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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It is 3.22am and Oslo. Bad combination.
Goodnight, sleep tight all. xxxx
Greenin
I see all the innocents, the human sacrifice.
And if death comes so cheap, then the same goes for life.
Whatever you want, you’re gonnae get it!
Tommy Gun.
GREENINBINGLEY 0138
Nae luck,mate. Must be murder adding up the price of a round in Norway!
You kids know nothing. The Beatles came out early and they were “fab”. We all liked them. Then came the Stones. They played the Barrowland…..it was nearly a riot. Beatles were quickly dropped by the guys…..Rolling Stones (hey Ronnie Wheatley if you get on this site contact me).
We love the Stones
.
Only 83 Days to the Next Old Firm Game..
Thumbs Up
Maggie Get Yir best Frock looked Out..【ツ】
Summa
westies
03:00 on
13 November, 2014
You kids know nothing. The Beatles came out early and they were “fab”. We all liked them. Then came the Stones. They played the Barrowland…..it was nearly a riot. Beatles were quickly dropped by the guys…..Rolling Stones (hey Ronnie Wheatley if you get on this site contact me).
We love the Stones
———————————————————————————————————————
Until `68 when they kicked out Brian Jones who formed the Stones.
He needed assistance,not rejection.
R.I.P. Brian Jones.
I found Jagger`s homily in Hyde Park to the recently departed Brian nauseating.
After `70,for me the Stones lived in the past.
Sadly, the Stones lived and the Beatles died.
Music is in the ear of the listener.
The Stones at their zenith…..`64 July.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnBMLG57sro
.
Wee Sheena Easton would have Been Bigger than Dolly Parton (Not Literally) if she Hidnae Hookedup Way Yon Symbol aka Wee Prince..
Summa of NineToFiveCSC
Summa of Sammi….
04:00 on
13 November, 2014
Did she not blow it in George Square,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,?
(Not literally)
Celtic should be having a large piece of this.
Mini pounds,maxi return.
Women are here to stay.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/30009553
there are few things in life that have left me totally lost for words, but as rememberance day is also the anniversary of my wee mammys passing (14th) I thought I would tell you lads a wee bit about her first. Helen McBride was born on 6th of june 1921 in Ibrox (cousin to joe of our parish RIP) and like most working class families she never attained further education but went to work in the Remington rand in hillington she met my father at the start of the war and although he was in the RAF they married in 1942
settling down with a council flat in the paisley rd west my dad was a gorbals lad but served out the rest of the war in leuchars,fife war ended they settled together and he started as an optical technician (basically the only job he could get with his timmy name) he didn’t really enjoy the job,and suggested to mum that if they budgeted with her wages from the Remington he could go part time and study to become an optician.she supported him through this and in the early fifties wee Charlie got his deploma that he was a member of the fellowship of Scottish ophthalmic opticians. however with his timmy name he couldn’t get work in the west so he started in Cardiff for two years then cowdenbeath (thank god its all changed now!! ahem)
they applied for a new council house,and in 1957 were offered a new flat away out in the country inside loo and all mod cons a big wrench away from my mothers family in Ibrox but away they went to their brand new tenement in the new estate of Easterhouse in the east end of Glasgow. they found out that they couldn’t have kids so at the start of the next year they were awarded my elder sis Geraldine, by this time my dads reputation and experience meant that he now had a full time job in partic and three years later they were awarded another baby a beautiful platinum blonde, bundle of joy that yours truly can only be described as.
my wee mammy gave up work and became a devoted wife and mother (eventually granny to my four,and geris two tae) wonderfull memories of their total devotion to each other, their family and their church we moved out of Esterhouse the same week Frankie (give me the moonlight) Vaughan moved in but they kept in touch with their roots attending rome for cannonisation of blessed john Ogilvie (my school and csc bus I attended games in the late sixties (because opticians work on a Saturday) they also had their golden wedding party in st Benedicts ..Which brings me to my speechless moment (at long last I hear you say)
father mcginn was st benedicts first ever parish priest way back before the chapel was built he then moved on to st marys in larkhall where I brought up my kids so he was delighted to welcome us to the parish but shunned visiting us because of a certain foul mouthed parrot we as a family owned he greated with great pleasure my parents attended the christenings,communionns etc cannon Mcginn (jacks brother) was real old school blood and thunderso their was no way of convincing him that a bird cant sin
on my youngests communion day a few years after my dads passing (and quite a few sherbets into the party) one of my guests asked considering their long history don’t you think it would have been nice to ask cannon McGinn over to sit with your mum I told the guest about casper and some of the rants African grey parrots are capable off now this is happening in the kitchen with no females present “i’ll tell you one tale” says I ” lizann got up one morning, i’m still in bed, when I hear casper as clear as you like say “hello lizann” to which Lizann replies “Hello Casper” Casper quickly retorts “Yer a w**ker” after much guffawing and laughter we all moved on mixing as you do at family events
now both my parents were T-total and at any previous family do the always left fairly early and everyone respected that but on this occasion my mother was staying over, so the party continued on and there was a brief silence in the conversation to which my mother interjected “Charles” “yes mum” I kinda slurred out “whats a wa&&er?”………….to this day I curse that bloody parrot
charliebhoy
05:03 on
13 November, 2014
Helen Mc Bride is with us still.
