I followed Celtic’s accounts since Fergus took over and started posting them out to us. Around the same time I began following those of David Murray’s MIH and Rangers, the fortunes of each, and ultimately of the rest of Scottish football, were intertwined.
Fergus ran a stable ship, but things kicked off when Dermot Desmond replaced him as Celtic’s largest shareholder. In Dermot’s first season in charge, excesses were lavished with England and Liverpool legendary player, John Barnes, in charge. That didn’t work out but the next season, with Martin O’Neill in charge, spending took off in a fashion never before seen at Celtic. A treble arrived, but the financial losses were eye-watering.
The trouble was, we had all gotten used to this new level of spending. Dermot was applauded (by some) for matching the “ambition” of David Murray, so much so, that finding a route back to sanity was always going to be a challenge.
Then came the Seville season. Celtic Park was packed out for European fixtures until April, while domestic games were also a sell-out. The commercial team did a deal with shirt sponsor NTL to have the new season’s strip launched early. It looked like every able bodied person in Scotland had purchased the new Celtic strip.
That summer I waited for the accounts to drop. This document would reveal our true potential. The first sign of trouble was an email, “Alert for Celtic PLC Final Results”, on the afternoon of a Champions League qualifier. I anticipated good news story, but good news would surely be stage managed better than to slip out on the afternoon of a game?
The document revealed we lost £7m, despite Stuttgart, Celta, Liverpool, Boavista, Blackburn and Siduva. Despite all those shirt sales. We beat MTK comfortably, lots of people were happy, but I knew why these accounts were released on a match day; Celtic were living beyond their means and that could not go on forever.
OK, so we released accounts on a game day, giving the news cycle four hours to digest and report before Henrik and Co. moved the story on. On Wednesday, Newco didn’t press the publish button until they were a goal up against Kilmarnock! This could be the work of Charles Foster Kane.
Within a minute, karma struck. Kilmarnock equalised, Xanadu lost.
You will know the detail by now. On a turnover of £32.6m, Newco lost £14.3m, this, coming years after comments such as: “just about breakeven” soothed the masses.
The accounts themselves are horrible, but, of course, now historic. Income for this season will rise with Europa League qualification, while costs associated with the recruitment necessary to propel the club to fourth in the league will also rise significantly.
The question is, if you act like Citizen Kane, do you follow the same trajectory?
Really looking forward to Hearts tomorrow. After the week they have had, a bit of karma must be coming their way.
Celtic Supporters’ Association
Annual Memorial Mass
for all Celtic Supporters & Their Families
Tomorrow at 12.30 the annual memorial Mass for ALL Celtic supporters and families is held at St Michael’s, 1350 Gallowgate, a short walk from the stadium. A time for us to remember those who passed on the club over the last 130 years. There will be tea and coffee in the hall for you before you head to the game.
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!!BADA BING!! on 2ND NOVEMBER 2018 1:57 PM
How about a round of applause on the 18th minute, Neil’s shirt shirt number at CP,to stand in support and solidarity with him and his family, against the mini huns as well.
!!BADA take a bow pal, great idea .??
Oooofffft Neil….well said!
Bada Bing
Agree with Marspapa Great Idea!
MARSPAPA on 2ND NOVEMBER 2018 2:05 PM
!!BADA BING!! on 2ND NOVEMBER 2018 1:57 PM
How about a round of applause on the 18th minute, Neil’s shirt shirt number at CP,to stand in support and solidarity with him and his family, against the mini huns as well.
!!BADA take a bow pal, great idea .??
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rather that chant One Neil Lennon, it should be WE ARE ALL NEIL LENNON
And while I’m on…thanks to (can’t remember who) for posting the Derry 1964 film…enjoyed it very much and now viewing other similar themes…
Howdy bhoys,
Happy Friday and hope all is well with the Qners. Gary Caldwell now , who’s next to pile into Lenny? Anyway , Jobo if about could you drop me a wee mail pls at sentinelcelts.com
Hail Hail
Sorry Jobo,,
sentinelcelts@gmail.com
SAINT STIVS ??
correct , lets bring back the thunder tomorrow ..we’re all Neil Lennon .
I think the atmosphere will have an extra few decibels timorrow .
I thought Gary Caldwell re-tweeted that his original comment had been badly expressed and that he was, in fact, in support of Neil Lennon?
JJ
Proof that NFL lurks on CQN.
Hail Hail.
