If you are wondering, Kilmarnock are in far better form than Livingston, the only team below them in the league table. They enjoyed a remarkable 4-3 win over St Mirren on Wednesday and battered Aberdeen 3-0 10 days earlier. Between those two home wins was a 5-1 reversal at Ibrox, where despite conceding an early red card and penalty goal, they remained in the game until near the hour mark. Neil McCann has turned fortunes around since his appointment last month and he will be motivated to make a mark against Celtic.
Our run of debutants coming on to score a crucial added time goal started on our first visit to Rugby Park this season. Kelechi Iheanacho showed Junior Adamu and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain how it’s done by converting a 96th minute penalty.
Injury to Arne Engels leaves Celtic short of midfield options. Reo Hatate looks low on confidence and form, Oxlade-Chamberlain is not fit for 90 minutes, which leaves Martin O’Neill to choose from Paulo Bernardo or Luke McCowan, neither of whom even made the bench on Wednesday.
Watch out for Sebastian Tounekti. He dazzled in that drab win at Kilmarnock earlier this season and his persistent work has recently paid off, scoring or assisting three of our last four goals, each one absolutely crucial. Rugby Park’s plastic suits a player who prefers to pick up the ball and run with it, rather than those who are better chasing a forward pass.
We have seven away games to play this season: Kilmarnock, Newco, Aberdeen, Dundee United, Dundee, and probably Hibs and Falkirk. We have a great opportunity to record a statement win by picking up three points at Killie. These players have shown they will dig deep when necessary. A similar effort will be needed on Sunday.
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Behnahdo and McCowan..jack of clubs and Jack of Spades.
Both need moved on in summer
Can you hear the drums Bernardo 🥁
Chairbhoy, B2B
Yip, Reep was the first guy to start collecting and using meaningful data on football matches. His analysis influenced a generation of English coaches (and Scottish for that matter) such that the ‘long ball’ game became definitively British.
He developed the concept that would become xG, and was an early proponent of what we would recognise today as ‘counter-pressing’ – winning the ball back in the opponent’s half. Manipulating play to score goals at the back post 6 yard line was a cornerstone of his approach and remain so today. There’s a lot there to admire and respect.
But his analysis that most goals were scored from passages of play with few passes, in turn prompting a long ball approach by a generation of coaches (led by the FA) turned out to be incorrect. His data was thin, comprising only English league matches of the day that he attended, and his statistical howler wasn’t picked up for 50 years.
The game isn’t static though, and it evolves with new thinking as Chairbhoy said. The English game has got over its error and is now becoming preeminent, not least with the influx of foreign players and more recently foreign coaches.
And of course, data analysts.
Doesn’t appear to be a pre-match presser with MON today.
Any ideas?
Is he having a day off? Doing it tomorrow? ??
TBB @ 4:05pm – thank you.
Your response answered one of my intended follow up questions.
“Where on earth did Reep get his data ?”
TBB
https://youtu.be/sqZoezlrKNQ
On the App
BSR, ta, but that’s the post match from Wednesday night.
He does a preview of Killie, don’t see anything else.
Scotland’s Coefficient
@scotlandscoeff1
👏 Impressive work at Kilmarnock in the last year, as owner Billy Bowie has invested over £7m on a brand new training facility!
Some elements will be available for community use. Several pitches & a 250-seat stand to be followed by phase 2, a training & performance facility
https://x.com/scotlandscoeff1/status/2022233982667202874
Big Audio Dynamite
February 13, 2026 5:05 pm
Westcraigs,
Might have been all very innocent, but there was a time we played 2 games on one Saturday.
==============
i read somewhere before, fixtures had to be completed by a league closing date, and players were going on to “close season wages”.
will try and find it, happened to other clubs as well
20 million investment on Barrowfield ,no stands ,that tells us about the people thats running our club,also add Celtic Park which a huge upgrade is needed inside and outside ,especially a fanzone ,its isnt all about signing quality players ,which was badly needed in the last transfer window.
Timbhoy163 on 13th February 2026 5:36 pm
20 million investment on Barrowfield ,no stands ,that tells us about the people thats running our club,
————-
very simple.
no planning consent.
The Battered Bunnet @ 4:05 pm,
Thanks for the info – very illuminating…
Bit of an unsung hero is Mr Reep…
Yes, English football has gone global and now is certainly top drawer
Hail Hail
told yeese, another profit –
———–
Celtic have released their Interim Report for the six months to December 31, 2025.
Key Operational Items
15 home fixtures (H1 2025: 14).
Participation in the UEFA Europa League Group Stages.
Post period end qualification for the play-off round of the UEFA Europa League knock-out stage.
Runners-up of the Premier Sports Cup 2025.
Currently 3rd in the SPFL Premiership having played one less match.
