Delighted Aberdeen are now free of their “debt servicing burden” after long-term supporters Willie and Elaine Donald proposed to reduce net debt by an astonishing £14.9m. The club have been able to service their debt but it’s been caught between paying for old overspends and driving ahead with a new stadium to provide for its future.
Aberdeen has a vibrant business and corporate entertainment sector which the club is well-placed to exploit. In the right environment, specifically, playing a regional league with a new stadium, they could be transformed into a European power, as they were back in the day.
Unfortunately, it’s not all rosy positive financial news for Scottish football clubs. Rangers International’s statement to the stock market this morning confirmed that Mike Ashley’s £2m loan will not be enough to see the club through to the end of this month. Ash’ has provided a further £1m, which will take them through to the second week in December – at least!
The statement confirms yet more money will be needed before the end of the year and that the directors have begun a cost cutting exercise. So where does this leave them?
Living week-to-week is fine if you are within sight of season ticket renewal deadline but that’s six months away. The funding requirement to get them to that day is likely to be north of £10m, with Ashley now the only wallet in town.
A great deal of analysis is taking place over his commitment to the SFA that he’ll not acquire more than 10% of the club, but this overlooks all the important factors, specifically that owning more share capital is neither necessary nor helpful to Ashley.
Football clubs are a collection of businesses. There is the football, of course, but there is also a media business (print, online), retail services, brand merchandising, corporate hospitality, there’s advertising space to fill, and with some, there’s a link to a charity, which requires administration.
The charity and football operations cost money but everything else tends to make a profit. Football clubs are horrible entities to manage. You have unrealistic competitive pressures, fans who demand conflicting objectives and your performance can be undermined by a defender’s lapse, before you’re scrutinised in public. Only lunatics would apply.
By contrast, corporate retail management is a walk in the park. Ashley already has a healthy share of Newco’s retail, merchandising and IP rights. He can and will make money out of them, and no one has been able to tell me why he’d be remotely interested in owning an ounce more than Rangers International.
The funding which will get the club through the rest of the season is likely to cost them all those profitable income streams in perpetuity. There’s a good chance security will be required over the property assets too.
Newco is pretty much hollowed-out already but the scavenging isn’t finished. By the time the consequences of all that ‘we will continue to act like a big club’ nonsense of the last two years has comes home to roost, the cost of their hubris will be laid bare to even the most blinkered mind.
All of this was inevitable when Sir David Muray overruled his board’s recommendation and sold out oldco to a liquidation expert.
TIME CHANGE Remember, we’ve got Davie Hay on the blog tomorrow from 9:30 – 11:30.
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Marspapa
Attention?!?!
You’re joking surely?!
I even had to lift my own legs when she was hoovering this evening!!!
Phft :-)
CRC
i dont know what pains me most , sitting listening to her moaning st me
wed/thursday
or
getting the runaround wae youz duffers haha !
ah’ll b back ( arnie stylee ) ,))
Hamiltontim
Difference was their better goalkeeping – did you see that save from my left foot volley from the middle of the park?
Also we were a man down for the first ten minutes…
I got a text that Keane had knocked out a fan :((
HH
HT
let me know what causes the most pain hoover or iron
your taking a chance or you know she won’t be looking in tonight lol ;)
HT and Cowiebhoy
The young guys at the other clubs only have to overtake journeymen pros and other youngsters in order to break into the team. Our bhoys have to get past 18+ senior internationalists.
Guys like Stanton, McGinn and Mackay Stevens can look good in their own team but might not flourish in Celtic reserves. Our rejects, Jackson Irvine, Rocco Quinn, Graham Carey, Paul McGowan, Gary Irvine etc; are all holding down places in these teams.
The pages of CQN are littered with predictions of the next big thing from David Clarkson, John Sutton, Margaro Gomis, Michael Higdon, David Goodwillie, Craig Conway etc;
Apart from James McCarthy, and he was tipped by far fewer than now claim that they recommended him, very few have gone on to great things and I include the rather care-worn and close to broken down Steven Fletcher.
Some of the guys who have flourished, such as Craig Bryson, were tipped by nobody when he was here.
winning captains
23:08 on
12 November, 2014
We were drawing when we were a man down :-)
I agree our goalkeeping was poor tonight. I had a mare when I was in!
HH
CRC
HT
Compared to my knees you’ll be like an antelope.
Not sure how well antelopes fit into a diamond formation but hey ho!
I miss the 5s. Enjoy it. You’re a long time retired!
HH jamesgang
Ma Read o’ Ronny.. is
Commons, disnae fit his Template.
neether ..diz..
Broonie…
Kayal.. Nevah..
Nor
Bitton..
The reason tha Ah mention these Guys.. is that NONE of them.. (Yes, Even.. Broonie.)
possesses the Correct Attitude.
Ronny , luvs a Guy who his the Get up n Go..that… Steffi Displays.. which is..
Determination tae Succeed..n.. Hiving the Correct Attitude( See . Steffi’s Goal Scoring..Never say Die. Effort.. Agin the Aberdeen in the Recent game..
He exuded.. All these Qualities.. which.. Ronny n Me.. are Lookin Fur..in a Player.)
That..in a Nutshell..is
Ronny’s Template.. o the Type o Individual that he is Lookin Fur..
So. far..in this Celtic Team..
