So what did you make of Dave King’s “compete with some of the bigger clubs, particularly Celtic” news conference?
He’s hoping to make a managerial appointment “within a week” which, despite the need to rebuild the squad, is a little ahead of where I expected him to be based on the feedback I know he received from those who were sounded out.
Punters and media seem convinced Warburton will be appointed. I know nothing about the man, but I’ve assumed Stuart McCall would get the job due to all other candidates having a real job, or better prospects. As McCall said in his TV interview following his Fir Park capitulation, he knows what is required and has experience at shopping for free transfers in the English lower leagues. Anyone else is an unnecessary risk so I’m still inclined to think McCall will get it.
A 5% increase in season ticket costs is on the lower end of what I expected, but there’s a subtext with this one (there often is). A key aim of whoever has been in charge at Ibrox over the last three years is to get season ticket prices back to the level they were when Ticketus “over-invested” (caveat over-investors).
Charles Green planned to do this from the off. The script was to read: “I’ve saved your club. Now I’m going to put a £50k p.a. pay cap on and I need you to buy 40,000 season tickets at full price, to ensure we glide up the leagues with ease and arrive in the SPL with money in the bank”. The players and manager would have had a choice, show you’re here for the badge, not the money, or move on.
But, within a week, King and the Blue Knights wanted the assets off Green. McCoist and others were mobilised into destabilising Charlie, who was forced to cut prices, over-promise and ultimately under-deliver.
If I was King yesterday, I’d have looked the camera in the eye and told fans “This is your time, your club needs every last one of you to step forward and pay £600 per ticket”. I’m sure he wanted to do this, but he seemed riddled self-doubt, contrasting starkly with the effusive confidence he radiated before the last EGM. It made me think of the Woody Allen line, “Confidence is what you have before you understand the problem”.
One thing I am sure of is, if he was about to splash the kind of cash he talked about while trying to remove the old board, he would have put his money on the table and asked fans to do the same.
The trade-off King referred to: the more money fans put in the less he (and other investors) need to put in, is not actually a trade-off at all. In reality, the more money he puts in now, the more fans will buy season tickets; the less he invests, the less fans will spend. Momentum, or the lack thereof, is at play.
This matter was King’s biggest failure. Charles Green and the master, David Murray, knew how to use show-biz to put bums on seats at Ibrox. Yesterday the stage was set for a bit of showmanship: “Here’s the colour of my money, now roll-up, roll-up, get your tickets before they’re all gone”. Say it confidently, convince the thousands desperate to be convinced, and you give yourself the best chance of success.
My focus would have been different from King’s too. Forget about catching Celtic, fans know this is a pipe dream. What they want most of all is a solvent, top-flight, football team. Don’t even reference football targets, instead, talk about filling the stadium, paying the bills, building a trading history good enough to earn proper facilities, and never again signing-off an unsustainable business plan. The fans are Not. All. Daft. Educate them the value of living within your means and they would buy into the project.
Talk about catching Celtic with an unsustainable business plan is astonishing, after all these people have come through, simply astonishing.
I could never quite figure how, for years, Rangers directors knew HMRC were contesting their EBTs, knew a legal challenge lay ahead, but made no provisions whatsoever for that challenge. Win or lose the case, they needed a plan to cope with each scenario. It turned out they didn’t even have a plan to cope with a partial win.
King’s ‘someone will step in and pay if we over-invest’ outlook on life explains a lot. It will be for others to judge his contribution to the lives of Rangers Football Clubs, as far as I’m concerned, it’s impossible to overestimate what he’s done to them. You could say, it’s off the radar!
Spirit of Compassion – Whisky Tasting
On the 25th April, Nepal was rocked by a destructive earthquake which has claimed the lives of over 8,000 people. Many of those affected by death and destruction are children. Glasgow the Caring City is our city’s charity for children in crisis, in times of disaster. Together with House With A Heart, Nepal, we will bring stability and comfort to children left orphaned by this tragedy.
