You and I have been discussing football finances here since 2004. In our early years Celtic lost several million pounds each year, CQN’s call was ‘we must breakeven over any business cycle’, an incredibly controversial view in those times of indulgent bling.
By 2004 Celtic hadn’t added a player who held down a sustained first team place for three years (since John Hartson in 2001). We also lost a talisman that summer. The pressure was on to spend, from the stands and the dug-out, but Brian Quinn, our chairman, had concerns about running at a permanent loss. In the face of considerable criticism from the bling-brigade he stood firm.
Celtic won three of the next four league titles while reaching new territory in the Champions League as others continued to spent beyond their means and exploit unconventional taxation policies, which ultimately saw them liquidated, but while the end game was predictable, most didn’t predict it. This resulted in strife at our club.
Finance was a focus of CQN in the early years when we produced granular analysis of accounts and budgetary forecasting. As we became less of a basket-case the time spent debating money reduced.
We can all talk about strikers and defending, policing and political influences, good corporate governance and the SFA, but if you scratch below the surface of those with many years of CQN behind them, I suspect you’ll find people who can’t resist a football club’s cost and revenue breakdown spreadsheet….
The document which appeared on the internet yesterday on a former football club [let’s call them ExCo] was a joy. To me, anyway. It provided many small details which add up to one or two enormous conclusions.
ExCo forecast current year spend for 2011-12 on cleaning costs to be £380k, electricity at £455k, insurance at £374k, postage and carriage at £146k, IT at £261k, professional fees at £613k and telephone costs at £149k. Stewarding was £593k, policing, £343k, match day ambulance, £89k. They spent £160k on finance salaries and £176 on press office salaries while ticket operation salaries cost £268k. The list is exhaustive, 10 pages of costs detailed.
Operating costs, before items like our old friend, amortisation, and tax (don’t laugh), were predicted to come in just shy of £37m, but the key message in all of this detail, is that if you want to operate a football club which can accommodate circa 40,000 spectators you need an infrastructure which costs around £20m.
The police, building maintenance, insurances, grass seed and everything else has to be budgeted for before you can look at player wages, not to mention transfer fees. £268k might sound like a lot to pay for ticket office staff but if you need to issue tens of thousands of tickets you need fulfilment staff. All those assets: enormous properties, thousands of fans, blanket media attention, can feel like liabilities to the guy with the responsibility to pay for them.
On reading this the overwhelming memory I had was of former Rangers director, Paul Murray, who a year ago told the world that Newco Rangers would not be viable, and he was hoping a Newco would have SPL football back then. New clubs cannot qualify in European competition until after they have completed three years trading (a minimum of four years without Europe).
With no European revenue for four years, Newco would be unable to pay all those ‘fixed’ costs and put a competitive team on the field. A big club can’t survive trapped in a small league with no European revenue.
This is reality. Scotland has one healthy large club and has a dozen or more potentially healthy small ones, but nothing will ever be the same again.
Thanks to everyone who has bought Willie Wallace autobiography. Orders in from Belfast, Blackpool, Bonnybridge, Burntisland and Blackrock. If you order now you will receive a copy signed by the man himself….
Email me if you have an article for CQN Magazine inside of you waiting to get out; celticquicknews@gmail.com.
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HT
Was that no bebo ;)
BT
Kscwifi .. is an annie gran of scifi kc ;)
Are you ghuys and ghals remembering the Real v Atletico Cup Final strats in 10 minutes on Sky Sports 1…….
Three in a row
HT
You could be right mate, meet some strange characters on there, you’d be one too many.
67
Damnation … I forgot about that bounce match
Might need to go pub :(
HT
15 bottles of Bud and 8 voddies and a few Guinness
Lightweight
Tbj
Na he had left by then ;-)
Che
There was a beardy bhoy on there other night … naveed from blantyre .
petec
19:43 on
17 May, 2013
Palacio67
Njoi, I’m sure ye would love this dude in oor team…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjPZZQtdjTU
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Good finisher but at 31?
HH
“starts”……?….need to get these glesses changed…
HT
Bebo wobbles but he don’t fall down :(
Soal
I was dieting at the time.
Hamiltontim
19:46 on 17 May, 2013
Never done the Facebook thingy.
Few years ago I was due to attend the engagement of a girl in work. It coincided with a date when we were playing the monkies at Ibrox.
Soooooo being a sensible chap I offered to drive our bus to the game. After the victory I poured the contents of our bus into the Gallowgate and headed home to get ready for the evening doo.
