Credit where it’s due, season ticket sales at Ibrox near 17,000, with so many people trying to force the club into the gutter, is an achievement, and ignore anyone who doubts this figure. Respect to those fans who have remained ‘loyal’. The information was released to the stock market, so sales will definitely be north of 16,500. It’s not worth lying to the stock market over such trivialities.
In the short term, this means the club will be able to meet its loan repayments, if they choose to do so. Don’t ignore the possibility of a game of brinksmanship over loans made by fans hostile to the board. Lenders could be forced take insolvency steps to recover their money, which would be politically awkward, so the club might be able to hold onto this cash.
It also means they will survive the summer and start the new season, which in itself, will encourage others to buy season tickets. The eventual figure may reach 20,000.
With adult tickets costing an average of under £300 before vat, that’s circa £5m hitting the budget so far. Visits from Hearts and Hibs next season, in what counts as big games at Ibrox these days, will provide additional income, which will go towards offsetting the drop in income from lower season ticket sales. Controlling investors are looking to raise £8m from a share issue, so where does that leave Newco?
Based on figures produced by the club in their 2012-13 accounts, income, including a contribution from circa 36,000 season ticket sales, was £19m, while operating expenditure was £32m, leaving an annual shortfall of £13m. Since then, costs and well as income, have fallen.
The £8m share money still leaves them short by a margin that’s likely to be at least £5m, probably more, so further funding should be required by early next year, possibly in the form of a secured loan.
From this position, assuming they compete successfully on the pitch, Newco are short odds to survive long enough to make it into the Premiership for season 2015-16, albeit, still carrying an enormous structural overspend.
It’s also likely that Dave King’s plans, however limited they were, have been torpedoed. Newco will limp on as an unrecognised and unloved rump of a football team, largely owned and controlled by people who have done everything in their power to hide their identity from fans. We can only speculate………
Know your place
King’s most damaging intervention in recent months was to assert that Newco should be spending enough money to compete with Celtic, which after original Rangers went through liquidation is hard to fathom. Newco Rangers must surely learn to live within their means, whether that involves competing with Celtic or fighting off relegation. Those now running Newco can insist all they like that they are custodians of the heart and soul of Oldco, but only the colour of the shirts will bear any resemblance with the former ‘bears’ in the decades ahead, should they survive long enough to enjoy them.
The financial fundamentals have not changed. It will cost between £17m and £20m to operate a football operation at Ibrox, before you employ a footballer. Rates (possibly rent in future), policing, insurances, utilities and the hundreds of staff required for a stadium which can accommodate 50,000 people leave little room for shortcuts. Jettisoning the vanity project that is Murray Park is a no-brainer. Get rid of it, cut costs and bring in some cash.
Football on this scale in Scotland is only possible with regular Champions League participation. Celtic could not operate at anything like their current levels without reaching the Champions League group stage more often than not, or by receiving an investment of cash to recover the situation, should the bogey come off the rails.
This scenario has gone for the Rangers group of clubs. Celtic’s dominance has come while they have sorted out their finances and, right now, are not in debt. Should things go wrong one season in the future, they have the bank facilities available to roll the dice again. Should this go wrong they have investors available to step in, just as they did in 2001 and 2005.
Dave King’s plan may have been unfathomable, but his motivation is not. He knows too well that a subservient Rangers will be unloved and will eventually wither and die, just like the supremacist, version.
Don’t even try to fight long-term fundamentals. They are fundamental! Accept it.
The one and only Bertie Auld is due in the comments section below for a live chat starting at 1pm. Tune in.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his tome, All the Best.
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Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
12:58 on 13 June, 2014
Petec/weeminger
Apologies but this’ll need to be short.
The additional revenue and the greater likelihood of better sponsorship deals etc.
Oh and the thought of thousands more of their scummy followers on the streets of Scotland most Saturday nights.
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The Battle is always just Good against Evil, never forget that, dinnae ever let fear enter intae yer mind.
Hello Bertie!
If you and that other great midfielder Bobby Murdoch were starting your careers today and were playing in a 4-4-2 system who would you have in midfield with you from this era, if you had your choice?
Big Jock, you and the rest of the Bhoys gave me the best memories of my football life.
Thank you so much!
In tears now.
Paul67
Good article
I think it’s important to challenge Sevco spin because otherwise some gullible peepul might swallow swallow MSM’s faux delight that having 17,000 ST’s is a good news story, when in actual fact, their sales are decimated. They may have enough to keep Glib Shameless Liar from the door, but they remain the new Zombie on the block.
