As Motherwell won their semi-final yesterday against the second most expensively assembled team in Scotland, the penny began to drop with the last hold-outs that Brother Pedro will be remembered as little more than an expensive stop-gap in the attempt to stop Celtic winning 20-in-a-row.
Let’s be clear: Pedro is not in the top two managers in the league, in fact, Celtic, Aberdeen, St Johnstone, Motherwell, Hibs, Hearts, Kilmarnock and Dundee all have demonstrably better bosses. But there was a reason he was appointed late last season, despite better candidates being (under)employed in Perthshire.
Appointing a competent, provincial, manager, like Tommy Wright, would be an acknowledgement that Newco had no illusions of competing with Celtic. In that role, Wright would out-perform Hibs, Motherwell and St Johnstone, and give Aberdeen a run for their money, but he is not an alchemist.
There is a difference when you appoint an exotic as manager, even an incompetent one. Few potential season ticket customers know what you really have with an exotic. He could be incompetent, but you can equally hope that he turns out to be a truly great appointment, with access to hitherto unexploited talent.
There was no point in Newco giving the job to a reliable but unspectacular candidate like Wright. This club needs to propel itself into a position where it competes against an elite Celtic team, and can navigate its way through four Europa League qualification rounds.
If it lowers the Union Jack and raises the White Flag to mark Surrender of league aspirations, its self-image would be destroyed. I could debate the commercial viability of an aspirational Newco with you all day (fanciful), but it appears that even the decision makers at Ibrox regard the viability of a subservient Newco as untenable.
The club faces Hobson’s Choice. Throw money it cannot afford at strategies selected BECAUSE correct due diligence is impossible, or downsize to a point they know will have a negative impact on ticket sales and future income.
20 years ago this week, Rangers beat Dunfermline 7-0 and were hot favourites to win 10-in-a-row, but the business model had a fundamental weakness: the club were haemorrhaging cash. You can debate whether the subsequent liquidation and newco phoenix club is the same or different to the Rangers some of us are old enough to remember.
What is irrevocably true is that Newco is unrecognisable from Rangers in one hugely important aspect: it will not win the league. Ever.
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I hope the GB have something planned for the cup final , perfect platform to get at Reagan ,ogilvie Doncaster , Brycen (sp ) let them know we are on there case .
what an embarrassment bankier is. he should have let JP speak rather than his hamfisted attempt….
The Celtic fans award story has finally appeared on the Herald website.
Typically, they have closed the comments section on this article- Cowards!
Who was born in the East of Scotland?
Celtic v Kilmarnock
Saturday, October 28
Pre-match kicks off at 11:30
Lounge and food court open
Live football Hearts v Rangers, Man Utd v Tottenham
Lunch available to purchase
Live music from Liam McGrandles
Post match bar open
Live football Bournemouth v Chelsea
Sky Sports News
Live music from Liam McGrandles
Bar closes 18:00
They all dream and hope to play football at Celtic Park.
Why so?
TGFITW.
That’s why.
Marvellous.
HH.
Cheers Lennybhoy – mail sent
Thanks for the confirmation Bada, that looks decent….comedy & the Man U – Spurs game
RP
PB
Huge difference between Man City fans and Bayern Munich proper fitba supporters. The Bavarians love Celtic and our friendly, happy support. Want us in Allianz Arena every week for the craic. Magic.
Well done US.
Again.
HH
To be shortlisted for this award was pretty special in its own right. Respected figures from within the game, who are household names around the world, drew up the shortlist.
The case for both Dortmund and Copenhagen were strong but the Celtic one was a fairytale, involved 60,000 supporters and was part of a month long celebration of those wonderful Lisbon Lions.
May 1967 was obviously the best month to be a Celtic supporter but I will tell you what, May 2017 was very, very special indeed.
In many ways this accolade of Best Supporters is up there with a trophy win in my opinion. For a club who prides itself on Jock’s ‘football without fans is nothing’ statement, then this is a truly wonderful achievement.
Take a bow Tims.
However, how ironic that the award was achieved for a display created by the Green Brigade who on the same day created a tifo which Celtic subsequently banned 900 supporters for.
How ironic that within Parkhead tonight a fans forum is taking place which had a single item from the club on the agenda, Strict Liability. This will almost certainly have been addressed by a suit presenting a PowerPoint on how the behaviour of the Celtic support is ultimately going to result in fines, bans, stadium closure and points deductions for ‘offences’ committed during domestic games.
And to cap it all we’ve got a man who disparagingly compared us to a poor man’s Tartan Army, collecting our award. Who on Earth thought it appreciate to have Bankier collecting this on behalf of the Celtic support?
Dearie dearie me.
Hail Hail UTLR
Celtic fans winning more awards isn’t a surprise. However who the hell is bankier to be speaking of supporters. He thinks we are criminally racist and he and the board would ban the support at the drop of a hat.
FECK, TWO IN A ROW.
HT, THOUGHT YOU WERE BETTER THAN THAT. :-(
This is brilliant about the Best Fans Award..
https://twitter.com/Eurosport_UK/status/922541534150578177
CaltonTongues
You on the drugs wee man?!
Let`s have 24 hours of positivity re The Award THEN, if necessary, criticise Bankier.
`night again !
