You would be forgiven for thinking Honest Dave King is a bit preoccupied by the C word. Every time he extrapolates where the club he supports (through an accomplished undermining strategy) is heading, the subject returns to knocking Celtic off their lofted perch.
This task could take £30m-£50, King estimates, a burden he is willing to share with others, although he does not appear to put a figure on his own piece of the action. Ploughing £50m into newco Rangers over the next five years would certainly help, but it would still leave them short of Celtic’s projected income over the period, and in this town, success is a zero sum game.
Top dog gets a crack at Champions League income, which is a bit of a chicken and egg situation. For a Scottish club to get into the Champions League in a responsible manner, they need Champions League income more seasons than not. Alternatively, they can gamble recklessly, build up contractual commitments which stretch out for years into the future, in the hope that they out-perform the other would-be top dog.
We’ve seen this movie before, it is the arms race that David Murray bulldozed Scottish football into. It was calamitous for his club, which was sold for £1 to an insolvency specialist before being liquidated.
It had consequences for Celtic too. Fergus McCann build a stadium and left us almost debt free, but in the intervening 20 years Celtic lost far more than they would have, if they had copied the lavish spend (and tax) policies Murray undertook with Rangers.
Things are different now. We have cash in the bank, a winning team on the field, who have qualified for the Champions League group stages twice in succession, and we’re guaranteed to be seeded to qualify again next season. We also have a secure long-term borrowing facility, so in the event of a reversal in qualification, the club would not be put in jeopardy.
Starting an arms war with this Celtic team would be an act of remarkable courage. Observers will also note that the upper limit of King’s expected requirement, £50m, is just a little less than 10 times what the highest bidder for Rangers assets managed to clean up with, when the supporter’s need was greatest.
There is an alternative football development strategy, it’s called sustainability. Budget to spend no more than what you expect to earn, appoint good coaches and scouts, pay your tax and look the world in the eye.
Engage fans in this sustainability model. Tell them the road to the top will have twists and turns, and will take a while, but they can be sure their club will never be liquidated. This is the only way to run a football club, whether your Celtic, Aberdeen or newco Rangers. It’s not always popular, there will often be calls to speculate a little more, but it will ensure the club survives.
King is a smart guy, so he will know this. He’s even lived through all the pain and drama once before, so the sustainability question will be intimately familiar to him. The question, therefore, is why is he attempting to lead strategy into the Clyde, flute in hand, like some latter-day Pied Piper of Govan?
He seems reluctant to underestimate Celtic but I detect a belief that the hedge funds, not to mention the Easdales, can be shoved around. That is courageous.
Keep up the good work, Dave.
Here we Go for 10 In a Row!
The 10th annual CQN charity golf day is set for Aberdour Golf Club on Friday 4th July. As ever it will be oversubscribed so if you’re interested in attending drop an email to BlantyreKev and Taggsy at cqnopen10IAR@gmx.co.uk as soon as you can.
Cost for the full day’s entertainment including golf is £80. There are a very limited number of non golfer evening places at £45.
Further detail will be released nearer the date and when places confirmed.
Seville – The Celtic Movement:
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Best wishes to Oscar and his family, in my thoughts
Gct
Moving words, I wish you and your family all the best at this difficult time
Sports migraine – have you been tested for diabetes?
Tom
Tears on the train this morning.
GCT.
Amazing eloquent post. Only part missing perhaps was the great brother he had in Australia who many CQN-ers will be praying for in the coming days.
KTF jamesgang
Tom – wish I’d read your post before I wrote my own flippant lines. Wonderful poignant words (yours!).
Good Coast Tom
Every so often, a post comes along that makes you want to reach out across cyberspace and shake the person’s hand. Your moving account of your brother is such a one – a beautiful story, and both you and he will be in my thoughts tonight.
HH
GCT, your brother was a remarkable man, thoughts and prayers with your family. YNWA
Morning all. Grey down here at the moment. Hopefully, we will be Champions again tonight.
Sincere condolences to you Gold Coast Tom. Some real good ones heading up there just now.
a bit of late night dodgy dealing and thistle end tickets have been sorted
apparantly they are doing a section where you get a free smoke bomb with your ticket
nice.