Rump CSC
Hi Bertie,
What was the funniest encounter you’ve ever had with a Celtic supporter?
Beatbhoy
Amazingly, it’s true. Bobby Murdoch and I never played for Scotland together. As far as I was concerned, it didn’t bother me. But Bobby was one of the greatest in midfield at the time and you’ve got to wonder about his lack of caps. When you look at the midfield players who were available, players such as Dave Mackay and Jim Baxter, Bobby could have mixed in there, as well. In fact, why didn’t they play the ENTIRE Celtic team from that era?
Hail hail Bertie!!
First question, in a Jim White voice:
Why are you soooo good?!
Bertie
How much extra time was added on when Celtic beat Aberdeen
9-0 a couple of seasons back ?
As I remember a certain Lisbon legend in a car outside after the game
chuckling away
“9-0 and not a minute extra time” with a smile the width of the Clyde.
Presume it was Mrs Lisbon legend dragging formentioned hero away from the fans.
Hero on and off the park
Bertie! Hail Hail Hail! (You deserve an extra one)
Hi Bertie my friend ;)
My question to you is:
As I am over hear in Canada on holiday ( yes I got in) I will be playing Tam and John at golf next week, they are a pair of cheating bassas, what should I look out for ;)
Cheers, Bertie. Thanks for the opportunity to ask the question, and I think we all know the answer to yours!!
Off topic i know but does everyone realise we’re charging £5.00 to have the SPFL logo on the new shirt. You can opt out though, but who would pay for that?
Bertie, yep, I’ve had “one” too many sitting up.
Enjoy the banter.
twentyfirst
Billy’s winning goal in the 1965 Scottish Cup Final in 1965 was outstanding, but did anyone notice that he pushed me out of the way and cost me a hat-trick? My two goals were so important, though, and I still believe that win was the most important in the Jock Stein era – even more so than the European Cup.
tallybhoy
I was breastfed until I was 14!
Bertie
You wrote the foreword to Tam Gemmell’s recent book “All The Best”.
Both your foreword and Tam’s story are full of cracking patter and one liners.
So, is Big Tam funnier than you or is there any other Celtic funnyman in the running for that title?
Bertie,
How did you get on with Billy Bremner?
All the best to you, Bertie.
Bertie Auld,
I liked your comment on Sky about Roy Keane, I agreed with it.
Were there any Coaches as you were heading through the ages, that ever made you think about quitting the game?
Bertie
A couple of month ago, my wife and I got talking to an older couple at the next table at lunch. The conversation turned to football and it turned out that the guy had for many years been the Chief Executive at Watford (when Elton John was Chairman and Graham Taylor was manager). He then went on to say that he had played for Birmingham City in the mid fifties.
I said “Oh right. Well, you must have played in the same team as Bertie Auld, then”. He did indeed and remembered you well. His name is Eddie Plumley and he was a goalkeeper.
Eddie “Ah, he was a real character was Bert” (not Bertie)
Me “Well, from everything I’ve seen, read and heard, I think you are most probably absolutely right”
He said that if I ever got to meet you or talk to you, I should be sure to pass on his very best regards to you.
So, Bertie, all the very best from Eddie and, of course, from me too.
Incidentally, here, for later reading is a great wee story about his son. Definitely worth a read
http://www.watfordlegends.com/Gary_Plumley.html
Bertie have you met our new manager yet ? and do you think he is a good choice ? thanks H.H.
Hail Hail to the wee Two Therty……..
Hardest wee guy ever to pull on the Hoops and Bhoy you could play a bit, too……
Who did it give you most pleasure to ‘sort out’ on a fitba park?
Our wee enforcer…..loved you then…..love you now……PROPER LEGEND
Thank you for the memories wee man……………..Priceless
jc2
Which 9-0 game are you referring to? I’ve played in so many and witnessed so many. And, yes, I did enjoy a chuckle on those occasions!
Bertie,
Is it true you were winding up the Inter players in the tunnel before the game in Lisbon?
TD67
Are you referring to Tam Donelly and John Rose by any chance? Two bandits! Keep your eye on your golf bag – that’s where they get most of their golf balls.
Bertie – welcome to CQN
Can you tell me in your experience what takes longer to recover from a dead leg or a dunt in the ribs?