JJ
HT
To be told at full time in Allianz Arena last Wednesday, by every Bayern Munich supporter in my section, who shook my hand, and said that Celtic are best visiting support ever in Munich, was wonderful to hear. Tonight award confirms it.
HH
From the ‘rangers’ media website .
Somone had suggested those at the top at Ibrox were the problem especially King and should e replaced.
This was the reply by one of the site readers
‘Yeah like there is a que! We should be great full to a man who during the Souness era invested a non returned £2000000 ‘
If that’s the opinion of King shared by many sevs, the hilarity for us will continue for even longer.
Enjoy Fellow best supporters in the World ,
Lot of peepil beelin.
HH
Hot Smoked
I’d rather just give my own honest opinion. It may not be liked or agreed with but it’s genuinely meant.
Delaneys
The pictures and footage from inside and outside the stadium were an absolute joy to see mate!
They’re gonna go crazy when they hear this one.
HH.
Neg
Heard a story about Lord Livingston of Parkhead from his colleague at BT. My respect for him increased. Celtic have some major players from The City of London backing us. All Tories, however. ;)
HT,
Drugs?
Oh Aye, I’m currently up the Kirkpatrick Hills sniffing Mushrooms FFS.
Can you and that other Idiot just let, not so much, me, but other fans enjoy the news tonight without throwing Trust (Ha :-)) crap into the mix?
“what makes Celtic iconic is its fans in the stand and all over the world”. Brendan Rodgers
Football is nothing without fans…John Stein.
As if I didn’t,t know that..as if I didn’t know my own bed..Paul Simon.
Awfy braw smiley thing….Neustadt Braw.
Braw
CCB: thoughts with you at this time.
May I be the first to congratulate myself on being amongst the best fans in the world.
I thought Soft Loans Co. would win it. After all, don’t they have 50,000,000 fans world wide?
Well done to the Celtic Supporters, another wonderful accolade. Well deserved. Interesting that all the “controversy” never took away from our right to be mominate.
DELANEYS DUNKY @ 9:03 PM,
As you know, when Paul67 construes his abstruse musings he just puts it out there… if folk pick up on it so be it.
There are many a Celtic-minded blogger and others, who have predicted an insolvency event for Sevco for years, some week-in-week-out. Paul hasn’t.
Now, I don’t read too much into this in terms of timescales but look at it this way, what is the most likely outcome…
– Sevco will continue to limp along in mediocrity loosing money and being propped up by wealthy fans ad-infinitum
– Sevco underperforming in: Financial terms, in the Board Room, in Middle Management and on the Football; Managerial, Coaching and Playing side will lead to an insolvency event.
– Sevco will out~grow it’s current Hiatus, get proper sound investment, a quality PLC Board and Restructure the “playing side” of the Club into being a real force in Scotland and Europe.
Now I know what I think:)
The last liquidation at Ibrox came from a perfect storm of irresistible circumstances.
I can’t believe Sevco are so far away from that now.
Why would Dave King plead poverty and embarrass himself for the sake of putting £11M in an escrow…
Is it because he knows that the majority of shareholders would bite his hand off for 20p for their worthless shares?
It seems to me he doesn’t want “Rangers” the business anymore… And “Rangers” the Football team are…
Hail Hail
CaltonT
Eh…you’ve got more in common with Neganon than me.
Neither of ye go to Parkhead :-) x
JNP…thank you.
DD…Andy Walker :-) I thought it might be Tanner but it was too quick, it was there and then it was gone…
HT
Every Bavarian loves our OMD Enola Gay song in tribute to Stuart Armstrong. Taught them the words to that and our Inspiral Carpets song This is How It Feels to be Celtic. Bet they adopt both songs. :)
Well done Celtic fans. Just a pity there’s some who have to find negativity within hours of the award.
Leave that to the Sevco followers. They’ll be hurting even more tonight.
Well Delaney’s I guess it all depends who you want to get into bed with……
HT,
My protest is gen (bugger of a time to do it right enough) :-) but, protest I will.
FTCT :-))))
Congratulations to all members of The Greatest Fans In The World!!!!!
And grateful thanks to all those who have posted their best wishes for my Dad’s wee,wee cousin. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
Humbled and proud.
HH
HAMILTONTIM on 23RD OCTOBER 2017 10:13 PM
Was at the Forum tonight. Overall i thought it was a very positive discussion and i think most folks who were there would agree. Was going to share some of my thoughts on it but in light of the award win (which was ironically announced during the meeting) i’ll leave it for another day. What i will say is that there were many issues discussed in terms of the support overall home/away/abroad and from supporters of different backgrounds and affiliations. There was also a recognition of the positive contribution of the GB and an acknowledgment that many of the issues are unfairly laid at their door. Will fill you in when i see you.
Chairbhoy
The leader today is very open ended. My read is that RIFC are about to liquidate like Rangers did. Heard similar whisper fae a Masonic inlaw yesterday.
Congratulations to all the Celtic family. Great achievement !
On a sour note, I have been scanning Newsnow to see the reaction of all media. The report by the Mirror, is quiet frankly, disgraceful. Totally disgraceful. I would urge a total boycott of this rag.
I’m just happy to be a part of the Celtic family
HH
Neg
The guy who told me the story on route to Munich last week, I would trust with my life. We are burying that Ibrox mob fae a huge height in Government.