Newco interims, vanity projects and inevitable conclusion

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Interim accounts for the 6 months to 31 December 2017 were issued by Newco over the Easter break.  Income was up £3.1m, due to the new merchandise deal negotiated (paid for) with SportsDirect, higher ticketing and hospitality revenue, although no mention was made in the notes of the progress the club made with its first foray into European football.

Costs were up correspondingly, by £3.5m, leading to a loss of £926k for the period.  The previous year, a corresponding loss of £238k led to a season-end loss of £6.663m.  We can expect something similar for this season, leaving directors to find an operating loss in the region of £7m.

The good news is that “penniless” Dave King has convinced a Trust to provide the £11m required for him to make an offer for shares his concert party do not already own.  The offer of 20p/share is likely to be accepted by some who have tired of the episode, including those who were ousted by King and colleagues in 2015.

It is likely all the money is in place to cover this season’s deficit and the share offer but the big question remains, how to breakeven?  Competing with Celtic is not even a question.

If expenditure remains at current levels, reaching the Europa League group stage would bring in enough money to remove the spectre of running out of cash, but that is a huge challenge.  Newco would need to overcome four higher seeds to get there (something I doubt has ever been achieved).

They could increase the football budget, but that would expose them to higher-still potential losses, with associated risks.  Or they could downsize.  Stick with Murty, get rid of the Portuguese vanity projects and develop a team from the ground up.

Downsizing also comes with risks.  Vanity projects sell tickets and merchandise.  A first team full of teenage graduates from Murray Park would be a hard act to ‘follow’.

In short, I don’t see financial viability in this club, never mind competing with Celtic.

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  1. Delaneys Dunky on

    Leftclick

     

     

    Thank you so much for your words of support to me recently P.

     

    You will never know just how much it means to me. God bless big yin.

     

     

    Happy Birthday Doc

  2. Craig Gordon is set to start for Celtic against Dundee on Wednesday, Brendan Rodgers has revealed.

     

     

    The Hoops stopper has made his return to training with the Scottish champions this week after recovering from the knee injury he picked up in January.

     

     

    Scott Bain had claimed the number one jersey in the 35-year-old’s absence but is ineligible against his parent club having moved on loan to Parkhead from Dens Park on deadline day.

     

     

    Rodgers says that Gordon will be drafted back in to the starting line-up, should he declare himself ready for action.

     

     

    He said: “We are just going to check with Craig to make sure everything is okay but he has been back in training and if he declares himself ready he’ll play.

     

     

    “He has come back a bit earlier than we’d thought he would.

     

     

    “Scott was great in the games he played, however, now that he is unable to play we are looking to replace him.

     

     

    “It’s great, Craig has been brilliant in his rehab and worked very hard to get himself ahead of schedule.”

     

     

    @STV

  3. Delaneys Dunky on

    BSR

     

     

    Great news re Craig Gordon.

     

    I would have gone to the game tomorrow, in trepidation at the thought of DDV in goal.

  4. I pay £600 for my ST, and make between 12-15 games per season, I give it away the remainder, and on certain occassions I’ve had to ask 5 or 6 folk if theyd like it before smeone accepts.

  5. DELANEYS DUNKY on 3RD APRIL 2018 2:03 PM

     

     

    Kev

     

     

    When I was a wean in the Jungle, I thought every stray dug in Glesca was called John Greig. Happy Jungle chant.

     

     

    =====================================

     

     

    And I used to think that the waste barrels from septic tanks, etc were known as ‘John Griegs’. Another happy jungle chant.. ;))

  6. Delaneys Dunky on

    Sandman

     

     

    I always remember it being Big Fat Stupid Derek Johnstone that was a barrel of effluent waste. Greig was always stray dug guy.

  7. An old mentor of mine used to say, “ if you have the opportunity to take the holy Eucharist, take it, every time”.

     

    I amended that, for my own means, to when ever you can go and watch the Celtic play, do it.

     

    I am fortunate enough to afford a ST for Paradise every year but that does not mean that I will attend all games at CP for a variety of reasons.

     

    Tomorrow evening I fully intend to go watch us stride towards our latest title, but circumstances may make my attendance impossible.

     

    In fact, circumstances may dictate I miss all four remaining home fixtures. It does not lessen my credibility as a Celtic supporter.

     

    Many ST holders will have similar situations to deal with.

     

    As BSR correctly states, the fact that Celtic can count on 44,000 + ST holders’ cash up front, helps make us a dominant force in Scotland, (along with a competent board, excellent manager and the best footballers).

     

    I have bought a ticket for the semi final, which I will not attend. I choose not to, but I should now get a ticket for the historic Double Treble final. That I very much want to witness.

     

     

    VFR’s choice of word of the day yesterday I found interesting.

     

    A wee bit of that going on on here recently.

     

     

    HH

     

     

    Eurochamps67

     

     

    GoodtohavetheblogdiscussingcelticandfootballCSC

  8. BMCUWP’s, OneMalloy, Leftclick, thanks for the good wishes.

     

     

    Great to also hear Craig is back, Scott Bain has done well, so competition for places, always a good thing.

     

     

    Shame things seem to have taken a turn for the worst in Govan, real shame.

  9. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    EC67

     

     

    “As BSR correctly states, the fact that Celtic can count on 44,000 + ST holders’ cash up front, helps make us a dominant force in Scotland, (along with a competent board, excellent manager and the best footballers”.

     

     

    I fully endorse this sentiment.