Bertie, my dad was at the rangers game when Davie Provan broke his leg. He says even in the terracing everyone could hear the crack. You just got up and walked away as if nothing happened. Are ye made of steel?
Bertie,
A few years ago I worked up the courage to watch the Milan final versus Feyenoord again on video. I was surprised that the game was not as one sided as I remembered it, although Feyenoord deserved their win.
A few of our players, yourself included, were causing them some trouble but we never sustained it. Can you remember anything of the half time feedback you got from Big Jock or what he was saying before extra time?
Hail Hail Bertie, I thought you came across well in the Big Jock prog on Alba.
You could see in your eyes the passion that burns thru you! Very moving look back at the big man.
Who was the dirtiest, low down, son-of-a beetch that you played against in Scotland?
Fanx,
AoW
Bertie, I’m auld enough to have seen you guys strut your stuff for a wonderful decade, many thanks for the memories.
Q. For you………..I am of the opinion that the death and liquidation of Rangers is a good thing for our game.
Back in the day of the level playing field, we had Aberdeen, Dundee Utd winning European trophies, titles going down to last day goal differences between different clubs. Scotland qualified for every major tournament……………what’s not to like about clubs selling out Celtic Park for finals and about half a dozen different clubs sharing the League Cup recently?
I remember Scottish clubs bringing huge travelling support to Celtic Park, about time the club and papers were selling the POSITIVE about life without Rangers not complaining about getting them back. Whit ye think? Too political? :0)
sftb
I thought there were a lot of funny guys in that dressing room – especially Big Yogi, when he could be bothered opening his mouth.
No question.
They gave us Johnstone, Tully, Murdoch, AULD and Hay.
Good luck and best wishes from Ireland to the Bertie fella.
LEGEND!
Hail Hail. :D
79caps
Billy Bremner was a nice guy off the park, but, on it, he was just another guy who wanted to take away my bonus. Then he became an enemy. I would never allow him to bully me, that’s for sure.
Cheers Bertie
Could be said we might not have gone on and done it without them. Loved the way you followed the ball into the net and lashed it, just to make sure. A genuine Celtic Legend
HH
Bertie
9-0 Aberdeen
Hooper and Stokes hat tricks
Obvioulsy you were not playing else we might have got double figures
: >)
Bertie:
Posting this on behalf of Channelislandcelt who is unable to post at the moment, please post your reply to Channelislandcelt:
Hi Bertie .
The good people of Jersey had the honour of your esteemed presence about 4 or 5 years ago .
Just to say that your deportation order has expired and you are now welcome back anytime :-).
HH
petec
Eddie Turnbull at Hibs was undoubtedly the best coach I ever worked with. He was unique in the way he handled players and teams. Big Jock was the best manager, but Ned was the best coach. But, no, coach ever made me want to quit.
Bertie
I met you once at a lunch that was hosted by Celtic to mark the end of a wee health programme we’d been running at Celtic Park. You were there for everyone….very kind and funny as….. I think that’s why I see you guys are proper ‘Legends’. Thank you….
Question…..gallus or humble….? Where do you stand on this in terms of what you look for in a player? And has it changed from your day to now? And in respect to you on the pitch, where did that persona come from? What made that gallus we so and so we all loved then and now?
HH jamesgang
Monaghan1900: That would be this one:
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peter1872
Gazza
True Blue
5,290 posts
Gender:Male
Location:Glasgow
Posted Today, 07:34 AM
I was sitting at my desk when I first heard the news and I felt tears building in my eyes.
It never felt like someone passing away but maybe like a GF you really liked binning you.
Sad because you really liked her and she was one in a million.
Sad because you know most guys wanted her but couldn’t have her and this was down to her and her wonderful virtues.
Deeply wronged as you felt you had essentially promoted her as the best thing since slight bread and you knew she was a thing of beauty.
Angry as you felt she had taken you for a ride and she had been lying to you prior to giving you the old elbow.
After some resentment you know that it wasn’t the end and you knew that someday the sun will come over the horizon again.
You then had hope. Hope as again you knew deep down that special thing you had was too good to be lost for ever and it would be another hurdle in this long life you would need to get over.
You then look to the future to try again but you knew there is a little doubt and uncertainty. Trust now has to be earned as before you maybe gave it away to freely.
A different analogy but I’m sure most get the gist lol
Whit happened to my question at 13:08??????
Och am away back te work!!