McCann, for every tenner, WH Ireland

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I know many of us are annoyed that a Celtic player, who didn’t appeal for a foul, is not being charged for inappropriately looking for one, is headline news today.  This is all a consequence of Sky Sports pundit Neil McCann’s insistence that John Guidetti cheated, while he simultaneously acknowledged Guidetti didn’t actually claim for a penalty.

TV analysis can enrich viewers’ appreciation of the game, but it has to carry a degree of responsibility too.

Those of us from Scotland will be familiar with the summertime noise of a scramble – pennies dropping all around you.  It’s a wedding-day tradition, when the father of the bride throws coins into the street for kids to collect as he and the bride leave for the ceremony.

Today’s story in the Record, lifted from a fans’ group, that newco Rangers receive approximately 75p for every £10 spent with Rangers Retail, the joint-venture between the football club and Mike Ashley, must have had pennies dropping everywhere.

These figures are for last season, so predate whatever new arrangement Ashley was able to negotiate for the return of stadium naming rights.  We’ve covered this point before, but it’s worth reiterating:

Football clubs are in fact a series of business units.  Few make a profit over any business cycle but there are profitable business units inside every club, including retail, trackside advertising, media rights and kit deals.

Football operations almost always lose money.  The considerable cost of operating a stadium, recruiting and employing footballers (and occasionally a manager on an onerous contract) isn’t met by ticket sales, even at community football level.

The club accounts detail how much financial control Ashley has over newco’s profitable revenue streams, from retail, to kit supply to trackside advertising.  The true consequences of forming the with investors looking for a financial return, as newco did in 2012, should now be apparent.

If the club has a future it will have to survive pretty much on ticket sales alone.  As we’ve covered before, when you need to pay circa £17m p.a. to open the doors at a club which will occasionally house 50,000 spectators, and your gate receipts and hospitality sales totalled £12.3m last season, you have a chronic problem.

Even if ticket sales doubled in value, there would still leave only around £7m to pay for football operations, a figure the likes of Kilmarnock can survive on, but you have to wonder if a ‘Rangers’ brand is viable at that level?

Does this sound like a viable football club to you? If so, let’s see how it looks after Ashley has his pound of flesh for financing the second half of the season. No wonder fans are so keen to stop him.

I see newco have appointed WH Ireland as their nominated advisers, a name you may be familiar with.  Back in May 2012, Kitalba, with an astonishing degree of understatement (“It couldn’t be clearer”), noted here in the comments section the breadcrumb trail between Craig Whyte, a whole series of his companies and associates, and the aforementioned WH Ireland.  It’s worth a 15 minute read.

It’s the big Glasgow derby tomorrow and Celtic sponsor Magners have offered us two premium seats in the Jock Stein Stand.  All you need to do to win the seats is to email me the name of our opponents, at celticquicknews@gmail.com

Competition closes at 22:00 tonight, so check your email thereafter.  Tickets can be collected from the ticket office before the game.

Planning is underway for Mary’s Meals to build a kitchen Chibwata Primary School, Dowa, Malawi, which we in the CQN community have committed to paying for.  We have already built three school kitchens in Malawi this year, so I am sure we will complete this one sometime over the coming months.

If at the same time you entered the Magners’ competition, you wanted to donate £1 (or more) to the Mary’s Meals appeal, you can do so here.

Sorry, the MyDonate page is now open for business!!

Many thanks.

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629 Comments

  1. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    GORDON J

     

     

    Max Power is also a magazine-but the one we may be after is out of contract in June.

     

     

    Bit of a hothead,so his aggression might be welcome,channelled properly.

  2. southside

     

    09:25 on

     

    3 December, 2014

     

    If Ashley is only interested in the retail part of newco, where does closing their outlet in Belfast and (possibly) glasgow airport benefit him.

     

     

    Confused, G43.

     

    He will re-open them as Sports Direct stores.

  3. With recent revelations about how much The Rangers make from shirt sales anyone have like for like with ours.

  4. Hope the CP groundsman has remembered to crank up the undersoil heating this season… Going to be needing it tonight… Brrrr

  5. bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers

     

     

    09:36 on 3 December, 2014

     

    YORKBHOY

     

     

    That was an earlier term for BREL,Springburn.

     

     

    Thanks, just done some from Atlas and Dubs.

