the answer to our meager crowds now, none really as that’s the way it has always been, there were only full houses for about 5 seasons the other 120 years were “normal attendances”.
The SFA are operating in the dark ages, always have, well away from the light of transparency.
It is a difficult task to try and change such an antiquated, dinosaur like, institution.
I don’t hold any great confidence in the clubs being able or willing to do this with any sort of expediency
I think it is down to the fans to try and make them change.
So how do “we” make this happen. We know what the problems are, I read them on here every day, every single day, but how do “we” instigate the change.
By denying our own club revenue? Stop attending games run by and for the SFA & SPFL?.
It’s a hard nut to crack.
Ideas please, as “we” can ALL see what the problems are, so maybe post more about how we go about changing them, rather than highlighting them continually, would be more constructive por cierto
Saltires
Nice post.
I agree that McCoist has surpassed them all, including the bone-crunchers like Greig, the bigots like Jimmy Bell and Willie Allison (see Fergie’s book), the false yet untouchable Walt, and the cheats like Murray and Ogilvie.
To cap it off somewhat paradoxically, Ally will be forever the hero, in the eyes of his enemy.
Natknow,
Tomorrows trifle just isn’t gonna have the same kick :)
Glorious balance sheet I couldn’t agree more. the big question is do we continue to prop this charade up?