This week’s Economist has a most curious article on the football business, entitled “Welcome to the beautiful game. Football clubs can easily be used as stealing machines. Here is an instruction manual. The stories are real, but most details are concealed”.
They assert, “It is a good time to enter the football racket. Banks are less generous and sentimental about loans. Tax officials are less lenient, too, as Rangers, a big Glasgow club, discovered”.
“Set up a holding company (or a nest of them) in a discreet jurisdiction, as many owners do, and you have a money-laundering and embezzlement machine at your disposal.
“Exaggerating the attendance at matches lets you run some of the dirty takings from your previous career through the turnstiles, turning them into legitimate income (this particular ruse works best if you buy a middling club, where games are not routinely sold out).”
They conclude, “Some national associations do a spot of due diligence on new owners, but this is unlikely to interfere with your plans.”
Brazil, Balkans, Russia, Serbia and Bulgaria all get a mention but there was only the one club got a name check.
Nest of holding companies in discreet jurisdictions, money-laundering, embezzlement, exaggerated attendances, dirty previous businesses!! Read it and weep, football fans, just don’t expect the blazers to watch out for your best interests.
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If Hooper goes do we not replace him with Balde?
Am I missing something here, or is Balde another project who will warm the subs bench?
Very disappointed that Tony Watt might be going out on loan.
I’d give him a run in the team when he’s fit. He looked like a lively footballer who took on the defender.
If he’s got personal issues the club should be addressing them instead of kicking the boy into touch.
For the life of me I can’t understand the animosity toward Gary Hooper that didn’t occur with Big Vic who did exactly the same as Hoops has, if the Bhoy reads CQN no wonder he wants away!!
If you go Gary son, thanks for the memories and some class hunskelping, good luck to you…
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MacJay..
I Don’t Buy the Ole U S of A Dollar..The Guid Olde British Pound is where it’s At..;-)
And Anyway it Has Only dropped 18.621% against the Yankee Dollar..If Abbott gets in You would be Better Buying Dracmas..Ha..
Oh Wait..
I’m sure EuroChamps67 can Give us a Update what the Dracma is Worth..
Summa of ExchangingViewsOfExchangeRatesCSC
Good to see people debating about our squad that’s the way it should be :)))))
Bobby
that 8/1 winner opened at 14’s :-)
.
MacJay..
Capitalist..!!??
Ps..
wtf..You Ken l would’Nae Venture into that Game..
Summa
Chairbhoy, Time will tell, id say next 4 weeks will determine where we are going this season and the size of our boards ambition. I like you just want to see us at least qualify for CL group stage then with more exposure and money we can improve further.
The team was good enough last year and although vic & hooper will be a loss there are others who should be pushing for a place and we have no excuses now as our players have 10 games in Europa league and 12 games in CL last year.
CRC
Looking forward to tonight, few drinks and cocktails overlooking the sea then a nice dinner, few beers and laughs….then on to the Wednesday nerve shredder….wee guy Joe Gormley who plays up front for them is a star…..see you and the family tonight…
Kikinthenakas
Belfast hotel cancelled. Turns out it was in the middle of loyalist Sandy Row!!
SOAL – the Algarve won’t know what’s hit it !
Bobby – we got a lot of calls right on the night, with certain trainers and jockeys only having one horse on the card. The 16/1 shot was Tim Easterby’s only horse sent up from Yorkshire and it was first time out for him. Very crafty, they Easterbys!
He’s got one out in the 4:00 at Ayr today, The Nifty Fox and it’s been napped by one of the newspaper tipsters. Only thing is, it’s up against Jinky – Graham Lee riding for the luscious Linda Perratt. Might back them both!
Taurangabhoy – I’m not sure if the new contract we’ve placed in front of GH is too far away from what he was expecting or if he genuinely wants to return south. I wouldn’t blame any player for wanting away from the SPL, but he must be disappointed with the suggested suitors.
I’d prefer him to stay, but only if he signs a new contract.
Who will replace him? I doubt we can afford Rhodes or Le Fondre and there’s doubts over Austin’s knee!
T4
Summa of Sammi….
11:47 on
15 July, 2013
MacJay..
And Anyway it Has Only dropped 18.621% against the Yankee Dollar..If Abbott gets in You would be Better Buying Dracmas..Ha..
Two months ago …ish,Wayne Swann talked down the Oz dollar, using that as the excuse for the declining terms of trade.
What`s wrong with Tony Abbott? He`s a good Tim.:-) As is Joe Hockey.
Kip time.
SidneyTim
Aye you appear when the bleeding obvious is obvious,ignore factors that do not suit your argument and disappear when the bleeding obvious that does not suit your argument appears.
You are a stopped clock watcher who cannot wait for the two occasions each day that you are right.
Lucky you are around to let us know the bleeding obvious.
starry plough
11:46 on
15 July, 2013
For the life of me I can’t understand the animosity toward Gary Hooper that didn’t occur with Big Vic who did exactly the same as Hoops has, if the Bhoy reads CQN no wonder he wants away!!
If you go Gary son, thanks for the memories and some class hunskelping, good luck to you…
Agree 100% Starry think it’s a bit rich sticking it to Hoops. Vic had 2 years on contract and 5 years on Hoops age wise, he could have stayed at least another year and still got his “big move”. Vic also has international caps and if it is believed that Hoops feels he needs to move to England for this to happen good luck to him. Do not see Hoops coming out or allowing his agent to come out and slag off Celtic the way Vic’s did.
Gary if you go good luck to you, if you stay I will be pleased.
KTF
HH
New article posted.
Gb
Summa
I don’t think he is an agent provocater but he does provoke . He could make his point in a much less provocative manner but I seldom see solutions only who is to blame.
Auld hedi not disappeared. Still here
Good to see a debate on our signings. Or lack if them
See more newspaper tosh linking us to billy sharp. Can we noo be linked with goalscorers :(
Nice one HT, you would have been right at home just like Larkhall !!! One of the Belfast lads will keep you right , not a place to make mistakes in….
Hamiltontim
Parkview Lodge117 Cavehill Rd
B& B friends of mine stayed there and thought it ok. It’s a safe area for a celt
Lansdowne hotel Antrim Rd a bit out of town but OK Staff are all sound
Use booking,com
Have Celtic told Norwich to sling their hook yet?
First time post, long time lurker.
Hooper will leave when as other posters have rightly opined that Celtic achieve their valuation, which as yet, has not been met.
I find the rumoured Galaxy bid very interesting, I believe the NFL policy with foreign players is one in one out, Celtic need a proven striker who can cut it the in CL, I may be on my own here but I’d have Robbie Kean in a number 7 shirt this season with Aiden returning the same week.
Only saying….