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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GCT
Have a safe journey.
A very moving tribute to your brother
Thanks for sharing
For GCT a message from Twitter this morning
Archdiocese Glasgow @ArchdiocGlasgow · 49s
The only bank account that stays open when life is over is the one that is filled with love
So, is it title day once more? Have we ever clinched in Maryhill before?
GCT-HH ,Safe journey.
Prayers for you and the family GCT
Via Twitter from the ever excellent Cartuja
@cartujakds: Fit and proper? http://t.co/vKR3XUXIAo
HH
GCT
heart warming tribute, and am sure you meant every bit as much to Gerry, the love and connection your family have will be a great source of comfort too, please accept my condolence’s, may perpetual light shine on Gerry and Dianne, safe journey both here and back to your family, who will help you through this terrible time,
YNWA
Have a safe journey Tom.
Sitting at the departure gate at Brisbane airport, alone with my thoughts after a long phone chat with my partner back on the Gold Coast. Then I logged into CQN and I was alone no more.
I cannot tell you how much your words mean to me at this time, but there are many CQNers who have been through the same and worse, who will know what I mean.
I have more stories about Gerry’s life, but of a more humorous and uplifting nature, mainly centred around following Celtic in Europe. I’ll save them for another day.
Thanks to you all.
Come on Celtic, win the title at Firhill. 2-0 the Bhoys.
Hail Hail.
Test
Gold Coast Tom
Safe travels.
God Bless Gerry May He Rest in Peace
Gct . So touched by your post of your loss of your brother, has inspired me to post only for the second time in the two years I have lurked, of course you will never walk alone with the amazing folk of the Celtic community, god bless you and your family
GCT,
I have just read your eloquent, powerful and moving tribute to your late brother and his wife. Indeed it is a tribute to all the family including yourself.
Triumph can indeed overcome adversity and I’m sure they’ll now be proudly looking on — together.
It is one of the most personal and heart-warming posts I have had the pleasure to read on CQN.
Many thanks for sharing and God bless.
HH and truly YNWA.
Tom very moving words at this difficult time .safe journey
I’m trying to buy a ticket for tonight on line via the PT website. What’s the best part of the ground to try to get a seat in?
Gold Coast Tom
God Bless you and all your family.
You are a special man, just like Gerry.
GCT –
A lovely post about your brother – thanks for posting. Puts a lot into perspective.
NatKnow.
A Ceiler Gonof Rust
10:00 on 26 March, 2014
I’m trying to buy a ticket for tonight on line via the PT website. What’s the best part of the ground to try to get a seat in?
—————————————————
The Celtic end mate – which will be anywhere in the stadium if everyone whose looking for a ticket gets one! ;-)
Snecker,
Think i may have read one some time back,why do you ask,
and do you recommend any?
Gold Coast Tom @5:34
What a lovely tribute. Safe home, with all our thoughts
Thanks everybody for the overwhelming response to the 10IAR golf day. If you’ve emailed in, promise I will reply by the weekend, I actually broke the GMX email system getting back to guys yesterday, there were so many, system thought I was spamming!
As always, there’s more bandits than the OK Corral applying but my favourite so far is a W. Clinton from ‘Seattle’. Bill, if its you, its a golf day in Fife; golf, beer, bit of low level gambling, Celtic, not much else happens! You’re very welcome though!
GCT
Heartbreaking but inspiring post about your bro. I’ve lost my 2 bro’s so know what you are feeling. Safe journey home. I’ll be thinking about you and your family today. YNWA
Corkcelt
Any danger of you coming over for the Golf Day? It is a great day out.
JJ
Good Morning.
I spent a very happy day yesterday celebrating the life of my father at his funeral mass and then “throwing him in the fire” at Clydebank crematorium.
I would like to tank all those who sent messages of condolence and support, those who came to the mass and celebration, and all those who have sent me messages — they are all greatly appreciated.
However.
My father breathed his last at 86 years old having lived and loved the life of 10 men.
I read the posts from GCT ( travelling from the other side of the world for is brother ), light insanity on his loss, and of course the news that Oscar is struggling. Indeed I knew a wee bit about Oscar ( not forgetting the devastating news about Nicola McCurry ) because i have been in direct contact with Stevie Knox.
Obviously we, as individuals, cannot relieve the suffering and mourning of others. Each of us must face our losses on our own terms, and face the battles and troubles suffered by a love one the same way.
