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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quonno 13:53 on 25 March, 2014
“Problem for me is. Will DD and PL fall for King’s blatant peddling of Old Firm line?”
King is free to say whatever he wants.
Why should anyone at Celtic Park interrupt him?
More footie on the box tonight.
The sheep Are on BT Sport. Have only one victory in 5 v Ross County, losing 3.
Manchester derby on Sky. Can’t see City losing, though I hope they do.
Some good fixtures in English lower leagues. Will look for some good bets like Bolton , Reading, MK Dons, but not too confident after Wigan blew it last midweek at home to Yeovil.
HH
Shuggy jr – luck was in on Sat with Newcastle scoring in 94 th. minute.
Are we still doing stories about the Leeds game at Hampden?
Oh, good. Because here’s a wee nugget from the inestimable Glasgow poet, Tom Leonard:
YON NIGHT (by Tom Leonard )
yonwuz sum night
thi Leeds gemmit Hamdin
a hunnirn thurty four thousan
aw singin
yilnivir wok alone
wee burdnma wurk then
nutsnur a wuz
but she wuzny intristid
yi no thi wey
well there wuzza stonnin
ana wuz thaht happy
ana wuz thaht fed up
hoffa mi wuz greetnaboot Celtic
anhoffa mi wuz greetnaboot hur
big wain thata wuz
a kin laffitit noo
Fess19
13:54 on
25 March, 2014
From previous blog.
maestro-number8 & BSR
Best away top, I heard (i think I did) many years ago that that strip was presented to Celtic by Hollywood actor Danny Kaye. Anybody else hear this or is it a figment of my imagination.
Watched DVD interview with Peter Grant. (Proud to be a Celt) “I never exchanged jerseys with anyone as its hard enough to get a Celtic one. Why do I need his top? I’ve got the hoops”
I was only a kid at the time, but I think there may have been a Dnny Kaye connection.
Snake plissken
A cracking post and absolutely spot on re the milk sipper
Steinreignedsupreme
Anyone who is willing to give Swally McMoist £30m to spend should be applauded.
I reckon King won;t get anywhere near the board of that club unless he buys peoples shares. He wants to invest and dilute the current shareholding. That makes no sense to any current major shareholder. He is just the latest in a long line of mouth pieces to keep the support at Ibrokes under control while the Spivs take money out the back door.
LB
Steinreignedsupreme
13:57 on
25 March, 2014
quonno 13:53 on 25 March, 2014
“Problem for me is. Will DD and PL fall for King’s blatant peddling of Old Firm line?”
King is free to say whatever he wants.
Why should anyone at Celtic Park interrupt him?
Because they should pay attention to their own fans and nail Old Firm crap for once and for all
Livybhoy,
Long shot…….whilst respecting anonymity,I’m guessing your dad’s aunt went by the name of Sara and that he is JB.If so I think I might know the friend who convinced him to attend the ‘Milan meeting’…….ahemm!
BBB
Snake Plissken
George has became a poor imitation of himself and I to found his outfit for the night somewhat amusing. While I admire him for having the will to debate on Independence
he brought nothing new to the party ,not surprising really, so it was an exercise in futility from that standpoint. But not a bad wee PR opportunity for the gorgeous one.
Tamrabam
Bluster is a cracker.
But I think it would be more appropriate to be the collective noun for a group of Sevco investors.
Danny Kaye – in Glasgow to see Celtic v Rrrrrrr…….canny say it.
Folly Folly
13:58 on 25 March, 2014
Not as good as his magnus opus,
A Scottish Education.
Ay telt, ye
Ay telt, ye.
LiviBhoy – God bless wee Oscar 14:00 on 25 March, 2014
Anyone who is willing to give Swally McMoist £30m to spend should be applauded.
I reckon King won;t get anywhere near the board of that club unless he buys peoples shares. He wants to invest and dilute the current shareholding. That makes no sense to any current major shareholder. He is just the latest in a long line of mouth pieces to keep the support at Ibrokes under control while the Spivs take money out the back door.
LB
——-
I agree with that.
Read the BBC Article – quote: it’s a game of chess – aye their rooked!
Acknowledgements to: Richard ‘I don’t believe it’ Wilson. :-)
Beebawbabbity
You are spot on my friend. I suspect you may be able to shed more light on that story than I have ever been told.
Small world!
LB
gordybhoy64
So the day has finally arrived! Congratulations and all the best!
H!H!
SFTB
No Campbell wasn’t consulted but my teenage son was on the technicalities
Ta for your response
Fess19……. Good quote from Peter Grant.
I’ve seen debates about him on here a few times, he is one who seems to have split the opinion of the fans.
Maybe some if it is based on stuff he is supposed to have said as a media pundit, I’m not sure.
2 things though- can’t question his love for OUR club or the effort he put in.
We all know he didn’t have the ability of McStay, Collins or O’Donnell. But he gave his all.
HH
DontPatmadug
14:02 on 25 March, 2014
Neither of them brought anything new to the party. There’s nothing new to bring.
Galloway may however have brought some new guests to the party.
He is, as he pointed out to one of the presenters, box office.
That’s one of the reasons the nats hate him so much.
Though maybe not as much as they hate to see players they consider Scottish choosing to play for the Republic of Ireland. That makes them physically sick.
quonno 14:01 on 25 March, 2014
“Because they should pay attention to their own fans and nail Old Firm crap for once and for all”
And how does that work?
King is not saying anything that breaks any laws and he is not alone in using that term. Some former Celtic players still use that term.
