Governance and the money that has to be found

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Money has always been an issue in Scottish football, there is never enough to satisfy demand for what seems to be needed.  Previously, the requirements have been formidable: safe stadiums, but more often they have been less pressing: better players.

The modern training facilities Celtic and many others enjoy would be marvelled by all clubs as recently as 20 years ago.  Then there are playing surfaces.  Look back at old videos and you will see just how poor pitches were and how far many clubs have come.

All-seater stadiums, pitches with artificial lighting, which allow water to drain and remain mostly green throughout the winter, training facilities with dressing rooms within a miles walk of the pitch have cost the game an unimaginable amount of money in a relatively short space of time.

If you were around when the Taylor Report, released in the wake of the Hillsborough Disaster, mandated almost all top-flight clubs to rebuild their stadiums, you will remember the game itself seemed in jeopardy, needing to spend money it never had.

A causal look at any Premiership club’s accounts will convince you that there is no money for Video Assistant Referees (VAR), but like the stadiums, the pitches and the training facilities, money has to be found.  Society is on a trajectory where greater levels of customer service and administrative governance are expected.  What we put up with in the past is no longer tolerable.  Soon, we will not tolerate freezing our bums off for two hours with a roof providing only partial shelter from the elements.

Premiership managers met with referees and the SFA yesterday and agreed that VAR was needed, no chief executives were harmed at the meeting.  This would be one step towards better the governance we all now expect.

Celtic Charity Football Talk, Xavier Centre, Carfin

Saturday 19 January, 8pm

I am joining Tom Boyd and George McCluskey after the game tomorrow night for a question and answer in Carfin.  We are raising money for Vision of a Blind Golfer, to assist George’s son, Barry.

Tickets are £7 each, call Mick on 07827 975271 to book.  See you there.

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404 Comments

  1. Tory veteran Ken Clarke on Sky News: “[May’s] still going back to the DUP, trying to satisfy their unbelievably silly points on the Irish backstop…she spends all her time on party management, trying to keep hardline Brexiteers & this sectarian Protestant party in Ireland onside”

     

     

    Kenneth Clarke Tory Party

  2. Bournesouprecipe – I would be classed as a happy clapper by CQN standards but my patience is now wearing thin. Whether we we were in for none, some or all of these players, our approach/success in sorting the clear deficiencies in our squad is worrying……I hope we get it right this time. Hail Hail to you too.

  3. FAVOURITE UNCLE on

    FRESH from beating the shit out of the nazis in ww2 chuka embra rescues 2 wuman and a baby from road accident.

     

     

    next day he contacts them to CHEQUE on their recollection of said accident .report ends.

  4. Favourite uncle

     

    I fully expect legislation to be passed to limit the speed on major roads to 50 where minor roads join them and for speed cameras to be installed. Only fair

  5. If all loans go and contracts are allowed to end without change at start of next season, subject to what we are told, we will have:

     

     

    1 Team

     

     

    Gk Gordon

     

    Rb ralston

     

    Cb jozo

     

    Cb ajer

     

    Lb K.T

     

    Cm Mcgergor

     

    Cm christie

     

    Rw Forrest

     

    Acm Rogic

     

    Lw sinclair

     

    Cf Eduard

     

    ……………….

     

    2 team

     

     

    Cf Bayo

     

    Lw Johnson

     

    Am ntcham

     

    Rw morgan

     

    Cm bitton

     

    Cm kouasa

     

    Lb Gutman

     

    Cb Henry

     

    Cb compper

     

    Rb perez

     

    Gk Bain

     

     

    Subs outside two team

     

     

    Gk hazard

     

    Cm Benyu

     

    Lw Hayes

     

    Cm Mulumba

     

    Am azuri

     

    Cf Griffith

     

     

    Outside one Gk, rb and centreback I would suggest we are on track to have exactly what we want in terms of the squad for next season albeit I would hazard a guess we would be happy to ship out guys like compper, Hayes and Mulumba.

     

     

    Celtic have not change transfer tactic at all for the last few years, its the expectation that have increased

     

     

    HH

  6. ***GOALS GALORE 4 UPDATE***

     

     

    If Setting Free The Bears and Timabhouy are out there, the Cowdenbeath v Sevco game is off tonight so you need to make another pick from the remaining weekend games.