However, if I ever learned anything from my remarkable father it was this:
It is amazing the good that can come from simply doing someone else a good turn, letting them know that they are in your thoughts, that you are rooting for them — in this life — and in any life still to come.
So– GCT and light insanity — remember those you have lost. Remember how remarkable they were and that remarkable people never really die. Their body might have ceased to function but their spirit, the measure of who they were and still are, will always be with you.
For people like Oscar and his parents this is a hard time — just like so many hard times before. However that wee boy has been loved and cherished by countless thousands of us who have wonderful healthy children of our own — and we just decided to extend our own family that we bit by asking everyone else to bunch up a bit and make room for Oscar.
We can pray for Oscar, for Nicola and for everyone else we know who suffer illness and any other kind of adversity — but in so doing it awakes the realisation that we never get a second chance at the minute that has just passed.
So, I say to everyone, make the most of your day– do someone a good turn, make a difference, be better than you were yesterday in some way or another.
Sorry if that sounds twee or like lecturing or philosophising but I believe that we can all learn from people like my dad, like Tom’s brother and countless others — and that is how and why we can help the Oscar’s, Nicola’s and others who need a bit of help in hard times.
Lastly, I leave you with a poem — my dad and I loved well recited poetry, spoken properly with a big voice, and this seemed appropriate yesterday and even more appropriate today.
Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped away
into the next room.
I am I,
and you are you;
whatever we were to each other,
that, we still are.
Call me by my old familiar name,
speak to me in the easy way
which you always used,
put no difference in your tone,
wear no forced air
of solemnity or sorrow.
Laugh as we always laughed
at the little jokes we shared together.
Let my name ever be
the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect,
without the trace of a shadow on it.
Life means all
that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind
because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you,
for an interval,
somewhere very near,
just around the corner.
All is well.
NatKnow – Supporting Wee Oscar, sound advice.
Any hotel recommendations for the area, thinking of making a night of it now I’ve got a ticket.
Where’s the post match party?
Gold Coast Tom
05:34 on
26 March, 2014
Sincere condolences on your loss; thank you so much for sharing your brothers life story, truly inspirational. HH
BRTH
Love that poem.
Have it on the back of my fathers memorial card.
RobinBhoy
Gold Coast Tom
A heartbreaking, yet heartwarming, post.
Thank you for taking the time to share it here
Right, never mind the post match celebrations for the time being, where’s the CQN pre match party at?
Gold Coast Tom @ 5:34 .
Respect mate
One for the moon howlers tonight after they spark one up ;)
Spinning clay art.
http://wimp.com/spinningclay/
BRTH. Incredible post. Sure your dad was very proud of you and, as you know, that’s nothing better in life than seeing your kids come good.
Just to lift the mood a little — here is what we played as we said goodbye to my dad yesterday.
He “lifted” the mood of every funeral he attended
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd3KCasiOg4
Volume up and sing loud now!!!
Gold Coast Tom ,
Sat here greetin like a big wean after reading your tribute to Gerry ,Diane and the boys , we’ve lost a good and true man my friend and although the tears tonight will be of a different nature your story , or rather Gerry’s story , is a timely reminder of just how pecious our time on this earth actually is ……. will be thinking of you and yours tonight Tom and on saturday night when I’ll finally get to raise a glass or two …….. Hail Hail Mate .
BRTH…… Brilliant song
BRTH , stop doing that . I canny greet at work when im lurking ! HH to yer old man .
GCT , safe journey.
Sanna
Amazing driving skills, bike riders will love this one honestly.
The awesome speed of a motorcycle race in first person.
http://wimp.com/motorcyclerace/
The Kano Foundation Annual Dance 2014
Folks , as you know , our annual dance takes place on Saturday in Radisson Blu in town.
This is not a last minute ticket drive as we are virtually sold out . What this is , is the chance to win 2 tickets to the evening , for free. We’ve got so much from CQN over the years that i’m offering a wee something back (oh , and someone from my table cancelled and i’m not gonna try and flog the tickets at this late notice).
So . for your chance to win , simply predict the score for tonight .Entries will close at half-time .
Predictions to sannabhoy@thekanofoundation.com .
Can someone please try to put this near the top of each page throughout the day ? Thanks
Sanna