     

     

    PS I would sign Max Power just for the name…

  6. gordon_j backing neil lennon

     

     

    09:56 on 3 December, 2014

     

    The papers this morning talks of two to four signings come January. Names mentioned are Armstrong from Dundee Utd for £2M and someone called Max Power from Tranmere.

     

     

    Isn’t Max Power an alias of Homer SImpson??

     

     

    —-

     

     

    Really excited by the 2 Taiwanese wingers we’ve been linked with. Kweek S Fook and Charles R La, the latter known to his friends as Chuckie.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  7. Sunny / 19 degrees -way down south . Monsoon forecast @ late afternoon .

     

     

    Todays Advent Christmas Choons __ Strictly 45s.

     

     

    Miles Davis –Blue Chrismas ( Columbia )

     

    The Ubangis ——Chicken for Christmas ( Brutarian )

     

    Horace Williams / Choker Campbell ——– Going Christmas Shopping ( Magic City)

     

    Syng McGowan -Dear Santa ( Hope )

     

    The Jive Turkeys -Get Down Santa ( Colemine ).

     

     

    Off oot -work to do .

  8. Re Sports Direct. THe majority of the 500M huns in Scotland will be oblivious to Ashley’s spivery, plenty still see it investing in their club by spending there. Also, by restricting supply he increases demand for XXXXXL 32 Red tops. Disney specialise in this supply and demand practice actually . Apt for a Mickey Mouse tribute act of a Fantasia type outfit.

  9. I’m looking for a retrospective pardon for NFL after Goodwingate.

     

    First game back last night after a 3 match ban and he gives away a penalty. I think he is actually a bit of a f&nn€€.

     

     

    And to think he’s a player coach. Apologised to everyone after his ban. Board, team, supporters, tea lady, tea lady’s dug. The lot. Might have had the grace to apologise to the wee kid whose jaw he tried to rearrange.

     

     

    You have to fear for United if and when they next play the deid wans. So many great, wee kids playing silky fitba. A target rich environment for elbows et al.

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  10. Tony

     

     

    I know nothing about retail but thats what I thought

     

    What do we earn on our sales from our shops?

     

    75p in a £10 sound awfully low but 7.5% for no layout doesnt sound too bad

     

    to me. Especially if you dont have resources to buy Stock

     

    and imagine shops are very feast and famine dependant on

     

    new shirt in summer and Christmas in winter.

     

     

    If you have no credit line setup/stock cost I imagine are prohibitive.

     

     

     

    Anyone know where i can buy retailing for Dummies ?

     

     

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

     

    TONYG

     

    10:03 on

     

    3 December, 2014

     

    With recent revelations about how much The Rangers make from shirt sales anyone have like for like with ours.

  11. BMCUW @ 9 49

     

     

    ” cap t shirt “.

     

     

    Adolescent me did a crack of dawn milk run . Loony choon Uber Hun who drove the van wore a pair of dungarees and a Royal Blue short sleeved Airtex shirt 365 days a year .He used to claim that he never felt cold in consequence of the cold having nothing to cling to.

  12. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    SOUTH OF TUNIS

     

     

    I don’t feel the cold so much back home either-except when my Mum isnae speaking to me!-but since I arrived in Swindon I’ve complained about it being ‘a different type of cold’

     

     

    Dunno,maybe with the place being so far from the sea,or just my fevered imagination.

     

     

    One of my drivers at work-night shift,remember-always wears shorts. Madman.

     

     

    Especially as,and I’m not making this up,he has a tattoo of ABBA on one calf!

  13. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on

    Jamesgang said:

     

     

    ” Might have had the grace to apologise to the wee kid whose jaw he tried to rearrange.”

     

     

    He did.

     

     

    JJ

     

     

    PS Are you going tonight?

  14. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on

    BMCUW

     

    I think it was on here I read that someone used to have Love and Hate tattooed on his fingers. He had the misfortune to lose a pinky and now it says Love and Hat.

     

     

    JJ

  15. Rumour has it,Goodwin went looking for the hun who done a runner,after assaulting big LZ……………….allegedly.

  16. JJ

     

     

    If that’s the case then I apologise.

     

    Certainly wasn’t mentioned in the interview I heard.

     

     

    Sadly can’t make tonight but I’ve given Hutchybhoy my tickets in the hope that he and his lad can go.

