Forster, Ashley and partnering with Sevco

951

Congratulations to Fraser Forster on his international call-up, I am absolutely delighted for him.  It occurred to me that he left Sports Direct and Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley’s clutches on the cheap early this summer, while Ashley had other matters in Glasgow under consideration – partnering with Sevco.

It was with customary bombast that Sir David Murray announced the deal Rangers struck with JJB Sports in 2006 to offload the club’s retail and merchandise operations to the sports retailer.  At a stroke the club banked £18m although subsequent dilapidation and redundancy costs ate into this figure.  Celtic had previously rejected a similar deal, believing that securitising future revenue streams in this manner would only swap short-term for long-term problems.

That deal perished when Rangers liquidation was announced but the Newco acquired only one retail store (outside Ibrox) and no infrastructure in place.  Instead, six weeks ago, Newco handed over retail operations to Sports Direct, who now operate its retail company, Rangers Retail Limited, and its online operation at rangersdirect.co.uk.

This deal was covered in local and retail press but lacked the bombast Murray would have brought to the occasion, perhaps because Ashley was aware that Celtic fans no longer felt comfortable spending their cash with JJB after the 2006 link-up.  Better to keep this one low-profile so as not to cannibalise sales to Celtic fans.

Whether Ashley is part-owner of Newco or just their merchandising partner is moot, Sports Direct’s interests in the Scottish market are significantly entwined with The Rangers F.C.

It is unlikely the retailer had to pay as much as £18m up front to secure his new rights but their support will be absolutely critical in quickly building their partner club into a successful force.  If they can do this while continuing to milk Celtic supporters they have knocked it off.

Chances of me buying the 125th Anniversary Kit from Sevco’s partner company are approaching zero.  My Celtic budget is for the benefit of one club only, it will not help build The Rangers.

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  1. Clashcitybhoy

     

     

    I think there is an emotional premium at play. Some are ok paying it some are not.

     

     

    C’est la vie.

     

     

    I have no idea if Celtic would make more by lowering prices. Presumably not or they would (n’estce pas?).

  2. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar's Green Bucket Army on

    Scores after round 1

     

     

    St Stivs 10

     

    Doc is Neil Lennon 9

     

    The Token Tim 8

     

    Celtic_First 7

     

    Celtic Soul Brother 6

     

    boab1888 5

     

    Stringer Bell 5

     

    theglasgowcelticway 5

     

    Tarrant 4

     

    Jobo Baldie 3

     

    Teuchter ár lá 3

  3. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar's Green Bucket Army on

    Round 2 of 5:Name the 4 different clubs from Ireland & 2 clubs from Wales that Celtic have played in a competitive European game?

     

     

    (2pts if you are first to answer Q correctly, 1pt if correct but not first. One submission only per round )

  4. Only saw that game on telly (well,. higfhlights), it was shortly before I started goign to games regularly. My first memorable euro game was beating cologne 3-0 in autumn 92, it was the week I moved to Scotland. Nice start to a long period of suffering and gallows humour on magical mystery tours to new levels of pishity.

  5. Name the 4 different clubs from Ireland & 2 clubs from Wales that Celtic have played in a competitive European game?

     

     

    St Patrick’s Athletic

     

    Drogheda

     

    Bohemians

     

    Shamrock Rovers

     

     

    Intercity

     

    Ebbw Vale

  6. Round 2 of 5:Name the 4 different clubs from Ireland & 2 clubs from Wales that Celtic have played in a competitive European game?

     

     

    SHAMROCK ROVERS, ST PATS ATHLETIC, DUNDALK, WATERFORD TOWN

     

    INTER CABLETEL CARDIFF, LLANSCHMANWADDOCK

     

     

    (2pts if you are first to answer Q correctly, 1pt if correct but not first. One submission only per round )

  7. St Pat’s Athletic

     

    Shamrock Rovers

     

    Cork City

     

    Sligo Rovers

     

    Inver somebody something or other

     

    Ach, think I’ll watch ELO…

  8. How do I access last Sunday or Monday’s articles? Trying to get a link to last week’s quiz pictures from The Phoenix.

     

     

    Jobo

  9. I was at both of the games in Wales as well, and I can only remember one of the teams, that’s how memorable they were. Can’t think what might have affected my memory on an 8 hour bus trip to arrive for a 6 hour prematch session.

     

     

    I remember a very bizarre karaoke session in a pub in Newport. No idea why we were in Newport, the game was in Cardiff. I also lost a bet and got all my hair shaved off (separate from the karaoke, in fact that was the other trip…!)

  10. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar's Green Bucket Army on

    Jobo Baldie

     

    21:23 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

     

    Will repost them soon

     

     

    HH

     

     

    CRC

  11. Jobo,

     

     

    There were pictures?????????

     

     

    Aaaaaaaargh!

     

     

    HAIL! HAIL!

     

    Token

  12. 67Heaven ... I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors on

    Was hoping the Bhoys would wear the hoops on Tuesday but, must say, the black strip .grew’ on me as the night progressed……wonder why ?

  13. Sorry to break into the quiz…

     

     

    Ross Mathie @ Scotland U-16s on SS1 very complimentary re Celtic Academy/St Ninians.

     

     

    Creating good footballers & good educated citizens

  14. The Token Tim

     

    21:25 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

    Jobo,

     

     

    There were pictures?????????

     

    ——————————

     

    That’ll be a laugh,mind point yourself oot.

  15. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar's Green Bucket Army on

    Answers to Round 2

     

     

    St Pats

     

    Shamrock Rovers

     

    Dundalk

     

    Waterford

     

    Cwmbran Town

     

    Inter Cardiff

  16. celticrollercoaster loves Wee Oscar's Green Bucket Army on

    Scoreboard after round 2

     

     

    St Stivs 13

     

    The Token Tim 12

     

    Celtic_First 11

     

    Doc is Neil Lennon 11

     

    Celtic Soul Brother 10

     

    Stringer Bell 10

     

    Tarrant 10

     

    boab1888 9

     

    Teuchter ár lá 9

     

    theglasgowcelticway 9

     

    Jobo Baldie 5

  17. neveralone

     

    21:28

     

     

    Brilliant. Long may it continue.

     

     

    Ross Mathie has been doing that job for about 100 years, so any comparative analysis he offers is worth something.

  18. Padraig Harrington’s sand wedge

     

     

    Ian Woosnam’s 1 Wood

     

     

    Rhys Davies’s 9 iron

     

     

    Jimmy Martin’s putter

     

     

    Denis O’Sullivan’s 7 iron

     

     

    Peter Lawrie’s 2 iron

  19. 67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors

     

    21:26 on

     

    5 October, 2012

     

    Was hoping the Bhoys would wear the hoops on Tuesday but, must say, the black strip .grew’ on me as the night progressed

     

    ——————————————————————————–

     

    You just know there where a dozen CQN’rs ready to post’We never win in that strip’

  20. Bookies Pen for a Button on a Blazer on

    3 – 1 to ICT. Rocco Quinn had a quiet first half for Ross C but has played really well second half.

     

    Ref has been poor.

     

     

    Pens

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