Thanks to yourself.
Hail Hail,my fellow Tim.
CHARLIEBHOY
Get the feeling you had inadvertently embarrassed yer Mum when you were a kid,and she got payback?
Smashing wee tale. Smashing family too.
I did get round it eventually saying “its toilet humour like plonker or numpty, not very ladylike mum”
Kilbowie Kelt
22:27 on
12 November, 2014
As a member of Celtic Films, I helped to arrange a show in Dumbarton Rd. Clydebank `78 or so for the local C.S.C.
I`ll bet your mate,big Jim, was there.
bobby both of them were 5’2″ and dark haired geraldines the same i’m 6’1″ and blonde thank god the milkman was a ginger !!!
Nice story Charliebhoy
charliebhoy cracking story , I can just picture your family and I am smiling away. Thanks for sharing mate. Did I tell you the one where my ma had Thunderbird in the the fridge for the knitting bee because she quite liked a sweet wine. She missed El D but at a very recent knitting bee was introduced to Jaegermeister disguised as cough medicine. You can take the girl out of Brigton.
Taurangabhoy
05:52 on
13 November, 2014
Hope that life on the extreme outer limits of civilisation is better than Brigton.
Hail,pal
.
MacJay..
Wee Sheena Blew her Scottish comback at Glasgow Green..
If She Would have Attempted to speak English it might have Helped her..【ツ】
Summa of SheenaCSC
summa/macjay1
I was at GG that day with the future Mrs lymmbhoy
http://youtu.be/NSfU5Zmgioc
HH
.
LymmBhoy ..
Re; Tomoz.. You have Mail..【ツ】
001Bhoy
Summa.
I thought it was George Sq.
You might be right.
Which would make a change.
Do you,Summa, take………………………….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbL1egc794w
.
LymmBhoy..
Re; Glasgow Green..
So was I..
Watching my Ex with My Future Ex ..
Notice the Pattern .. Ha
Summa
lymmbhoy
06:09 on
13 November, 2014
summa/macjay1
Pal
Between ourselves.
In confidence.
Summa has,in the past, claimed to have been involved in up close and personal “relations” with said Sheena.
It`s no for me to say. So,I won`t.
:-)
Nudge nudge.
.
Having a Early 6am KO Scottish Breakfast at a Mates House for The Scotland Vs Ireland game with 25 Guys most I have Known for nearly 20 Years.. All Celtic Supporters..
And I Actually don’t have a Clue how many will be Sitting in The Scottish ‘End’ like Me..
Win Lose or Draw it will be a Interesting Morning/Day considering 10 of us are there for a BBQ from 5pm The night before..【ツ】
Summa of ScotlandTheBraveCSC
Summa of Sammi….
06:25 on
13 November, 2014
I envy you,pal.
Trying to get wee Eddie et al. to join me in a Jockfest before and,of course, after ra gemme.
I hope that our Irish friends can forgive us and make allowances for the fact that we are,admittedly and shamefully,intending to support Scotland.
Sotto voce.
Mea culpa.
Mea máxima culpa.
My friends in Celtic,
Good morning.
I would expect a very quiet morning today as the “Fair Sex” lose the plot just before 09.00hrs.
Lock up your laptops, tablets, phones etc as the panic for Take That tickets hits the net.
HH
Hello all, how are you?
Good morning friends from a repetitively damp underfoot but now clear overhead East Kilbride. And still relatively mild for mid-November.
Macjay and Summa enjoy your barbies and banter. On my lonesome in the Far East of middle earth. C’mon N Britain and wee Gordy. If we beat the Republic it will show real progress.
Jobo
If only you could see the sky out east.
Red hot lava clouds being pushed back by crystal clear blue sky….tis a thing of beauty :)
Spectacular red dawn sky above Glasgow airport this morning.
Dry. Mild. Beautiful.
Saint Stivs
07:37 on 13 November, 2014
Shepherd’s won’t be happy
Macjay..
As a member of Celtic Films did you know, Frank Callaghan and Peter Mullen ?
Charles.
It’s true I think.
Forecast is heavy rains later today
charles kickham
07:39 on 13 November, 2014
Probably coz his barn’s on fire
.
Celtic in Oz had Double these Crowds in Oz up until 2 Years ago.. Now they have a 10th of these Crowds sometimes No One..