     

     

    Beelin soamur at missing a trip to paradise!

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  17. Jungle Jim Hot Smoked on

    Jamesgang ( JG ? Our Super Swede Hmmm..)

     

    No need for a fine , big chap like yourself to apologise. Especially as I cannot remember where I saw/heard Goodwin say it!!

     

    Shame you cannot make it tonight. I always look forward to games and, for varying reasons, this will be my first El Glassico.

     

     

    JJ

  18. Woke up to 3 inches of snow in Saarland this morning; first of the year. Winter sports, clearing my driveway, so the Mrs GB can get to work. Sumdy has to work to keep me in the retirement style required :))

     

     

    ParkyCSC

  19. See Ronnie is learning to handle the forked tongued hacks.Scottish referees are terrific.

     

    We can only guess at what questions they were firing at him,and what answers they were wanting.

  20. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    FFM 1059

     

     

    Nope. Consider it a history lesson.

     

     

    AndifyouknowCSC

  21. Evening Times – Ronnie Cully Senior Sports Writer

     

    Wednesday 03/12/2014

     

     

    Young Bhoys hit Rangers for six

     

     

    RONNY DEILA last night watched his Celtic kids thump Rangers 6-1 in a Development League match at Murray Park.

     

     

    Filip Twardzik grabbed two of the Hoops’ goals, with Kieran Tierney, Jamie Lindsay, Liam Henderson and Aidan Nesbitt also getting in on the rout.

     

     

    Remarkably, Rangers had taken the lead in 21 minutes through Ryan Hardie before the young Green Machine starting churning out the goals. The home side were already 3-1 down when they had Dylan Dykes sent off for a foul on Tierney with half an hour remaining.

     

     

    Hoops skipper Scott Brown, who is now gaining coaching experience under Development Squad boss Stevie Frail, was also among the Celtic party watching this one-sided Glasgow Derby. Full-back Darnell Fisher played for the first half as he edged closer to full fitness

  22. 67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon ….The angels are with Wee Oscar in Heaven.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors

     

    09:54 on

     

    3 December, 2014

     

    bobby murdoch’s curled-up winklepickers

     

     

    09:33 on 3 December, 2014

     

     

    Commiserations…….. For any part of you to turn blue is not a pleasant experience at all ….. :)

     

     

    This really made me LOL ,the connotations are immeasurable

     

     

    weefrathe tim if your lirking hope you are well my friend.

     

     

    As jamesgang said earlier ragingsoamur cos I cant make the game tonight evening kick off is a no no for Irish travelling support

     

     

    for all you attending game tonight ………..well wont go there jealousy is not a nice trait…..

     

     

    Cowiebhoy give an extra shout out for me and your dear ole grandpa…enjoy the game

     

     

     

    KTF

     

     

    HH

  23. weefrathe tim if your lirking hope you are well my friend. obviously should read

     

     

     

    weefrathe tim if your lurking hope you are well my friend.

     

     

    YNWA

     

     

    HH

  24. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    DENA29

     

     

    Really looking forward to seeing my wee Valentine on 14/2.

     

     

    I just hope that sweet-talking dude ACGR disnae monopolise you too much!

  25. BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS

     

    11:20 on

     

    3 December, 2014

     

    DENA29

     

     

    Really looking forward to seeing my wee Valentine on 14/2.

     

     

    I just hope that sweet-talking dude ACGR disnae monopolise you too much!

     

     

     

     

    lmao ,will you make any of the games before then?

     

     

    HH

  26. Jc2

     

    With the retailing/shop costs under Ashley control in addition to the points you highlighted.The Rangers have unburden themselves of this arm of the business and taken a flat fee instead.What interests me and Ashley If and when he gets involved with the negotiations for the shirt sponsorship/manufacturing deal.

  27. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    DENA29

     

     

    I won’t but the family will. Hopefully they’ll get to CQN corner and say hi.

     

     

    (Maybe not a diplomatic form of greeting with you and Weefra)

  28. Weefra

     

     

    Hope you are feeling better today. Will say a wee prayer for you as you have been through tough times recently. KTF.

  29. BOBBY MURDOCH'S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS on

    TONYG

     

     

    The current deal with Puma costs the current The Rangers a mint.

     

     

    Ashley can offer better terms to them,and him,via any one of his brands.

     

     

    Lonsdale would be the best match,IMO.