BDO’s survey of British football clubs suggests control, if not complete sanity, has descended on Scottish football. Most Premiership clubs surveyed predicted they would return to profitability over the next year.
On the back of Phil Mac Giolla Bhain’s article on former Scottish Football League chief exec David Longmuir’s bonuses, which are no longer payable, these are heady days for some clubs who have lived hand-to-mouth stuffing pork into Longmuir’s trough. You better believe it’s financial Armageddon, for the former SFL man. The SFA will surely insist on inappropriate financial stain is left on our game.
Anyway………. It seems if I explain the structural gap between Rangers International’s earnings through season ticket sales and the costs of operating a football club which can facilitate circa 40,000 spectators on a regular basis, we can all figure why the gap cannot be bridged. We are different because despite having enormously higher football costs, we can access enormously higher revenue streams.
On the other hand, explaining that Celtic’s operational costs need to be augmented by player sales and/or Champions League income, just to break even, and that player sales and/or Champions League income cannot exclusively be used for player purchases, amounts to a heresy against deeply held orthodox views.
Add in a reminder about the strategy which has made all the difference to Celtic – buying wisely, selling wisely, and sit back to watch a secular belief structure ignore the ‘every penny to be spent’ prediction and vent as though their deity has just been denied.
This stuff’s complicated, apparently, but paying attention to financial detail is not a required Obligation to support Celtic, so if it doesn’t float your boat, I’d start by demanding to know where all the Seville money went to….
I hear the Daily Record accompanied their – Imran Ahmad to sue Rangers International for £3.4m – story with a completely baseless story about Celtic losing out on the only transfer target they know about. They were wrong on some of the Ahmad story (Charles Green may have produced the documents Ahmad would rely on in court, but suggestions they are in concert on this claim are wildly inappropriate). Still, it plays into current orthodoxy on Charles Green.
Going on what they’ve written, they know nothing about Celtic’s transfer negotiations either. Absolutely squat. Percentage of Celtic fans who know the media’s game: 100%. Percentage of Celtic fans who allow themselves to be influenced despite knowing the above……?
If these people have you panicking, look elsewhere for sympathy. We have a team building strategy, it has delivered well thus far and it will continue to do so. Buy wisely, sell wisely, spend every penny over a given business cycle. Pretty straightforward, really.
Magic Money Deity Denier CSC.
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Don’t park it in Salsburgh
On Saturday, Victor Wanyama will become the first Kenyan to play in the English Premier League. He will turn out for his new club, Southampton, with a field of dreams in front of him and a golden ticket in his back pocket. Celtic sold Wanyama for £12.5 million, making him the most expensive player to be sold by a Scottish club, and his good fortune could soon have an impact far beyond Parkhead.
A signed jersey from his old Scottish club could earn a fifth-tier team in Zambia their own bus. Africa on the Ball (AOB), a two-year-old charity, are auctioning the keepsake and the money raised will be used for their project in Kalingalinga. Given Wanyama’s popularity, the article should command a sizeable fee and if it’s anything close to US$20,000, the vehicle will be secured.
“So far we have received almost $600 in donations but we are expecting this to increase in the last three weeks of this drive,” Andrew Jenkin, director of AOB told ESPNFC. “We realise this is a long term fundraising project which may take some time for us to accumulate the necessary funds to purchase the bus.”
But what makes this bus so important? And why is this small Zambian team a prototype for how sport can be used to spark much wider change?
Kalingalinga FC did not exist before 2011. They were formed as a semi-professional team by AOB and have achieved back-to-back promotions in the Lusaka league. That is the simple football version of events, but their success is part of a wider community project that aims to marry Africa’s most popular game with solving the myriad problems people are faced with in their day to day lives on the continent.
Andrew Jenkin launched the charity after working for UK Sport when he “saw there was a real opportunity to develop a community model centred on the role and importance of football.” He also knew that Africa would be the perfect place to do that.
When young Zambians join Kalingalinga, it is not just to play the game. They become part of a food programme, which ensures many, especially those from poorer backgrounds, have “a proper meal on the day of a game”, are trained in First Aid and could even qualify for a scholarship to further their education or participate in a recognised football coaching course.
AOB co-ordinates the needs with the resources, but the young players do not simply get to do all the taking. “They pay back their sponsorships in kind by volunteering around the community like litter picking or coaching younger sides,” Jenkin said.
Ultimately, if a player succeeds, it will be to the benefit of all concerned because if he is sold on, the funds from his transfer will go back into the project. In order to ensure the sustainability of their campaign, AOB needs to keep producing players with potential. And for that, a bus is crucial. It will provide the means for the team to play away games and it will ensure the community have a way to get around.
“Buying a bus for the community of Kalingalinga would be a huge achievement in our efforts to make our model self sustainable,” Jenkin said. “The bus will also be an income generator with the profits democratically distributed to the advancement of education, health care and enterprise. The bus will belong to the community and can be a real source of empowerment. It will also provide jobs for members of the local community.”