     

     

    For all others who haven’t yet made their choice, you will receive a mail this evening. If you don’t receive a mail, we’ve got your pick and you can relax.

     

    Weekend fixtures below.

     

     

    SATURDAY 19 JANUARY

     

     

    Auchinleck Talbot v Ayr United (12.15)

     

     

    Aberdeen v Stenhousemuir (15:00)

     

     

    Dundee v Queen of the South 15:00)

     

     

    Hibernian v Elgin City (15:00)

     

     

    Kilmarnock v Forfar Athletic (15:00)

     

     

    Motherwell v Ross County (15:00)

     

     

    Partick Thistle v Stranraer (15:00)

     

     

    St Johnstone v Hamilton Academical (15:00)

     

     

    St Mirren v Alloa Athletic (15:00)

     

     

    Celtic v Airdrieonians (17:15)

     

     

     

     

    SUNDAY 20 JANUARY

     

     

    Heart of Midlothian v Livingston (14:30)

  7. Hun game cancelled everyone saying pitch is fine, orcs ragin’, we’ve just found out Cowdenbeath wanted game played sevco didn’t want to and the ref obliged. Sfa have just announced they made the call, aye right. BFDJ says it’s cold.

  8. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    Game is on all day. Sevco turn up. Strong Rangers Association PR johnny gets involved. Game off. Hmmmmmm………

  9. I have seen VAR in the spanish league, it´s taking the game off the park, turns the stadium into a theatre and it´s all decided in the office…there´s your governance but it MIGHT be good in Scotland where scottish refereeing needs much closer inspection

  10. GlassTwoThirdsFull on

    You can’t expect MoreLoss to go around kicking people on a pitch like that do you? What if he slips?

  11. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    Happy 82nd Birthday to John Hume, arguably Ireland’s greatest politician and Statesman.

     

     

    His voice and presence is sorely missed at this crucial time.

  12. Cowdenbeath manager Gary Bollan asked on Shortbread, if it was Berwick Rangers they were playing, would the game have been on,’yes’ he said…

  13. Oh well, Plan B – Norwich v Birmingham and the hope of at least 3 goals, 4 cards and 10 corners…..

     

     

    bigfridaynightCSC

  14. JAMES FORREST on18TH JANUARY 2019 2:13 PM

     

     

    Whether people agree with you or not…u & others need to put IMO….IMO….IMO

     

     

    instead of …most people…..etc etc

     

     

    Then posters make up their own minds.

     

     

    IMO of course

     

     

    HH

  15. GREENPINTA@4-40

     

    I never get to upset at anything written on this blog even when some have gotten personal.

     

    WITS quirky humor is well demonstrated in his response to me at top of page 3.

     

    Underestimating your enemy is a fatal flaw so i hope Celtic are prepared for the second half of the season.

     

    HH

  16. bhoywithseethrougheyes on

    Have Celtic had any response from the authorities in regard to John Beaton’s performance in the recent derby?

     

    The Celtic statement seemed to spark a bit of a dispute between the refs and compliance officer so I would expect Celtic to be given the courtesy of a full response.

  17. Celtic please listen on

    Wee prediction for the close season, provided we win the league & are going for CL qualification. Based on previous summer windows. We will be told players of the calibre required are still on holiday, it’s too early in the window ? Meantime jozo & Kris (Kris Whom i rate highly) with possibility of big Mik if we take up the option of a further year as a makeshift centre half ? (I would take up that option personally)

     

     

    Let’s hope no injuries are picked up, especially long term as we will be screwed.

     

    I am basing these thoughts on previous Windows, there is the possibility we have sounded out or believe we have in place recruits lined up ? I doubt it & also i look to the Mc Ginn fiasco, boyhood fan ties to the club etc a deal just waiting to be completed or if not we will pick him up on a bosman was the general consensus.

     

     

    There is no guarantees in football, money talks & your best laid plans are scuppered as we seen this summer imo. Brendan wanted him & i believe we thought it was a shooty in he would be here, so don’t give it with the excuses otherwise, we pee’d about & it cost us.

     

    So to think recruits are going to be up to speed, settled adapted to new surroundings tactics avoid injury etc is risky a big gamble if indeed we do get business done.

     

    Of course it could all be fine but on previous evidence i doubt it again my opinion.