On Thursday 18th June Glasgow the Caring City are hosting a Whisky Tasting event, fun and educational, at the Trades Hall of Glasgow. Tickets are £30 and can be bought here.
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Paul67 et al
Right off to watch the last part of Armada on BBC 2, about Spain’s attempt to invade ol England back in the day, got to find out how it ended. No spoilers!
Arghhh
They are giving it (the standing area) to the weans. The drum bangers ‘Celtic forever rangers in the river’ bunch.
And you know what, they deserve it.
They add a wee bit of colour and atmosphere, and tend to stand anyway. So that will solve a problem or 2.
I think it’s a good thing.
Latch ford. Forgive ,. But what on earth is this work. What are they doing
I think the work at the stadium is perhaps to install a floating casino above the pitch?
I believe we came by some second hand plans going cheap.
Ogilvie leaving SFA…… I think he’s bringing the plans over
All falling into place.
Watch this space
The repairs I believe are the laying of a new pitch, the team needs games before they play the 1st CL qualifiers, the income from 8000 @ £24 minus costs including rental and paying other teams etc hardly amounts to screwing the fans. How can you make the matches on ST last time I did arithmetic 40000 people for 8000 seats didn’t quite equate.
Neganon2, re celtic park refurbishment et al.
Every year the playing surface is either repaired or relaid . This year, given the CG last year and the subsequent relaying, celtic are undertaking a pitch repair program . The pitch looks as though it’s been scored and patched. Staff told me and a few others that the grass is then allowed to grow for a couple of weeks prior to final prep for the coming season.
Last year, Ronnie expressed his dissatisfaction with the pre – season travelling . This year , celtic have addressed that but are hampered by the necessary work to the pitch .
We get 2 games on top of the 19 league games on our sb. Traditionally that’s a friendly (rennes , when the pitch will have recovered) and 1st euro qualifier .
£24/£9 for 3 games as we seek to bed on new players and prepare for an important season is good business. By the time you factor in rental fee to St Mirren and police costs over the 3 games , I don’t see the club making much , if anything , out if this .
Plenty of other things to pull the board up on – I don’t think this is one of them .
Yours in celtic
Sanna
Leftclick
I was told by my dad that Day Tripper was top of the charts when I was born, and that song suited me perfectly. ;)))
NegAnon2
23:12 on
9 June, 2015
“But Celtic have made up this stuff about repairs at Cp to make a wee bit more money out of us.”
What makes you say that? It’s a pretty serious allegation, and if true, would have serious ramifications. I’d be gutted to think our club would try to pull off a swindle like that so can you provide any hard, factual evidence to back that up?
Sanna
Great minds -))
I also believe the stadium is getting brand ‘New Balance’ seats fitted to replace those old Nike ones with the slash
Or is it ‘NB’ Nae Bother for the Stauners :-)
Hail Hail
I also believe Celtic are refurbishing errr, seats n stuff……
Martybhoy59
Just heading to Ma scratcher, but can’t accept Sanna has a great mind :-)))
Hail Hail Bhoys
Who’s this guy McRae who’s taking over from the corrupt Ogilvie ?
Can he be trusted, or has he been hand picked ?
What club is he from ?
Celtic’s football brand ranked 34th
Celtic football club is reckoned to have a brand value of £79m in the annual rankings by Brand Finance The marketing consultancy has placed the Glasgow club in 34th position in the world league table of brand value. Brand Finance’s annual reckoning suggests Celtic’s valuation, at $120m (£79m), is up 43% on the previous year’s figures.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Well done to the board.
Cowiebhoy
Ergo you accept I have-)))
Marty
Have you and Sannabhoy ever been seen in the same room??? ;))
DD
I know, spooky or what
Marty
I am glad I know you both, or I would be suspecting multiple moniker poster. Hahaha.
Hope you are well amigo.