Key Financial Items
Revenue reduced by 28.9% to £59.4m (H1 2025: £83.5m).
Profit from trading before intangible asset transactions was £4.2m (H1 2025: £26.9m).
Profit from transfer of player registrations (shown as profit on disposal of intangible assets) £14.1m (H1 2025: £21.5m).
Profit before taxation of £13.2m (H1 2025: £43.9m).
Acquisition of player registrations of £13.7m (H1 2025: £28.1m).
Period end cash of £67.4m (H1 2025: £65.4m).
CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT
We witnessed a great deal of change and disruption in the six months to 31 December 2025. After winning our 4th successive league title last season and the 13th in 14 seasons, we were looking forward to the next campaign with positivity. We had no prior warning of the resignation of our then first team manager.
Our exit from the Champions League in August 2025 was a bitter blow. Following the departure of Brendan Rodgers in October 2025, stability was restored by Martin O’Neill and his backroom team before we appointed Wilfried Nancy in early December. Appointing a manager in mid-season inevitably comes with challenges, and regrettably the implementation of Wilfried’s style and ideas did not achieve our immediate objective of winning games and we took the difficult decision to part company with Wilfried in January 2026.
We again turned to Martin, Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham and their backroom colleagues to steer the Club through to the coming summer and are pleased to have seen Celtic return to winning football matches in early 2026. We owe them and the players, who have also had to deal with change and uncertainty, a great debt of gratitude.
Participation in the Champions League carries great financial as well as footballing significance. The results for the six months ended 31 December 2025 show revenues of £59.4m (2024: £83.5m) and a profit from trading, representing the profit excluding player related gains and charges, totalling £4.2m (2024: £26.9m). Operating profit, which includes player transactions, amounted to £11.1m (2024: £42.0m).
The decline in H1 revenue compared to the same period last year is primarily due to Europa League participation as opposed to Champions League participation, which we had last season. This reflects the lower media rights values associated with the competition along with lower ticket pricing.
The reduction in profit from trading was driven almost entirely by the reduction in revenue. There was also a lower level of net gains from player trading, with £21.5m in the prior period compared to £14.1m in this one. The latter figure included the disposal of Nicolas Kühn, Gustaf Lagerbielke, Marco Tilio and Adam Idah. The reduction in operating profit also included an increase in amortisation over the previous year from £6.4m to £7.1m reflecting the investment in the first team squad.
We went into the January 2026 transfer window with the objective of strengthening the squad to give Martin, his backroom team and the players the best possible opportunity of retaining the SPFL title, progressing in the Scottish Cup and making an impact in Europe. Funding was available for new signings and we introduced six players to enhance the quality of the squad. We were pleased to acquire the temporary registrations of Julián Araujo, Tomáš Čvančara, Benjamin Arthur, Joel Mvuka, Junior Adamu and the permanent registration of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Some of these players brought in on loan were acquired with the option to acquire them permanently, which is an approach that has served the Club well in previous transfer windows including current first team players Cameron Carter-Vickers and Jota. We also look forward to the return of our long-term injured players to the squad.
At time of writing, we are in contention in the SPFL with all to play for. We have progressed to the quarter finals of the Scottish Cup and the knockout phase of the Europa League. Having finished 21st of 36 in the league phase, we await a two-leg tie against VfB Stuttgart.
Our women’s team welcomed the arrival of its new manager Grant Scott, following Elena Sadiku’s decision to take up an opportunity to manage in her native Sweden. Elena made an outstanding contribution in her two years at the Club by winning the SWPL title and qualifying for the women’s Champions League, both delivered for the first time. We thank Elena and welcome Grant to Celtic whilst looking forward to the title run-in.
In recent months, the Board has acknowledged that mistakes have been made. We are endeavouring to develop, enhance and refresh key areas of governance and strategies. The immediate priorities are to restore stability, achieve unity and deliver football success. These have provided the foundations for the achievements of the past 20 years – a period of outstanding success within the Club’s entire history.
Since unexpectedly finding myself in this role as Interim Chairman following Peter Lawwell’s decision to step down from the Board on 31 December 2025, I have tried to encourage unity within the stadium and behind the team. This cannot be achieved unilaterally and requires the shared acceptance that we all, passionately, want the very best for Celtic Football Club, as well as an understanding that our highest obligation is to the safety of all supporters and staff.
In October, we released the results from one of football’s biggest ever fan surveys, a hugely important piece of work which has identified a number of key areas in which we must aim to progress and develop. These include a structure for fan engagement, improved digital experience and potential further development of safe-standing. Celtic was the first club in the UK to argue for, and successfully deliver, a safe standing area.
