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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SANNABHOY
Had you waited a minute,you could have done it yourself,but….
Gold Coast Tom
A very moving tribute to a fine man.
M y thoughts are with you and your family.
Sannabhoy and 2000 kids say Hail Hail to Pablo’s family
11:10 on
26 March, 2014
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
Sann
Still 800 or so tickets on the PTFC website.
Dear Big Peter
Do you think I should sell my ticket to the highest bidder and then attend at the bookies and put all the profits on a draw tonight
It would go some way towards next seasons season ticket
GCT, BRTH, Wee Oscar, light insanity, Paul67, Nicola, …
Glad I’m working from home and no one can see the tears I shed.
My father passed away last November having had a long hard painful end to a great life. From the time he suffered his first heart attack on the night of Henrik’s testimonial, to the morning he breathed his last he endured suffering that no single person should. And yet he never complained about his disposition. Complained a lot about the Celtic’s performances though!
A man who never missed a days work through illness. It was as if they were all stored up to attack him at once.
A man of simple tastes. Football and golf kept him entertained all his life. Always a smile.
He will be certain to say a cheery hello to each of your loved ones when they meet in heaven.
God bless you all.
MICKYBHOY1888
Serious question-how likely are the cops to ignore segregation tonight?
If you note the date on this Video you’ll see that the guy had the luck of the Irish, ti bi sure ;)
Car hits cyclist and leaves a mattress to cushion the fall.
http://wimp.com/mattressfall/
BRTH, a great song to celebrate your Dad, last year I lost a mate, top fella, with a sense if humour. When his coffin started to roll behind the curtain to be cremated the music started to blare the ole Johnny Cash number………..
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=It7107ELQvY
Bless ye Doug:-)
GCT and BRHT, moving posts.
SuperSutton, my condolences on your loss, that must still be raw.
Keep the great memories in your mind, they help, and never stop talking to, or about your Dad.
Jeez, how are we supposed to get through work today!!!!!
But I am going to have to.
Laters fholks.
Good morning bhoys and ghirls. I’m looking forward to tonight’s party. It’ll be like the bad old days, a Glasgow derby to clinch the title…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/scottish-premier/8468498/Rangers-v-Celtic-Old-Firm-title-deciders.html
GCT
Very moving story on your brother, thanks for sharing it. Sounds like use have a great family.
Thoughts and prayers with use all during these difficult times.
Take care
Jimtim
Pre game party has to in Ashton Lane – a home tie for the erudite and intellectual Ashton Lane CSC – motto – ‘Pinkies Cocked for Battle’
See BRTH’s guide to the West End sub culture of Celtic Supporters for more info
SuperSutton – I buried my own father last month and recognise much of your post, particularly “Complained a lot about the Celtic’s performances though!”
He died after suffering cardiac arrest on the evening of the Aberdeen cup game. I’m convinced the result played a part but it’s probably how he would have wanted to go.
BRTH and GCT – great sympathies to you both. Your posts were both fitting tributes.
GCT,
Lovely & fitting tribute to your special brother.
BRTH,
You have done your father proud in a way that he would have appreciated.
———–
CQN is going through a very trying time with a succession of losses & sadnesses.
We have to accept that these apparent disasters are all part of the human experience.
At such times we have to believe what the lovely poem says,… ‘All IS well.’
gct
A wonderful tribute to your dear brother.
Have a safe journey.
My thoughts are with you and the family.
GTC/BRTH
Great posts gents. Sadly I can’t access your song from work so I’ll need to check it out later.
A wee word for my own wee girl who today reaches the dizzy heights of 11 years of age.
Happy Birthday Simone xxx
BMCUW
Haven’t got a clue mate as I have been away for 3 years now and I am not privy to their current policies in relation to crowd segregation
You may wish to contact them and enquire as to their arrangements for tonight I have provided a link for your assistance
http://www.scotland.police.uk/contact-us/contact-us-form
Ps
I can help you with taxi prices however Taxi from the toon probably circa£7 or for Timmiratti from west end £6
Rebel tunes on routesubject to availability
Win tickets to the see the play ‘The Celts in Seville’ in our competition: http://theshamrockglasgow.wordpress.com/2014/03/26/win-tickets-to-see-the-celts-in-seville-at-the-glasgow-pavilion
MICKYBHOY1888
Thanks,mate. I hope you enjoy the title victory tonight.
Sadly,I’ll be working. 730ko,driving round for 12hrs in ever-decreasing circles.
I’ll remember yer kind offer next time I’m home though-can I bring my own reb choons?
Thoughts with wee Oscar in his fight………..
GCT/BRHT Memories are a lucky by product of a lif well lived…….it’s funny how they sneak up on you at the strangest of times.
HH
bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers ………praying for our wee hero!
11:59 on 26 March, 2014
You certainly can m8 CDs only taxi doesn’t have any turntable facilities
new article posted.
Any legal eagles out there able to give an idea for timescales for the UTT decision and the likely EC response to the land deals smear campaign?
Both dragging on but should they both come in, allied to tonight’s title win and the never ending pantomime over ibrox funds, it could send ra bears over the edge!!!