Hail Hail
cowiebhoy , obv they missed the humour implant last week. hope you’re doing fine .
Marty / DD . i sympathise with anyone mistaken for me.
Neganon2 , you’ve been getting it from all sides tonight and it wasn’t my intention to add to it -although i know you can handle it. Im attending FFIT every friday at CP and can see the ongoing pitch work – i genuinely think the board have tried fir the best solution possible.
DD
Doing good mate hope you have recovered from those birthday celebration takes a wee bit longer the older you get;-)))
Already expressed my appreciation of the CQNrs who ‘responded’ to the news of grandson’s degree, but there have been so many others since then( and I don’t even read every page) that I have to post again. Thanks a million!! Even his Gran says ‘ That’s very nice of them’ ! Praise indeed.Ask BMCUWP!
Sanna
Neg is a good Tim who grew up in Loyalist Drumchapel. Water off a ducks back. :)
Oceanic
That Ocean is Deep, deep as a puddle howevaah.
Sanna
FFIT, that will be Fries, Fritters, Ice Cream & Toast?
HH
CRC
Marty
Got my welcome to 50 package fae the NHS today by post.
Away for a shect, that will be Guinness, Jack Daniel, Mescal and narcotic containing. :)
Sanna
I am the one who has to live wth it;-)))
Cosy Corner
Get his proud lurking mammy to post! :)
DD
Well worth doing maybe wait a bit for wee clearoot
Catch you later a pleasure as always
NegAnon2
23:38 on 9 June, 2015
I also believe Celtic are refurbishing errr, seats n stuff……
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Hopefully, a lot more seats in the Stadium are railed, eventually.
What a choice?
I’d keep strict seating areas all over the place for the older wans but definitely try and get 1/2 the Stadium full of Celts that want to jump up and down when the 5th, 6th and 7th goals are going in, as well as the 1st.
NA2
I reckon you are wrong stiffin the suits with this one. most others I agree with you, not this.
There will be freebies on the SB for sure, and the coach has requested no jaunts, for once take off your tunnel vision specs mi amigo.
I have been criting the suits when you were but a twinkle in your Da’s eye, no this time.
HH
…………………………………….
Shameless plug for the wifes book, a laugh a page, your Mrs will appreciate it, trust me.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=the+monster+the+mentalpause+and+me&sprefix=the+monster%2Cundefined%2C582
HH
KTF
CRC , folly follyers is toast
TeT
Ordered two for my daughters. Will give you their feedback. Their mum got shot of me during her pause o men. :))
petec
Hopefully, a lot more seats in the Stadium are railed, eventually.
What a choice?
I’d keep strict seating areas all over the place for the older wans but definitely try and get 1/2 the Stadium full of Celts that want to jump up and down when the 5th, 6th and 7th goals are going in, as well as the 1st.
—————–
Careful what you wish for – I’m on the younger side on this site, below 40, went to see Bryan in Munchen a few years back against Wolfsburg. Standing behind the goals, great atmosphere but I was toiling by half time, full time needed a stretcher rather than walk out :o)
SorebackCSC
the_huddle,
I’ve got a Sons vs Dads game soon – I think the Goalie (2000 age group) position will be very popular. I’m hoping it disnay happen, my first touch is exquisite compared to my own Sons, but he can kick with baith feet and can jog and sprint for 25 minutes.
fart licking apparently.
My first touch won’t ever be bettered by my own Son. A real shame but just a sign of the times.
Nothing is new.
That Maverick must come to the fore @ Celtic.
Petec
It is also the time of the signs, if we open our eyes!
Who’s this guy McRae who’s taking over from the corrupt Ogilvie ?
Can he be trusted, or has he been hand picked ?
What club is he from ?
Moravcik
Was told by an annoyed hauf pissed source neighbour tonight that he was a Sevco fan fae Brora Rangers. Rab has been wrong before. ;))
Moravcik,
He’s from Cove Rangers.