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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Jungle Jim
Apparently the sheep have a poor record against Ross County. I could see a draw up there tonight. It would be nice for celtic to win the league at Paradise though.
LB
What happens if the sheep win and we contrive to lose at Firhill?
Starnger things have happened.
Is a title party still possible for Saturday?
Haven’t checked the table, but I know that sheep also have DUtd on Saturday.
Paddybhoy1888
I played football for both St. Joseph’s guild in Faifley then later St Mary’s guild Duntocher.
When playing for St Mary’s against St Joseph’s one Saturday morning, we were chased after the game by a bunch of tooled-up neds, who watched us beat the local St Joe’s mob quite handily, and were not best pleased. We ran like bu%%ery over the red blaize park only to find a 12 foot high chain link fence. To a man we scaled the fence and escaped.
That may have been the last time I was in Faifley!
Ah the memories…
LB
Yes, Thistle could have beaten us earlier in the season so I am not taking a victory for granted. My own preference would also be Celtic Park so come on the `tic and the Sheep.
Cheerio for now,
JJ
On Saturday…so I can be there :-)
I’d prefer Saturday simply because I’m not at Firhill tomorrow but will be at the game on Saturday. BTW has anybody on the blog ever met Ernie Lynch? Hail Hail Hebcelt
I hope this honest and decent attempt at giving the besieged fleggers their moment in the sunshine hasn’t been hijacked by the same sort of people who thought it amusing to pledge phoney millions to help keep alive a former football team in Glasgow.
http://www.gofundme.com/Brysonelection
Surely it can’t be true that he has raised less than a gorilla?
https://twitter.com/kokotheflegger
Will the hurt never cease?
hebcelt 17:06 on 25 March, 2014
I’d prefer Saturday simply because I’m not at Firhill tomorrow but will be at the game on Saturday. BTW has anybody on the blog ever met Ernie Lynch?
———-
Not sure, but his mother would know him anywhere.
JJ
Personally I’d prefer to win it tomorrow night and I know that most others would prefer Saturday at home.
There was a question in the quiz on Friday night about who had we won our last 5 titles against and where.
Right away I could tell you:-
6-0 away at Kilmarnock.
2-1 away at Kilmarnock.
1-0 away at Tannadice.
But I would really have struggled with the other 2 ,which were won at home, and one of those was only last season!!!
JJ
Usually as soon as possible but this season Sat will do just fine for me.
till tomorrow all
Hamiltontim is praying for Oscar
Whit aboooot parents night ? :)))))
Pld pts gd
Celtic 30 81 60
Sheep 29 57 15
Do the math :-)
bournesouprecipe
Many thanks sir.
Much appreciated.
HH jamesgang
O.G.Rafferty 17:14 on 25 March, 2014
Is that the eejit that went was shouting the odds about going on ‘hunger strike’ and then ordered an Indian take-away about 10 minutes after the polis stuck him in a cell?
Leftclicktic
Parent’s night finishes at 8pm so it’s a mad dash to Firhill after that!!! :-)
HT,
Mibby somert to do with you driving to away games and taking supporters bus and getting blootered at home games!!?? ;)
Steinreignedsupreme, 17:23
He is the voice of the oppressed and I won’t hear a bad word said against him
Billy Bhoy 05
13:27 on
25 March, 2014
billy bhoy 05
13:15 on 25 March, 2014
setting free the bears supports res. 12 & oscar knox
14:38 on 24 March, 2014
Billy Bhoy 05
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I’ve never voted for ANYTHING in my life but I will be voting YES in September.
This is much bigger than any “where will we play our football” issue…….we just need to grow a pair and get on with it really…….
The status quo has not been working for decades in Scotland and we regularly vote one or zero Tories into a seat here.
The SNP will not retain power indefinitely because they are just a catalyst for change and a means to an end. After/if independence comes then people will vote for who will give them what they see as important.
Regardless of where you are in Scotland, Edinburgh never feels as faraway as London, politically speaking. At least not IMO.
If you think life in Scotland is poor at the moment….vote NO and see what awaits you.
Every successive Westminster government of every political hue has squandered Scotland’s contribution to the UK for the 300 years.
Building for wars (excluding National defence), building London and the SE at the expense of the rest of the country.
A ife time Glaswegian, I’m one of the higher educated and skilled workers, I do not live in a marginalised housing scheme, I do not need any cake tomorrow promises.
I need political honesty, transparency and accountability and Westminster fails to deliver this on every metric you care to apply.
I’m voting YES
hamiltontim is praying for oscar
17:18 on 25 March, 2014
JJ
Personally I’d prefer to win it tomorrow night and I know that most others would prefer Saturday at home.
HT? No!!!!!
Def at Celtic Park Mhan!
If it’s tomorrow night you’ll be sitting watching on your Spidermhan jammies!!!
;-)
HH jamesgang
GM
Surprisingly it’s not, I rarely have a drink going to the football whether home or away.