So far, AOB has raised US$600 for their project. They get their money through donations and the sale of mugs, t-shirts and other memorabilia. The Celtic jersey should tip the scales much further towards their goals. If it works, AOB will have reason to expand to other communities, to set up other clubs and engage in other community efforts.
“We are currently working in Zambia because this is where we established excellent contacts and saw a community we saw great potential to work with and help. We certainly hope we can replicate our model in other communities around the continent,” Jenkin said. “We are a very small organisation that is growing quickly and we’re always looking for help with our ambitions.”
Celebrity Meinkampfers
Who Will Stop Glasgow Celtic Winning Another SPL ?
I think already everyone knows that Celtic have won another SPL title , it’s not that Celtic are an amazing team even though they are decent team and are capable are achieving success, but Celtic have no competition, there is no team in the SPL good enough to beat Celtic and that will not change until Rangers get back to the top flight in Scotland.
Celtic have sold a couple of their best players , they have lost a very strong defensive midfielder and a goal scoring machine in Gary Hooper, so that is a huge dent in their team , but on the bright side a few players have arrived at Celtic , including Amido Balde a powerhouse striker who has already made a good impression scoring in the 1-0 win over Liverpool on Saturday, so he could be a good replacement for Gary Hooper , all Balde has to is to keep his consistency and score week in week out if he wants to make a really good impression.
Celtic are the strongest team in the SPL by far , they have the biggest and the best squad in the SPL , and it will be the same as last season with another title to add to the packed trophy cabinet. Celtic in my opinion do not always breeze to the title , yeah last season they won the SPL by 16 points but they did lose a few games here and there , so it shows they need to maintain consistency throughout the season . Last season Celtic lost 7 league games and looking at the teams they lost against teams they shouldn’t have lost 7 games , so they need consistency, but the manager Neil Lennon is trying to change that , he has brought in a couple of experienced defenders , who some have played in the Champions League, so hopefully this season the defence will improve and they wont lose as many games as last season .
Celtic are capable of anything , and they proved that last season when they beat Barcelona 2-1 at Celtic Park , and looking at that performance Celtic and their defence was outstanding ,their defence chased every ball and kept harassing the opposition and in the end it paid off. If Celtic can beat big teams like Barcelona, how can they lose to small teams in the SPL , it comes down to focus , Celtic sometimes underestimates the opposition in SPL and they switch off thinking it will be an easy game so they lose complete focus and end up losing. Focus is the key to success , if Celtic knuckle down , and focus every game and take the opposition seriously I believe Celtic can go undefeated, optimistic much ?
Celtic should win the SPL they have a good squad and an amazing manager in Neil Lennon , and who knows maybe can have a good run in the Champions League , that is if they win their qualifier but I think Celtic should qualify for the Champions League , but do they have a good enough squad to compete with the big European teams , who knows after all they did shock Barcelona.
If Celtic really want to have a good run in the Champions League they have to make their home stadium Celtic Park a fortress , they beat Barcelona at home and maybe they can beat the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at Celtic Park and if they do , then the Celtic fans could be in for a Champions League treat
Chairbhoy
I can’t get the head round folk who are saying we should beat them cos they don’t know anything about them.
A very disrespectfull, and hunnish trait.
If we were flying, aye, not a bother, we haven’t exactly set the heather on fire so far this season, we look dissorganised, but I’m sure that will change given time, time that is in very short supply.
Another plastic pitch as well, hopefully better that the one in Sweden.
HH
Auldheid
I threw in the Fraser story like any true ne’r do well would ;-) and don’t believe Portuguese Newspaper Headlines anymore than The Daily Thugs N Thieves. (but would if I had a straight choice)
The annoying thing about the sales is that it’s not as if they didn’t know they were coming.
They knew about Wanyama, Hooper and even Kelvin Wilson’s homesickness long before, you or I.
We had to sell all three, and you’re right to an extent, it’s what’s not happened why we debate.
We stitched Nottingham Forrest into the bargain who demonstrate why they are stuck in the Championship for a decade or more, by spending millions on players they lost for nothing *no complaint on that sale * IMHO
I reckon we signed Mouyokolo/Van Dyjk in the summer knowing full well KW would go, Balde was cover for Hooper, and Wanyama was irreplaceable, so no point in wasting money there.
If they qualify ( and that was/is the risk ) they’ll buy another striker, but Celtic fans won’t stop speculation about what might, or might not happen.
I’m Neil Lennon (tamrabam)
15:06 on 13 August, 2013
A stor Mo Chroi
i too loved Mahe
called him the madman
his sending off vs rangers was a shame on scottish fitba
as was the man who sent him off
*as was the wee soup taking Morton supporter who started it off.
A Stor Mo Chroi
I liked Monsieur Mahe too,heart on sleeve ghuy,how much did it hurt
him when that bass Dallas was cheating us?
Delaneys Dunky
15:16 on 13 August, 2013
Fingers crossed :)
HH
gsu
They have beat BATE Borisov, a name which is probably familiar to most of us as they have competed at the top level in Europe the last couple years.
I have no doubt they are here on merit but I am sure that Celtic have enough in their locker if they apply themselves. Poor performances against Elfsborg mean they will have no illusions when it comes to this team. Celtic will hopefully be that bit fitter now they will have had 6 games under their belt.