     

    BSR knows, ye know.#hildabaker

  10. Delaneys Dunky on

    Sandman

     

     

    Even when we played a big sidey up 10/21er at the park, if a mad dug chased the baw, half the players in the game would start chanting “John Greig. clap clap clap.

     

    Happy Days but no fur huns :)

  11. Delaneys Dunky on

    50shades

     

     

    I was never allowed to go to Celtic v Rangers games till I left primary. It was DJ for my era.

  12. 50 shades of green on

    And another thing.

     

     

    How come you never see stray dogs at Celtic park anymore????

  13. Delaneys Dunky on

    SP

     

     

    Aye Harper was at Hibs. First time I heard that chant was Celticv Hibs cup final. It carried onto his Aberdeen days.

  14. .

     

     

    50 SHADES OF GREEN on 3RD APRIL 2018 4:08 PM

     

    And another thing.

     

     

    How come you never see stray dogs at Celtic park anymore???

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

    Schoosh, there’s no jungle either. But don’t tell anyone .

     

     

    HH.

     

     

    PS : What did we call the mad fox that ran on the park.?

  15. Delaneys Dunky on

    BB

     

     

    Sergei Lavrov’s claim yesterday that it was a Brit Government own goal to divert from Brexit, was interesting reading.

  16. Danny Fox became the third signing of Tony Mowbray’s reign as Celtic manager when he completed a whirlwind move to Parkhead in July 2009.

     

     

    The highly-rated young full-back was signed from Coventry City for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £1.5 to £3 million. Fox – who signed a four-year-deal – started his career as a trainee with Everton but after a loan spell with Stranraer he left Goodison for Walsall in 2005. After more than 100 games with the Saddlers left-back Fox was snapped up by their Midlands neighbours Coventry in January 2008.

     

     

    Danny quickly established himself as a firm favourite of the Sky Blue fans. An attack-minded full-back, his athleticism, pace and excellent distribution earned him a cap for Stuart Pearce’s England Under 21 international side against Poland in March 2007. A set-piece specialist he would also net five times for Coventry in season 2008/09. At the end of the same season Danny would be voted into the PFA’s Championship Team of the Year.

     

     

    That would be Danny’s last campaign at the Ricoh Arena and on July 24th 2009 he signed for the Hoops. He would make his Celtic debut that very same day – in a shirt with no name and number so swift was the move – when he came on as a substitute in the 5-0 victory over Al Ahly in the Wembley Cup.

     

     

    Coventry’s manager, Chris Coleman: “I was determined not to lose . . . Danny Fox and so were the club, but it is hard once players are offered a lot of money to go to big, big clubs.”

     

     

    @celticwiki

  17. 50 shades of green on

    DD…

     

     

    Forgot about Reynard, they were always to fast for anyone to catch, probably smarter than most of the stewards chasing them as well…..:-)

     

     

    @@@@@@@

     

     

    Greenpinata…

     

     

    The Jungle, we used to stand near the front level with the 18 yrd line at the Celtic end, my seat in the North stand is in a similar position albeit about half a mile higher up….

     

     

    Which reminds me when are Celtic going to change the name of the North stand to the Tommy Burns stand, c’mon you know it makes sense.

     

     

     

    H.H

  18. !!Bada Bing!! on

    GREENPINATA on 3RD APRIL 2018 4:19 PM

     

    .

     

     

     

    50 SHADES OF GREEN on 3RD APRIL 2018 4:08 PM

     

     

    And another thing.

     

     

     

    How come you never see stray dogs at Celtic park anymore???

     

     

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     

     

     

    Schoosh, there’s no jungle either. But don’t tell anyone .

     

     

     

    HH.

     

     

     

    PS : What did we call the mad fox that ran on the park.?

     

     

    Michael Kelly?

  19. Delaneys Dunky on

    50 shades

     

     

    My seat is in North Stand 102, row Z. Right on line with the 18 yard line.

     

    How often did that linesman cheat on Saturday, with false offside flags 2nd half. I can see his line of vision clearly. He cheated.

  20. good afternoon/evening bhoys, happy birthday to doc, congratulations to one malloy, might have found a company that will do me 2 dog coats in celtic colours, with the hoops logo. fingers crossedktf

  21. thomthethim for Oscar OK on

    BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 3RD APRIL 2018 4:17 PM

     

    Scoosh Broon

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Scottish football jealous, since he was allowed to hold the ole Donegal Stole

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Real Celtic Scarves CSC

     

     

    *****

     

     

    Ah, so that’s the secret of his special,indestructible powers!

  22. 50 shades of green on

    DD….

     

     

    Your right mate he never made a decision in our favour, anytime it was our ball he would wait for the ref to tell him then wave his flag, twice we seen him change hands and have to give us the throw..

     

     

    H.H

  23. A Ceiler Gonof Rust on

    Stivs, I missed the Ross Co game due to being on holiday and cant make tomorrows game due to a change in work pattern but I have farmed out my ticket for every game I’ve been unable to attend. I don’t like my seat being empty. Others can do what they like. They,ve paid their money and can do as they like.

     

     

    Morvcik,s summation above is too black and white, and quite frankly in my opinion, shite.

     

     

    Oor Doc has my book for tomorrow.

     

     

    Happy birthday ya oul bass BTW.

     

     

    And, congratulations to Onemalloy and his new bride. Good on ye Hugh.

     

     

    HH Celtic men and wummin.

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