Belated Birthday wishes to BLANTYRETIM hope you have a great day with the lhads in the BV
I was at a game v St Mirren at CP while Lenny was manager when there was a similar show of support. I think he had been in the stands watching Aberdeen play someone or other and was abused by sheep fans , had missiles/cups of coffee thrown at him. An utter disgrace which would not be replicated or tolerated elsewhere in football.
I am Neil Lennon.
JJ- Caldwell tried to backtrack but the damage was done,but he passed the test to get a job on Shortbread, when he gets bagged at Thistle, with friends like that, who needs enemies….
BADA BING great idea, we are all neil lennon. and as for les gray id be banned from here if I gave you my thoughts on him.hh.
Bada Bing
Great idea
Neil’s comments have made it to a UK wide audience. Will this bring it to a head and we’ll see some self reflection from those who abuse him or will the Scottish establishment bristle and bring out every negative Neil Lennon story they can find? I think Neil is going to need our support more than ever.
He’s inspirational the way he stands up for himself. The complete opposite to the way I was brought up, keep your head down and don’t get caught up in it and I’m not even from an Irish background. God bless you Neil.
Borgo67- looks like the genie is out of the bottle at last, Level 5 running out of blood money?
Neil Lennon Tribute – Something Inside So Strong
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xYddChWFrw
“Brothers & Sisters ,when they say we’re just not good enough,Gonna do it anyway”
Unbowed,Unbroken ,UNREPENTANTcsc
BADA BING
I hope so, but the ones as bad as the other narrative is strong amongst those who make the decisions.
priceless…and exactly how my Dad would have reacted….
https://twitter.com/rachelmcginnx/status/1057753853557387264
smiley crabby auld yins thing
Braw
!!BADA BING!! on 2ND NOVEMBER 2018 1:57 PM
How about a round of applause on the 18th minute, Neil’s shirt shirt number at CP,to stand in support and solidarity with him and his family, against the mini huns as well.
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Superb call BADA ???????
How long until John Daly is rolled out saying he has not experienced any sectarian abuse at hearts?….(so, it must be Lennon’s attitude…therefore, he brings it on himself)
Bada
A round of applause on 18 minutes sounds excellent. If the GB then spontaneously burst into `Only One Neil Lennon` then all the better.
JJ
Good to see Lenny speak up, now knowing the SFA they’ll charge him with bringing the game into dispute?
WBC
I am sure the MSSM will find many examples of Irish Catholics who have not been abused in the way that Neil Lennon has.
JJ
Hot Smoked…of course they will…it’s how they operate…followed by a poll of some sort that shows everything is fine and dandy…just a few morons…
Would I be right in thinking that many supporters are beginning to prefer Bain over Gordon?
Also , is Mikel being accorded a stay of execution?
If so, my team for tomorrow:
Bain.
Lustig, Benkoviv, Boyata, Tierney.
Rogic,Mulumbu ,McGregor,
Forrest,Edouard,Sinclair.
Christie deseves a place but I feel Mulumbu`s ( is he fit?) steel will be required.
Also, did I rad earlier that Naemorals and Laffatme are unfit?
JJ
Gary Neville raves about the noise at Ibrox, fine but did he know what they were singing…………..
WBC
Yes, I forgot about the ` just a few` aspect.
I suppose they have a point though. The SFA,the MSSM and supporters at most rounds in Scotland is just a few.
JJ
`accorded` ? Hah! `afforded`.
way to go neil, you and your agent about time.
it was me bobby that posted the Derry film, its a fascunating watch for context of the time.
was it strairheedrammy who said his parents stayed in the huts ?
just to add, he has called out spfl, sfa and most of all scotland.
now its time to go for it, lets see what celtic( board) do.
TIMHORTON on 2ND NOVEMBER 2018 3:40 PM
just to add, he has called out spfl, sfa and most of all scotland.
now its time to go for it, lets see what celtic( board) do.
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as a PLC I doubt there will be anything they want to do.
however as friends of neil, why not put his picture on the screens on the 18th minute for support. maybe the modern day version of tiger tim can go rogue.
When the SMSM trot out their rhetoric, ones as bad etc surely we simply say ours is in defiance to the centuries of subversion? (im not counting the idiots that sing loud without knowing what they’re signing about)
Once again the “Celtic Board”getting dragged into it.
Good God,why dont they solve the problems in the 3rd world as well.
TURKEYBHOY on 2ND NOVEMBER 2018 3:48 PM
Once again the “Celtic Board”getting dragged into it.
Good God,why dont they solve the problems in the 3rd world as well.
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marys meals and the cqn kitchens are doing that, so celtic can pony on up and say something about something, why not.