Sections
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Australia
Australian fans of English football show their colours
By Clive Hopkins
Sydney
12 November 2014
From the section Australia
Liverpool supporters at Sydney’s Cheers Bar sing in support of their side, playing 17,000 miles away
What makes someone in Australia pledge their loyalty to a football team on the other side of the world, a team they may never see play in the flesh?
The banners are hung, the replica shirts are on, and the crowd standing shoulder-to-shoulder are belting out a heartfelt rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone, the anthem of Liverpool Football Club.
Fans have gathered to watch English Premier League team Liverpool take on Chelsea at home. But Liverpool’s Merseyside is 17,000 km(15,500 miles) away. This is 11:45 on a Saturday night in the Cheers Bar on Sydney’s George Street, home of the Official Liverpool FC Supporters Club, NSW.
Cable TV coverage of English football, which began in the 1990s, has fuelled a fan base that now spans the globe. One of those global supporters, Andy Gargett, recalls watching his first English football game on TV.
“Mum and dad let me stay up late to watch the Liverpool versus Everton 1989 cup final,” says Mr Gargett, chair of the Supporters Club. “I was eight at the time, and it started at midnight.”
Originally from Melbourne and now living in the Sydney suburb of Leichhardt, a Liverpool win in extra time ignited Mr Gargett’s passion for the club that still burns strong.
A global fanbase
While the Supporters Club pulls in some expatriates, the membership is 70% Australian-born.
In 2007, Mr Gargett, 34, made the trip of a lifetime and travelled to the UK to Anfield, Liverpool’s home ground. Initial scepticism from locals about his allegiance to the club soon gave way to warm acceptance, he says.
“You buy into an identity with the club, which I think is stronger than with other clubs because it captures an essence of the city, the history.”
Nine minutes into the game in the Cheers Bar and the 200-strong crowd suddenly erupts with one voice as new Liverpool signing Emre Can scores with a rocket of a shot from 30m.
Liverpool supporters in the Cheers Bar erupt in celebrations as a summer signing scores from distance
Harrison Evans, an Australian Chelsea supporter, begins to worry about how the match is developing
Grant Furner, 36, is another die-hard Liverpool fan. Growing up in NSW’s Hunter Valley in the 1980s, Mr Furner’s interest began with the Hunter’s local hero Craig Johnston playing for Liverpool FC – the first Australian to join a top-flight English club.
“Football was more difficult to follow then,” says Mr Furner, now secretary of the Supporters Club. “The local teams were ethnically-based, and there was a lot of peer pressure to follow rugby league,” he says.
The high point for Mr Furner came last year, when he saw Liverpool live for the first time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, beating Melbourne Victory 2-0. “It was brilliant!” he recalls. “In front of 95,000 people, it was the biggest crowd Liverpool FC has ever played in front of.”
Back at the Cheers Bar, the mood changes as Chelsea defender Gary Cahill heads a scrappy goal. Liverpool fans begin to wonder if this is a turning point.
On the other side of the city, at the Aurora Hotel on Elizabeth Street, the game has just restarted. This is home to the Chelsea FC Australian Supporters Club.
A refrain of “You nicked my stereo!” (to the tune of La donna é mobile from Rigoletto) reverberates around the 150-strong crowd – an allusion to negative stereotypes about the habits of Merseysiders.
Liverpool fan Andy Gargett, centre, developed a passion for English football when he was a young boy
Chelsea fans at the the Aurora Hotel in Sydney go crazy as Diego Costa scores the winner for the Blues
Steven King, an 18-year-old student from Sydney suburb of Sans Souci, proudly sports his Chelsea shirt. Like many Australian Premiership fans, he also follows Australia’s A-League but admits the standard of Australian football remains well below that of the English Premier League.
“When I was in Ireland in 2010, my family there couldn’t comprehend why I didn’t support a Premier League team. I decided to go with Chelsea, partly to get a bit of banter going with my Tottenham-supporting dad, but also, if I am going watch a game at an ungodly hour, I want to watch an exciting team.”
Hardcore fans
Depending on kick-off times and daylight saving, this “ungodly hour” in Australia can range from late evening to very early morning. Chelsea fans celebrating their Champions League final win in 2012 staggered out of the Aurora at 07:00, and went straight to work.
“I see myself as a pretty hardcore fan, and try to be at the Aurora, whatever the time is,” says Panayioti Stathakis, a 21-year-old retail worker who lives in Sydney’s inner west.
Last season, he visited Chelsea’s home at Stamford Bridge in west London to see his team play live for the first time, a trip many Australian fans don’t get to make.
There’s only 25 minutes remaining of the game and Chelsea’s new star signing Diego Costa scores the best and what turns out to be the winning goal. In the Aurora pub, in the melee of blue shirts, a table goes over and drinks fly, but few notice and nobody minds.
When the din subsides, a smiling Mr Stathakis quips a line repeated by Chelsea players and supporters the world over. “Once a Blue, always a Blue. You can’t take the Blue out of people…”
Summa