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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greenpinta,
Hail Hail
stairheedrammy
09:27 on 21 December, 2014
Christmas is when we think of our fellow human beings, you can see that from the blog over the past couple of days
—-
Or alternatively a time to say what you REALLY think about your fellow human beings!
HH jamesgang
weet wet wet (gbwo)
@0925
Yes!! Brilliant bro!
HH
TC45
tooting tim,
I was on here all day yesterday and I don’t remember your name coming up in a bad way, keep Tooting.
AR
Laugh , I nearly paid my ebt . As the season of good will approaches and we are all looking forward to a well earned break and swally it sometime per chances that we talketh pash. It has come to pass that righteous men and wumin well mags anyway are throwing stones and demanding names. I confess that my real name is not Taurangabhoy at all. I don’t live in castle milk which is a shame because if I did could get ate the game. Any how’s it is the season to be merry and top of the league so get on or aff the sherry and share some fellow kindness with one and all. If you don’t agree, Merry Chrimbo to you anyway. Hail hail . Dundee Hibernians 0 Celtic 4 . Ps not accusing you of anything mags other than the talking pish bit ok. Have a good one.
gary67,
Armstrong and McGinn, together with John Guidetti of course would make me very happy.
AR
Nye bevan,
Reb songs, you would be spoilt for choice with me:0)
Sticking my neck out a bit here, but have gone for a 5-1 victory today.
I would be very happy with 3 points and any victory, but expecting a few goals.
Guidetti due a goal or two, so have him for first scorer.
All good fun.
Hail Hail.
So if we sign McGinn and Armstrong where does that leave Henderson and Twardzik??
Morning all, looking forward to the game today, confident of a victory, we now have some consistency and the stop start season is behind us.
All the best bhoys, give us another great result Hail Hail
Ayrshire is Green and White
Hail! Hail! The lead article is an admisson from Celtic that the mankies are coming bsck and we can do eff all about it.
I posted 3 months ago that Mike Ashley would ride to their rescue, its what he does. Buys up battered brands and/or businesses and either rebuilds and keeps or sells it on. That wil be the options….will hemake them better? To be frank Laura Ashley could improve them so the answer will be yes. We just better be ready, not something we have been good at in the past.
Anyway, real football returns today, I am off down to the Seamill Hydro for a wee break thanks to my lassies generosity, cheers! A great Celtic tradition down there so hopefully match wil be on, if not I Pad at the ready.
Forget about the Orcs…..they have plenty to worry about without us getting involved.
cheers!
CELTIC are keeping tabs on St Mirren and Scotland Under-21 starlet John McGinn.
What position does this young bhoy play ?
Stokesie finds out you’re never too old to develop new skills ……
Well done young Mhan. So far you’re proving me wrong. And I like that.
——-
“I’m enjoying it out there at the minute. I need to improve in a couple of areas. I am working on my left foot. I spent half an hour at training on Friday putting in crosses and my left foot was hanging after it. That will help me develop my game. I don’t think I’ll ever be an out-and-out winger, but with our current formation, and the way we’re playing just now, it actually suits me.
“I still see myself as a striker. I’m only 26 but I want to stay at Celtic for as long as possible and I want to keep myself in the team. You have to adapt to different managers and how they want to play. The more positions you have, the more opportunities you have to get in the team.
HH jamesgang
lennon’s passion,
Why would that matter ?
When does it ever matter he’ll probably be played left back then called a failed experiment, no ?
lennon’s passion
Attacking left midfield. And plays it well.
Mibbee that’s why Stokesie’s working harder!
HH jamesgang
Lennon’s Passion –
Is John McGinn the same St Mirren player who is the nephew of former Celtic director Jack McGinn?
No surprise to me but what a brilliant job NFL is doing at Bolton.
Would not surprise me if he got them promoted this year.
Well done Lenny!
At least he will be able to give his sole attention to the fitba
neil canamalar lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
09:50 on 21 December, 2014
Lol chill out mate it’s Sunday and Celtic is playing.
tom mclaughlin
09:45 on 21 December, 2014
Sticking my neck out a bit here, but have gone for a 5-1 victory today.
Love it mate!! Just cannot get the old OLHS oot the heid!