The second half of the financial year typically sees a reduction in earnings due to the inherent seasonality within the earnings profile. This is largely driven by recognition of revenue associated with European competition. It can also be influenced by player trading which this year to date was more biased towards the summer 2025 transfer window. Taking all of this into consideration, we are taking a more cautious view on the outturn for the remainder of the current financial year. We currently expect our revenue and profits for the second half of the year ending 30 June 2026 to be significantly lower than the result posted for the first six months of the financial year, and profits for the year ending 30 June 2026 to be lower than the first half of the financial year.
I take this opportunity to recognise Peter Lawwell’s exceptional service to the Club. Peter had a long and extremely successful period at Celtic as CEO and latterly as Chairman. His commitment to the ethos and values of Celtic Football Club was second to none and future generations will look back on his contribution with the appreciation and respect it is due.
As ever, I thank the staff of Celtic for their diligence and commitment in every aspect of its affairs. While recent months have been challenging, Celtic supporters remain the bedrock of the Club. We all have shared objectives and obligations to help deliver the best possible outcomes for our teams and to uphold the principles on which the Club is founded.
Brian Wilson
Chairman
13 February 2026
https://youtu.be/sqZoezlrKNQ?si=wQZonr_cCR28HlIJ
MON Presser
Hopefully pay as much Corporation Tax as possible
Whatever happened to the Frimpong money?
Happy St. Catherine de Ricci Day! Ave Ave
Petition:
One Celtic. Back our Board, Manager, Players and Charity.
https://c.org/kC24nkswRn
God only knows
What do we think of the Interim Report?
I think Celtic will be in profit and healthily so if the EL run continues, Rachel will be pleased.
So,they did nothing wrong?.No mention of not supplying the then manager with new signings,to not only help us qualify,but strengthen the team for the CL.Caution won again.We gambled.
We were not expecting BR to leave when he did?Oh really?Outright lies.We were all waiting on it.
Stability was restored with MONs appointment,then smashed by the Boards stubborn insistence to appoint an enormous gamble of a Manager,and install him with one days training with the team,before 3 games in a week that would define our season.
We again went cap in hand to MON,to try and salvage what he could from the Boards outrageous decisions,supplying him in the window with unknown loans,hoping .
We admitted to getting,SOME things wrong.Only some?
We have expressed for a few weeks now our wish to get unity back inside the Celtic family.
Sadly,we have still banned supporters,and Fan Media,245 innocent fans.The other 5,remain innocent until court appearance.
Finish with same worthless platitudes.”Working hard,will do our best”,Celtic fans who are the bedrock of our club !!!!!!!!!!!!.About time you started appreciating that,and not just with useless lip service.
We are in danger of winning nothing.Losing 10s of millions,yet again,letting our biggest rivals,possibly enter the CL.Yes,I think this calls for a round of applause,which I am certain a fair few will supply.
No merchandise information in report…..mmmm
So will the Nancy fk up,make the next report?
Bada
It will be in the impaired section, one off payments.
Delivered on Friday the 13th.FFS,we a were already apprehensive.What’s next?.The next Board meeting held in a Cemetery on Halloween?
Dessybhoy
Impaired faculties section?
The interims show a £31 Million hit compared to the same period last year, largely TV and gate receipts from the UCL down £24M, and proceeds from player trading down £7M.
The full year results will be a car crash with doubtless some painful ‘exceptional’ items to rub in the salt.
In the circumstances, not selling Arne last month showed considerable restraint.
That £77 Million in the bank at the end of June will be nearer £50M come the summer. And then what?
The absolute fools that are charged with running this club.
No chair, no manager, no backroom, no head of football, no wonder.
Mind these are interims with restricted reporting only. Need to wait for the year end to get the full detail.
And Nancy of course was post-period end.
dessybhoy- previously had its own heading, nothing ,the NAPL is having an impact
* NAPM…😃
Claiming a 4 month loan as a permanent signing, desperate stuff
Brian Wilson Summary
We blew it again, – after we blew it the last time but we’ve £67M in the bank and we’re still in league contention by the seat of our pants thanks to MON
& Shaun
The disposal of Nicolas Kuhn ( to everyone else SALE for £18M )
Brian Wilson Summary
We blew it again, – after we blew it the last time but we’ve £67M in the bank and we’re still in league contention by the seat of our pants thanks to MON
& Shaun
The disposal of Nicolas Kuhn ( to everyone else SALE for £18M )
* Doesn’t include Nancy pay off
Brendan,with,9 wins,3 draws,now only 3 points off the leaders in Saudi.
I know how incredible a feat he has produced .His team,equivalent to St Mirren ,have around 5,000 attendance.
Gain yersel Brendan.
the Bada Bing on 13th February 2026 6:12 pm
Hopefully pay as much Corporation Tax as possible
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yes, good, profitable businesses should pay the appropriate taxes.
we are not a rangers.