  18. BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 18TH JANUARY 2019 5:23 PM

     

    VFR

     

     

     

    Too many Celtic fans are swallowing the SMSM bollocks that Rangers have signed

     

     

     

    This

     

     

     

    ———-

     

     

    Most of us just want to see proper investment in the playing squad. In reality it has little to do with the Huns. Celtic supporters aren’t daft and can see what’s in front of them. To suggest otherwise is wrong and lazy imo.

  19. BHOYWITHSEETHROUGHEYES on 18TH JANUARY 2019 7:40 PM

     

    Have Celtic had any response from the authorities in regard to John Beaton’s performance in the recent derby?

     

     

    The Celtic statement seemed to spark a bit of a dispute between the refs and compliance officer so I would expect Celtic to be given the courtesy of a full response.

     

     

    ———-

     

     

    Celtic were never going to get an explanation from Beaton and that was known. I would suggest it was a backhanded way of calling him out and applying pressure to him and all other referees in the future.

     

     

    In terms of any other response, we are still waiting for news.

  20. TheTimReaper

     

     

    Celtic supporters aren’t daft and can see what’s in front of them. To suggest otherwise is wrong and lazy imo.

     

     

    Where did anyone suggest Celtic Supporters were daft?

     

     

    What can we see in front of us?

     

     

    You can even tell Brendan Rodgers that he’s leaving in the summer ( the other day )

  21. For those, like myself, who belong to the FtSFA Club and are, therefore , not going to Celtic Park tomorrow, a Celtic select are playing Arbroath at Gayfield., 2pm KO and free entry.

     

    Luke Donnelly ( son of a CQNer , I believe) is set to make his debut for the Red Lichties.

     

     

    JJ

  22. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Large dose of angst on CQN for the last few weeks.

     

    Due , imho , to our loss to the huns.

     

    It was inevitable that this was going to happen at some stage. And it did.

     

     

    Cue CQN in panic ” Dae sumthin ” mode.

     

    Keep your head , Brendan , while all around are losing theirs and blaming it on any handy scapegoat.

  23. Some comments earlier re Sevco game called off suggested that this was because Sevco didn`t want to play.

     

    Why would they not want to play tonight?

     

     

    JJ

  24. Nye Bevans' rebel soldier on

    Why would the hun want their game against the mighty Cowdenbeath

     

    called off?………………..fixture pile up and all that.

  25. Macjay

     

    Seems to me that that angst is born of a curious admixture of a Hun like expectancy that we are entitled to win every game and the historical dampening of any positive feeling that we may occasionally feel :-))

     

     

    JJ

  26. MACJAY1 FOR NEIL LENNON on 18TH JANUARY 2019 8:20 PM

     

     

    Unfortunately the underestimation and complacency amongst large sections of our support came home to roost.

     

     

    Hopefully we do not fall into the same trap again. However I have read posts about how we will go undefeated for the rest of the season with no rationale given.

     

     

    We will win this league if we treat every single game as a cup final. Anything less will not be sufficient.

     

     

    HH.

  27. mike in toronto on

    Hot Smoked @ 8:21

     

     

    … because they’re shit

     

     

    Seriously, I presume, because a frozen pitch (i) is more likely to lead to injuries, and (ii) is probably a good leveller.

  28. BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 18TH JANUARY 2019

     

     

    Where did anyone suggest Celtic Supporters were daft? —— I said they aren’t daft. It’s a Statement I made.

     

     

     

    What can we see in front of us? ——— denial strong on this one.

     

     

     

    You can even tell Brendan Rodgers that he’s leaving in the summer ( the other day ) ——-

     

     

    not what I said but you carry on.

     

     

     

    As for not replying to me by my name. Strange.

  29. “We were confident that the pitch was good,” Ewing ( Cowdenbeath Director) told BBC Scotland. “Some of the Rangers staff arrived and the next thing there were discussions with the SFA and they wanted to send the referee along.”

  30. So VAR, is going to solve all refereeing problems

     

    will it be able to award the correct decision on fouls or assaults which referees miss ?

     

     

    I always thought it was only to be on questionable goals ?

     

     

    Did Celtic get to see Beatins match report, you know the one where he mentioned seeing 5 incidents involving assaults on our players, yet though acceptable

     

    Not to worry VAR and its costs will sort this out

     

     

    A pink elephant just flew past me there