Unfortunately I got ready too quickly and ended up in Bar67 for a few before heading over to Maryhill.
15 bottles of Bud and 8 voddies later the bold HT presents himself to the future happy couple.
I duly fell asleep after a few Guinness at which point the cameras came out. The photos appeared on Facebook that night and the school weans obviously saw them the following morning.
Na that Facebook is no for this cat.
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And yer blaming Faceboutique for your………..
I love yer style.
They are doubling the advertising time now on Youtube so apologies for the long wait.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYgxVB801Ns
Any Celtic fan who misses oldco go and watch them it cost nothing. I have still to meet a Celtic fan who isn’t dancing while trying not to spill their ice cream n jelly.
Petec
Had to blame someone!
Cracking song btw.
Keevins predicting mayhem the next time Celts meet Sevco ( if they are around) he based his prediction on the boys cup final
I dont see it that I see it as one massive urine take
A feast of fivers gettting waved in the air for every begged borrowed and cheated tenner Minty bragged about
Anyone thinking of sending a 1st anniversary sympathy card to Edminston Drive on the 14th of June?
Think it would be brilliant for a couple of thousand extra letters arriving there on that day.
Thoughts anyone?
HH
Thindimebhoy
Sadly I think if we were ever to play the huns again there would be carnage.
HT
He had a full turkish. Wee mini came home from school and said, and I quote, ” dad I’m so proud of you”. I replied, “he scubbs up well” lol.
Weefra HH
Palacio67
Good finisher but at 31?
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I hear what you are sayin’
If he is the right mentality, he’d thrive at Celtic, even now, at his age.
IMO, we still need at least one experienced player who will be the first name on the teamsheet.
Copa del Rey Final at 8.00.
Madrid Derby.
amazing version of YNWA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGXHyp08mcE
Hail Hail from Mwell
Palacio
Great idea.
Especially if the postman’s name is Pat.
DJBEE
19:55 on
17 May, 2013
Any Celtic fan who misses oldco go and watch them it cost nothing. I have still to meet a Celtic fan who isn’t dancing while trying not to spill their ice cream n jelly.
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DJBEE, i’ve been surprised at a few who have fallen away this year, they will not admit but secretly they must miss them. Love giving them some stick.
HH
palacio67,
The first anniversary is the paper anniversary I think, so maybe they would appreciate something like a pound, but you’d need to tell them you don’t want to buy them
Weefra
Wouldnae got that far but at least now he won’t look like the yeti ;-)
neil canamalar @ 1721 (i think)
The,free range clique is open to all. Ask BT. Hahahaha
Weefra HH
the bhoy jinky
A top bloke indeed and superbe family. Just realised I’ve known them for years. Lol.
Weefra HH
Hamiltontim
20:00 on
17 May, 2013
Palacio
Great idea.
Especially if the postman’s name is Pat.
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Just need to spread the word through FB and all the other Celtic Sites, I’m sure we would get a few thousand easily.
Would be a good wee laugh and GIRUT.
HH
I have not been paranoid for years, well according to the MSM myself and Celtic fans around the world. Why would anyone want to detail nearly every moment in their life to everyone else? Personally I dont’t care what you had for breakfast, lunch and dinner or whether your wean hurt their knee today.
http://www.infowars.com/facebook-google-are-cia-fronts
read the links
HT
That is, of course, only your opinion. Lol
Weefra HH
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 19m Someone was in the process of compiling Duff and Phelps info. Note Paul Clark is aware that it’s a 3 year ticket deal http://www.scribd.com/doc/142089135/Duff-and-Phelps-Advice …
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Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes 18m Within the next hour I should have uploaded the Sevco 5088 Letters and Share Purchase Agreements. Supporting documentation will also follow.
Weefra :o)
djbee
19:55 on 17 May, 2013
ABSOLUTELY SPOT ON……HAIL HAIL
Hamiltontim
19:55 on 17 May, 2013
Petec
Had to blame someone!
Cracking song btw.
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The extremely perceptive FFM called it a long time ago.
I couldn’t see what that Kind madman was saying about Minty still running everything. I never exactly doubted him but I couldn’t see the linksys.
Genius.csc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQslgktTbQ4
@tallybhoy
19:38 on 17 May, 2013
After hearing her “wish Walter and the boys(?) all the best for the uefa cup final” on radio Snyde years ago
She is now known in my Hoose as “That wee H*n midden”
H.H
Palacio67
Don’t put a stamp on the letter
Let the Huns decide if they want the letter and the charge
Love