On what grounds do Celtic take action?
Danny Kaye in the Hoops
NewBook CSC
SETTING FREE THE BEARS.
I confess I wondered that myself,but to be fair,it was tongue-in-cheek also.
I suspect BILLY BHOY 05 needs no-one to put words in his mouth,it might even be the other way round!
My own reasons for voting no-assuming I was eligible,which I am not-are entirely centred on economic reasons. I have seen insufficient evidence to persuade me otherwise.
However,BB05 raises a particular point about youth unemployment. IMO,we are approaching forty years of unacceptable levels of unemployment amongst our youth.
That has in turn led to long-term unemployment as they have grown older,without the benefits of skills and experience required by a prospective employer.
And it has been passed down generation by generation.
Scotland,of course,is not unique in this. There is an excellent article in The Guardian explain in why such as Norfolk and Lincolnshire feel disenfranchised and ignored also.
It’s not just grim oop North,it seems.
If the UK government have had forty years to fix things,yet so manifestly failed,I find it difficult to argue with anyone who,given the option of change,won’t jump at it.
This post is too long,I’d have preferred to mail it to you. And they are difficult words for me to put down. I still think the economic argument is against independence.
But every other one is in favour,sadly.
praecepta
Pawned the lot.
Thanks, Ernie.
I thinmy personal Tom Leonard favourite has got to be ‘Feed Ma Lamz’, in which he sets out the Ten Commandments for the present age:
Amyir gaffirz Gaffir. Hark.
nay fornirz ur communists
nay langwij
nay lip
nay laffin ina Sunday
nay g.b.h. (septina war)
nay nooky huntin
nay tea-leaven
nay chanty rasslin
nay nooky huntin nix doar
nur kuvtin their ox
Oaky doaky. Stick way it
– rahl burn thi lohta yiz.
FF
TIDMRFC
RNS Number : 1235D
Rangers Int. Football Club PLC
25 March 2014
Rangers International Football Club plc
(“Rangers”, “RIFC” or the “Company”)
Further re. Credit Facilities
On 24 February 2014, the Company announced that it had entered into two secured short term credit facilities for an aggregate amount of up to GBP1.5 million. These credit facilities were provided by Laxey Partners Ltd (“Laxey”) to the amount of GBP1 million (the “Laxey Facility”) and Alexander Easdale to the amount of GBP500,000 (the “Easdale Facility”).
Laxey has, pursuant to an agreement entered into today, transferred all rights and obligations in relation to the Laxey Facility to Mr George Letham including all its rights in relation to the standard security granted as security for the Laxey Facility. Mr Letham is a shareholder in the Company and a lifelong Rangers fan.
The Laxey Facility, now transferred by Laxey to Mr George Letham, remains subject to the same terms and conditions with the exception that the premium payment has been reduced to GBP45,000 and remains payable in shares or cash.
For further information please contact:
Rangers International Football Club
sftb
Germans have a word for everything including a man who throws snowballs with gloves on – the ole Handschuhschneeballwerfer.
Livybhoy
Genuinely don’t know where to take this : what do you think? Off the swally for lent although if there was ever a case for a dispensation….! Does your dad come through to the CQN gatherings? Can we surprise him…..or…..a pint in Livingstone or Edinburgh? Keep this schtum from him meantime.
BBB
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
Did you read CHARLIEBHOY’s overnight offering about the benefits of turnip?
Very clever….
Just back and scrolled through the previous thread. Can I thank everyone for your kind words, condolences and prayers. You are great people on a special site. It really raised my spirits at a difficult time.
500 Million fans worldwide raised 5 million pounds!! (you do the maths)
Just like us the 500 million wouldn’t give tuppence for the huns?
Asking who will give £30 to Sleekit.
Last week, on RTE, Eamonn Dunphy asked would ManU give £200m – £300m to David Moyes.
Therein lies the problem in the game.
Beebawbabbity
My dad is at Celtic Park every home match. I am not there regularly these days and have a lot on the next few months. I would be delighted to go for a pint. My dad lives in Livingston these days. I reside in Edinburgh much to his disappointment.
I assume you know him well. Maybe you were the Bhoy who took him to the meeting. If that is the case then CQN really is an incredible place. I was hoping to take my dad along to CQteN but he was away to Ireland for Paddy’s Day.
LB
*scrolls back to Moonhowlerville*
A hubris of brown brogues
Independence?
What I want to know is if the population of London rises as predicted from 8 million to 13 million, where are they going to get their water from? They cant invent an extra 5 million peoples worth of safe drinking water?
They will need it from somewhere. Wet winters and dryer summers makes that problem worse, flood waters cant be kept till summer, it doesn’t work like that.
They are going to need a bigger source of fresh water….
Guess who has it abundance?
Although they are that daft, once they start fracking under all the water tables our ‘other natural resource’ will be gubbed too.
Vote Yes
Swampy
Fess19
500 Million fans worldwide raised 5 million pounds!! (you do the maths)
__________
500M x 1p = £5M – is that why Penny Arcade is so popular with them?
Note: tuppence would have raised £10M! :-)
Best wishes Gordybhoy64.
ernie lynch
14:07 on
25 March, 2014
Would agree that George is box office and would have added many residents of Bradford to the viewing figures but they don’t have a vote.
Did not sense any animosity toward GG from Jim and found their good manners toward each other quite refreshing given the two wummin arguing over the gairden fence nonsense Lamont and Sturgeon served us.
As for which country a footballer chooses to play for ,if given a choice, couldnae gie a …