Thur ur.. Na Anither Steffi Type.. that Ah kin See..
Ah happen tae agree wi Ronny’s Thinkin..
Fur..
When Ah look at a Player.,, the First thing Ah notice Is the Particular Player’s
ATTITUDE..
( As a Matter of Interest… The Last Celtic Player whom Ah noticed as Hivin .. this Correct Attitude.. wiz….Neil Lennon.
He wiznae Blessed wi Much Skill or Ball Control..
But.. He didnae Let a Little Coupla LeetleThings; like Those. Stop Him..
Tae Me.. The Correct Attitude ,is the Foundation.. the Very Essence,if ye like.. (Ah like .. Foundation…ed)
Which Any Good Player must Possess..
All the Good Player’s that Hiv come thru the Ranks o’ Celtic..
Possessed.. that.. Certain.. Correct Attitude.. n.. Positive Determination tae Succeed.
Yes.. Ronny wull slowly but surely, Impose his Will .. oan Celtic in carrying oot his
March tae his Ideal..
Ah am sure of that as Ah am sure that..
Celtic wul Mollicate the Sevco.. when They Turn up .
P.S.
Ah believe that Johnny Guidetti has the Ronny Template.. which is Great.
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
Gordy
Magic!!! I love flash mobs who spread joy & happiness. :)
Irish Indo says Roy Keane involved with member of the public outside the bar at 4pm. Minor injuries, cops called by member of public, no complaint made so no further action. Port arnica hotel
Delaneys,
no idea why but they love to give that wee ditty an airing
Portmarnock hotel
setting free the bears for res. 12 & oscar knox
23:11 on 12 November, 2014
HT and Cowiebhoy
The young guys at the other clubs only have to overtake journeymen pros and other youngsters in order to break into the team. Our bhoys have to get past 18+ senior internationalists.
Great point, and very valid, thanks
Still think we should Not be ignoring what may be on our own doorstep though, particularly in current financial climate, I think our buy and sell on could work with some of those mentioned, once playing regularly with us ?
Hail Hail and Nytol, early rise
“RD obviously doesn’t rate Biton”
Gary67,
I’m not sure it is obvious.
Bitton hasn’t featured too much since the captains return. Who should be dropped broony or sj?
You could argue for the ommission of Mulgrew but the results have been surpringly good since his return.
Gotta Go,joe
Seeya.
Kojo
Still,Laughin
If young Henderson can’t get in the squad there’s no chance of McGinn ( any of them) Armstrong or Stanton getting in, Henderson is better than any of them IMO. Lewis ‘pele’ McLeod different story ……… HH
Gordy
Hope they are singing it long into the night on Friday, after a famous Scottish victory.
Delaneys, no chance
SFTB…i can only speak for myself…i havnt joined the SNP nor will i…and as for constitutions….
At the risk of repeating myself….constitutions can be ammended.
Next..
.
geordie munro
23:19 on 12 November, 2014
Biton hardly gets a seat on the bench, same with Henderson. If either were in the manager’s plans they would at least be subs and getting an occasional appearance.
Henderson should go out on loan, get some experience and game time. Would be surprised if Biton is still with us next season
Mc Ginn,and Armstrong,good for St Mirren,Dundee Unt.Playing for Celtic?.Somebody winding me up?.
One minute we want guys with a bit of know how,next its a couple of SPL,not any better than we have,players.
weet weet weet(gbwo)
23:10 on 12 November, 2014I got a text that Keane had knocked out a fan :((
Aye the shit hit the fan……
hat,coat…
SFTB
Completely agree. Our youngsters need to be exceptional now to break into the first team. Even McGregor had to go out on loan before he made his breakthrough.
Ps I did tip McCarthy though :-)
Marspapa
We’re safe, she’s sleeping!!!
Gary67
I’ll give you the Henderson on but Bitton has featured about 10 times. Was in last euro squad and got half an hour just a few weeks ago.
Aye he’s not a first pick but to say he’s obviously not in Rd ‘s plans is not accurate either imo.
watching McGregor in a Cetic jersey is a nightmare – he neither passes the ball forward or passes anyone with the ball at his feet.
i just cannot see how he is a saleable asset when his current salary is reputed to be approx £10k per week on his improved contract over 4/5 years
mystified how he holds down a jersey
HS
I know an ex Rangers player whose career was ended young by injury. He became a Rangers scout. He told me when Aiden McGeady was 10, that he had just watched a Scottish Pele, but Rangers were not interested. He tried to get A McG to sign for Blackburn instead. To stop him from signing for us. Haha.
WC
Aye that…..oh and the weather!!
Night Timdom
HH jamesgang
Bada
Very good big man :-)
WITS
Think the Scots will be singing a different song after our victory on Friday?
HT & sftb,
Totally.
About time we started getting games wrapped up in the first half so we can see more of the young guys. :)
Goodnight guys
play nice noo ;))
In the heat…..
He’s left footed play him on the left. On the right his instinct is to cut onto his favoured foot, this closes down space for him and others.
Invariably it also means we have few crosses into the box from that side.
Bed time.
sixtaeseven,
How dare you!!!
:o).
Merry Christmas one & all!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIWHWjddGsQ
See BAE ship building on the clyde is in the news..and not in a good way..
.who woulda thought it ..