Teams don’t come from obscurity to the champions league overnight.
bournesouprecipe
Holy gravity defying Ghod if we had those two up front there wouldn’t be a team on the planet could live with us!!
Happy Campers
Tony Donnelly
Take your time.
I don’t tend to click on any of these hyper-links, and I’m just going by the “Carry-On” style innuendo, but are they linking to mammeries?
voguepunter:
I don’t give a toss about all those cheating refs, I just bumped into the guy on the plane before he signed and again after he signed (although I did not know that at the time), We never really talked to each other but the geezers joy at getting a contract at Celtic was bouncing of the walls of the plane.
Have you ever just met some guy (not a girl ‘cos I can’t be sure of your motives) and you just take a massive liking to his character and attitude, well I don’t often get to mix with royalty but that day I got a glimpse of what it meant to Stephan Mahe to sign for Celtic.
He was an absolute joy to watch and listen to.
VP-That’s you telt…..!!
Bournesoup
It certainly does look like paper talk, but the wee snippet you can read inside without giving O Jogo more money towards their photos of scantily clad girls called Tania budget, says that:
– Benfica are already in discussions to sign the big mhan
– That they believe they can get the price down to below €4 million
– That he played against them in the Champions’ League last season impressing Jorge Jesus
Mccourt for 7- no, definitely not.
Amortisation yes, mammaries no.
Celtic Gossip @CelticGossip 3h
We may have hope, Dutch sources say we are in pole position but have not met 5 m price for Alfred Finnbogason go on get it done HH
This may cheer or send in despair
There’s Jogo all over, first she breaks up the Beatles, now she’s havin’ a go at the Cellick.
I shall settle for a draw away to Shakter. I think that’s what we’ll get. 1-1 would suffice.
Bada Bing
Don’t mind being telt….just want to know ,what for. :O)
Remember our last signing ?
There was widespread speculation we were about to sign James McLean from Sunderland. His merits were debated online, the MSM reported we had bid , and his Celtic supporting credentials were used as “Evidence” he was about to arrive.
And then
Derk Boerrigter arrived, who nobody online or in the MSM had even mentioned.
That was also the case with Virgil and Moyoukolo, and previously with Ambrose and Rogic.
Celtic don’t leak details of signing targets to anyone in the MSM
They are guessing
Celtic_First
Thanks for that, oh well, as previously noted on the blog the Elfsborg keeper was a giant,
we’ll just have to have him.
At least big Fraze can’t sight homesickness, *reckon we’ll be keeping him*
Could it be that we are the only club in for King Alfred but Hereenven are trying to up the ante?
I have a feelin the boy wants to come to Celtic but the price might be the stumbling block
Bate 0————–Shakter 1 .
The Ref was Scottish [ John Beaton ]
The other 3 officials were Scottish. ..
lionroars67-is that the same alleged Celtic fans rumour mongers,who said last week we had an “unbelievable” signing lined up? Pinch of salt mate.HH
Barcabhoy:
I don’t think Arsenal, or Bayern, or Real, or AC, or Ajax, or Porto, or ….. are knocking at the knees are our signings. The SMSM are irrelevant.
I can’t believe we let Cavani slip through our fingers. He looked like he really wanted to play for Celtic.
Sack the board.
south of tunis-I’m sure Head of Referees’ John Fleming and those nice guys at the SFA,will have a dossier on Shakter winging it’s way to CP as we speak……for the good of Scottish Football of course…..HH
In the office with a Dons fan!
Man is he greetin’!
So by making a claim of £3.4m, is Imran making himself Sevco’s largest creditor. Although he his claiming for £3.4m, it has been suggested that he would settle out of court for £500,000.
Now as a creditor, if Sevco were to go into administration then they would have to offer approx 15p in the pound to all creditors in order for Imran to receive the £500,000 that he is looking for?
Therefore is there a plan in place to save Sevco from liquidation by Imran simply claiming this amount and therefore making himself the largest creditor (or one of the largest creditors) or are we basically just witnessing the start of Sevco publicly eating itself as suggest by Phil?
Philbhoy
Whit aboot?
http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/celtic/bhoys-link-up-with-dublin-feeder-team-133173n.21856339
The Don’s of course!
BARCABHOY
How often did Neil deny we were interested in Amido Balde?
The MSM were onto that,probably because of an agent.
But in general terms,you are right. Our signings are usually done before anyone gets wind.
I like that.
FYI:
http://www.investegate.co.uk/rangers-int-f-c–plc–rfc-/rns/holding-s–in-company/201308131430036069L/
Philbhoy
They’re tap of the league….get the moanin git on here …we will give him summit to girn at.
Paul67,
Love your articles …not this one. It could have been written by Pedro.
If I had time I would do the numbers…budget time for me and the numbers involved are several factors higher than Pedro.
Strategy of the tic is one dimensional and to a degree short sighted for next months.
That said consecutive appearance in the CL group stages is a major success that only a handful of clubs achieve.
Keep up the great work.