After the game’s a different matter :-)
Hebcelt
I’m guessing from the fact he is still posting that it’s a ‘no’.
Just a wee joke before anybody gets all precious with me ;)
a lovely day it was here in Lower Saxony …aye braw…….Huntertainment is getting repetitive….there are just too many wee unhappy huns ….with little spondoolicks and even fewer idealicks …..which I find braw …..awfy braw …..Sheep will bleat well tonight ….league title on Samstag…also awfy braw
…………………………………………….
“A light Insanity”
My condolences on the passing of your Dad.
Jamesgang
I’m pretty sure the parents wouldn’t appreciate that attire though I wouldn’t be surprised if a few turned up resplendent in ‘evening’ wear :-)
greendreamz………..braw …..
HamiltonTim upholding anti-Catholicism created and nurtured by the union in unionism and loyaism.
Hahaha Lollol
I’ll go for trying to destroy any anti-religious non religious racism fascism in a smaller more accountable independent Scotland thanks.
MWD is no Loyalist Unionist republican.
A light insanity and Gold Coast Tom condolences on your loss gordybhoy64 best wishes for Friday and the future,not just the match on Saturday
Dave King does incredible damage to the rangers international everytime he opens his gob. If you were an original investor and you’re hearing King talk about 50mil cash injections after seeing your share price fall non stop then I’d imagine there’s very little chance of you writing out anymore cheques.
If they’re looking for loan facilities then Dave’s front loading for Super salary’ war chest has to be a concern for any would be source of finance.
O.G.Rafferty 17:25 on 25 March, 2014
“He is the voice of the oppressed and I won’t hear a bad word said against him”
Aye. He’s a good lad. I sent him a Christmas card last year…
Ten years ago right now we were on a bus on the way to the stadium to witness something in a par with Seville.
We had ‘hope in our hearts’ and were about to witness something I never thought I would see in my lifetime.
Celtic knocking out one of Europe’s giants with a skilful and gutsy performance in the most exciting nil nil draw I have ever seen.
More than a club indeed as the team and the fans took a round of applause from the Home support that night.
Dave King is also on my Christmas card list. But he usually responds by telling me it is Easter.
From this morning’s DR interview:
King: “I have had the discussions with my family and told them: ‘This is your inheritance I’ll be spending’.
“And even though they are all South Africans they have said: ‘Dad, go for it.’
“It’s their inheritance but they have said: ‘Spend it and don’t worry about it’.”
From this morning’s Herald interview:
King: “I would not invest money that would cause an inconvenience to my family.”
I can see what James Forrest was on about. And that was just quickly scanning through the interviews.
thems is thick or stupid or unwilling to reinvent their culture in the light of recent outcomes . And why the heck are they judging everything by us ? Why is a club judging its performance by another . Here we go again , they don’t stand a chance of surviving until they look at themselves or until someone listens to the newco fans who are honest.
Burnley78
Amazing season.
sixtaeseven
17:01 on 25 March, 2014
If that were to happen Celtic would win the league on Saturday by beating Ross County and by Aberdeen dropping points.
Evening everybody.
I have just about had enough of politics but would like to ask just a few points about the forthcoming vote.
If Catholics are under such threat from a yes vote then why has the Catholic Church not warned her followers to leave the country?
If Catholics are under such threat from a yes vote, why was the Catholic Church so friendly, up until the gay ‘marriage’ issue, with the SNP?
Lastly, if Catholics are under such threat from a yes vote, why is the Orange Order not supporting the yes vote?
Could it be that this is just scaremongering?
Dave Kings proposals strike as being very similar to me going up to my next door neighbour and telling them that if they sign over their house to me for free I promise to spend £50 grand putting in an extension.
The MSM would headline it thus “TCC promises to invest £50,000 in neighbours house”.
True. But not the whole truth.
EXCLUSIVE: “Paying for their privilege” all-male secretive society operating on University of Edinburgh
http://www.studentnewspaper.org/blog/2014/03/25/paying-for-their-privilege/ …
Wither MSM?
No doubt Herald too busy to run with this. They probably have a story bout dog fouling outside the former Baird’s pub Celtic fans favourite which was shut due to repeated drunken violent incidents 2 years ago?
Or something equally anti-Celtic.
It wouldn’t do to attack the club that Lord Nimmo Smith and Angus Grossart belong to would it? But any opportunity to put the boot into Celtic fans.
John O’Neil 18:02 on 25 March, 2014
Without getting too much into the ole debate, as I don’t have a vote, my observation is the entire Union campaign appears to be based on fear.
I think others have noted this as well.
As for the RC Church, I don’t think it is healthy for any Church to get involved in political matters.
Burnley 78,
Was that Barcelona? David Marshall. John Kennedy. How I wish they were still with us. I remember one of Marshall’s saves against Rangers a couple of days later I think. His agility was magnificent. Even Sandy Clark praised that save. I have always felt that we have been a little lucky against Barcelona to some extent yet the likes of Saviola and others just kept missing chances. Great memories.