I don’t often read back the moon-howlers posts since some I find a wee bit strange ….. wish I hadn’t read back last night’s either, since they seemed a bit personal and full of vitriol ….. one thing I would say is that Maggie and TD aren’t the most diplomatic posters you’ll ever meet….room for improvement, although we can all get a little irate at times …. !!!!
Anyway, I’m trying to find out if the clubs authorised the SFA to implement the 5 way agreement .. I was told they did, with Celtic abstaining, by a source who is normally VERY reliable …..any idea, Folks …?
Lennon’s…,
Chilled, looking forward to a senior game played by big Scottish clubs being shown on TV :)
thecelt45 –
Ah, the good old days :-)
Voguepunter’s lost his horn.
Tooting Tim’s keeping a low profile.
JointhedotsCSC
starry plough
09:45 on 21 December, 2014
So if we sign McGinn and Armstrong where does that leave Henderson and Twardzik
Henderson should go out on loan for experience and game time, still only 18. Twardzik, not sure he’s good enough, been on fringes for a while. Armstrong and McGinn are early 20s with experience so would challenge for first team now
67heaven..,
Wish you hadn’t said that, evil prevails when good men do nothing, I would consider abstaining the same as doing nothing.
Think it may be a tad more difficult today than the game at CELTIC Park, so will restrict my prediction to 0-10 …. !!
Jamesgang. Who knows, maybe the fussing and fighting will clear the air for a peaceful new year!
tom mclaughlin
09:55 on 21 December, 2014
thecelt45 –
Ah, the good old days :-)
—————————————
Yes they were! Carabine, Naughton, Hash and Soap!
Houston is Green and White!!!
TC45
The blog’s been dire recently and yesterday/last night’s ego-driven sniping was a low point. Some folk really need to take a look at themselves.
The apparent return of the Sphincter Defective just put the tin lid on it.
Anyway, good luck to Ronny and the team today.
canamalar lennon hunskelper extrordinaire
09:57 on 21 December, 2014
Hahaha …agree with you …… I always felt Celtic were better to concentrate on managing our Club and leave them to bury themselves, but there are some things we need to forthright about ……..anyway, with you being close to Res 12′ can you confirm a ‘vote’ by the clubs on the 5 way agreement took place …..????
Gary67
I would agree with Liam going on loan, I’ve been surprised at the repeated calls for his inclusion in the first team wondering who we would drop to include him as Brrony and Stefan seem to first choice picks under Ronny.
Filip Twardzik is a strange one for me too, a gifted player in the style of a European middy but to be honest those kinds of players rarely make it at Celtic, is it in the coaching??
While I think both players are decent it seems to me if we are going to cherry pick the best of the rest where does that leave our youth set up??
Neither of them are defensive middys which I think our team is crying out for…
HH
stairheedrammy
Mmmmmm. Mibbees aye, mibbees naw!
Plenty on hear predicting a big win. Bet loads on DUQN are saying ‘see when we click, someone’s gonna get a thumping…..’
It could be us. You never know.
But I predict a corker of a game.
Loads of chances.
Occasional defending.
Away win.
Aff oot.
Nae stramashing Bhoys n ghals!
HH jamesgang
burghbhoy
09:52 on 21 December, 2014
NEIL’S THE MHAN ……. I think he’ll manage ManU some day …..still shocked that he left
67heaven..,
Res 12 has nothing to do with any 5 way agreements.
I’ve said before the five way agreement would be a conspiracy to defraud creditors and HMRC, so I don’t think there is anything signed, simply agreed with a few handshakes.
Anyone who knows about it and have not reported it to the city police are accessory and that includes abstainers.
Winning Captain
Sorry mate but no spares just now but if you give me a phone when you’re in Dundee I’ll see if I can help mate.
iPaddy McCourt
10:02 on 21 December, 2014
The blog’s been dire recently and yesterday/last night’s ego-driven sniping was a low point.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…..and what exactly did you do to make it different?
Very windy and wet here in Edinburgh and looks the same up the road in Dundee – not ideal footballing conditions. So not sure I share the confidence of other posters re: a high-scoring win for the Hoops. However, I must confess to being in a sherry glass half-full kinda mood today…
neil lennon & mccartney
Mhate I you’ll find find we already have someone to save the soul through soul on CQN.
The name’s Croppie. Roy Croppie!
HH jamesgang