Gct
Thinking about you at this terribly sad time.
KTF.
Gold Coast Tom
05:34 on 26 March, 2014
____________________
Pride – Pain – Amazement – Awestruck
it’s all there fella, so sad.
I’ve lost two brothers – Gerard and Stephen.
Stephen being the latest at a time when I was
on here.
But, you know what…the warmth that I received
from the CQN community was a God send for
which I’ll be eternally grateful.
May God’s light shine upon you family and, all
who are close at this sad time. God Bless.
YNWA
Bye.
GCT
Sincere condolences to you and yours.
Your previous post about your brother was very moving
May He rest in peace
Thoughts and prayers with Wee Oscar and the Knox family, as well as a light insanity.
GTC – wonderful story about your brother.
GCT – A really touching post about your brother. God Bless.
Good luck to the bhoys tonight.
Apologies GCT I meant
GCT,
A lovely tribute to your brother and all the family.
GCT,
A moving tribute as you embark on a long tough journey,
best wishes go out to you and yours.
GOLD COAST TOM
It’s a long hard journey you are making,bud.
Please accept my best wishes and condolences,and offer them also to Christopher,Martin and Michael,as well as to the rest of your family.
HH
Tom, a beautiful, sad and uplifting story about a brother who was obviously a good man and a top brother.
I know “enjoy” is not the right word but I hope you find joy on your visit to Glasgow. Safe journey bruv.
Hail Hail
ACGR
SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS.
ACGR is looking for one ticket for tonight’s game.
SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS, SOS.
In the words of the late great Frank Zappa “I’ll buy you a pizza”.
HH
safe flight Tom………..a braw tune for you and yours…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BDj4mr0fBc
safe journey …braw
GCT, Tears in Tipperary this morning, reading your most moving story about your brother. God Bless you and all your family. HH.
Gerry, Dianne and Tom
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=awositUJYLM
YNWA
GCT condolences.
Zimmerman have you read any Graham Hancock books?
There are times on here when you see the true meaning of the Celtic Family. Through tears I thought of the love and courage GCT has shown in the last months. His story of his brother’s life was remarkable.
A light insanity
You also showed what it is to be part of all this by your immediate message to Tom in the midst of your own sorrow. God bless you both. I will keep both of you and your families in my prayers at Mass this morning.
GCT
Just came on to thank you for the trip down League Cup memory lane last night and saw your post about Gerry.
Thoughts and prayers with you on your journey.
Tom, as Eulogies go that was beautiful.
Moving and heartbreaking, a brother to be proud of.
I have twins, an older girl too, and know how difficult it can be bringing them up, rewarding too of course, but shear hard slog, and that was with my wife here. I’m sure he had help from family and friends, but something to be proud of.
Sleep can be an optional extra at time, especially in the early weeks and months.
Take comfort he and Dianne are together again.
Gold Coast Tom,
sincere condolences and good wishes.
Gold Coast Tom
Sitting in tears at my desk here. A heartbreaking story.
Your brother sounds like a great man.
May he rest in peace. God bless you and your family at this tough time.
LB
GCT
Tom your brother Gerry was some man.God bless him.
Safe journey home.
Gold Coast Tom
05:34 on 26 March, 2014
____________________
Thoughts & Prayers for all
who are close.
YNWA
GCT thank you for sharing some of the life of your brother Gerry and his wife Dianne. Straight from the heart, I could almost see them together. Perspective is a great gift. Celebrate the life of a great man and look after your family Tom. Hail Hail.
C’mon the Celts the night
and, all the best to all the
bhoys and ghirls with the
scarves and stuff on cos
YOU are ‘Celtic’ and don’t
YOU ever forget that.
Thanx – Off oot – bye.
Gold Coast Tom @ 5:34
A beautiful and moving tribute to your brother and his family.
Hail, hail.
Gold Coast Tom @5:34
That was a beautiful moving tribute to your brother and brought a tear to my eye.
Your brother had a great charachter and you are rightly proud of him.
I read your post a few weeks ago about leaving Glasgow and that it would be the last time you see him alive, as the eldest of 5 brothers I felt for you then and more so now.
God bless Tom, I’m sure you will do Gerry proud.