Pay your way or go to the wall

483

I’ve not touched the Anthony Stokes story on purpose. It’s one of those stories you could be writing for a week, if you started. Anthony enjoyed a successful period for Celtic but the writing has been on the wall since the latter part of Neil Lennon’s era.

He’s still only 27, with around half his career ahead of him, but it won’t be at Celtic. I hope he gets a club who can make the most of his talent.

Despite the riches brought by a new TV deal solidarity contract, many English Football League clubs are still under severe financial pressure, including Neil’s current charges, Bolton Wanderers. Bolton owe the vast majority of their circa £200m debt to owner Eddie Davies, so there’s a good chance that will be written off, but administration remains likely.

Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, who I hear is now seriously ill, saw this coming years ago, when he proposed an EPL 2-type league reorganisation, while lobbying for the inclusion of Celtic and Rangers. The plan was kyboshed by his then fellow Premier League acquaintances. It would have been transformational for Celtic, and literally a life saver for Rangers.

That Bolton debt figure is pretty eye-watering but the returns from non-league club Forest Green Rovers caught the eye. Net debts reached £5.4m after season 2013-14, thanks to a £2.9m loss. In non-league football. There’s only one Scottish club with that kind of debt. Although I suppose they are also playing off-piste in the Championship.  Pay your way or go to the wall.  Long term that rule applies.

The football industry in England and Wales will survive for a while yet, despite the broken financial model. It won’t be until the TV rights value drops due to reliable and easy to access pirate feeds that the bubble will burst. And it will burst.  The underlying fragility in the football business is that your expenditure is either fixed or often contracted on a multi-year basis, while income is vulnerable to sharp shocks.  It’s not a healthy business to be running at a deficit in.

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  1. coatbridge paper bhoy on

    FRANNYB67

     

    Know all the area well, cousins all over the place, had a great night in the shawls club in Oct, a 21st, a good chance to catch up with family.

     

    A good chance we know or know people who know us!.

     

    GB

  2. coatbridge paper bhoy on

    Gerryfaethebrig

     

    Did the parents have a bakers , if it’s the same one’s, they were our neighbours?.

     

    GB

  3. so for the nighshift,

     

     

    the evening times NOW YOU KNOW section explained the CELTIC 3 – 1 1967 with what picture ?

     

     

    I will pick up the answers in the morning/

     

     

    The picture in question has the backdrop of an immensely packed jungle with the flags of Ireland , Netherlands and Lebanon on the roof

  4. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Saint Stivs on 4th December 2015 1:19 am

     

     

    The best hun game I ever attended.

     

     

    The most satisfying victory of all.

  5. Now You Know

     

    I was at that game at CP.

     

    Right in front of us, John Clark pulled down Henderson when he was clean through on Ronnie.

     

    Kai Johansen scored from the penalty rebound after the ball hit the bar.

     

    It was of course ruled out.

     

    And the rest is history.

     

    As was our want in those days we were parked behind the Rangers End.

     

    When we eventually left after the crowds melted away, the ones in blue much earlier than the bhoys in green, there was still widespread disquiet among the struggling stragglers.

     

    My brother in law said loudly to no one in particular but everyone in earshot,

     

    “What did you expect? You were playing the European Champions.”

     

    A few startled faces looked round but when they saw five of us, the other four brawny and fit, they scuttled off. I would have been their first pick.

  6. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    Saint Stivs and `GG

     

     

    6mins 45 secs in.

     

     

     

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiCeGkchN8A

     

     

    We were down and out with 15 to go.

     

    One goal down and a penalty to the hun . We`re at the Celtic end looking down on Johansen as he takes the kick.

     

    Immediately from our free kick.straight up the field,corner to us.

     

    Goal.

     

    So,from definite defeat to draw in the space of two minutes.

     

    The you tube takes it from our corner.

  7. Happihillocck

     

    Dundee

     

    1978

     

    She grabbed my head

     

    Pushed down

     

    I gagged

     

    Drink you fecker

     

    I tried

     

    To no avail

     

    He finished

     

    Slapped me

     

    And slapped her

     

    Um no paying

     

    Bedlam

     

    He’l do it again

     

    Grabbed

     

    Forced

     

    Again

     

    Didn’t work

     

    I need in

     

    Proper

     

    He said

     

    She turned me

     

    Go on then

     

     

    After

     

    He was chatting

     

    Nah he said

     

    I’ll get him the England tap

     

    For his birthday

     

    What age Said she

     

    5

     

     

     

     

    Hail Hail

  8. Saint stivs

     

    Hope that’s spelled right cos my eyesight is going

     

    I’m no really thAt old

     

    But um

     

    Blin

  9. Saint Stivs.

     

    Bless me father for I have sinned.

     

    I Googled.

     

    My memory has it as an evening midweek kick off but the pic is day lit.

     

    Confused baffled and bewildered.

  10. So I watched the video and it was an evening game.

     

    I guess the pic was from the first half

     

    Archie McPherson

     

    “A goal by Murdoch.”

     

    “What a goal.”

     

    “What a goal by Murdoch.”

     

    A shot feom the edge of the box which flew into the goalie’s, Ritchie, Billy not Lionel, top right corner.

  11. Liz was finished

     

    Next please

     

    No movement

     

    We thought she was dead

     

    Hoped

     

    Back home

     

    Right as rain

     

    Welcome back

     

     

     

    The above happened

     

    Ambulance called

     

    Hospital check in

     

    Stomach pumped

     

    Pregnancy test

     

    Returned home

     

     

    In Dundee I the 70’s

     

     

     

    I and my surviving siblings know this happened.

     

    And we also know that there were hundreds of other instances

     

     

    There you go

     

    I’ve changed child rape

     

    For

     

    Instances

     

     

    Instances that have been covered up

     

    Files lost

     

    Even the files I saw in 1988 never mentioned any abuse

     

    Abuse was happening since birth dates

     

    From family

     

    And care providers

     

    It’s a fecked up world

     

    hail hail

  12. twentyfirstofmay1979 on

    Saint Stivs/ MACJAY

     

     

    Do you think that scum mob would have got away with last Thursdays antics back in the day ? Don’t know if I was more gutted with the result than finding out the liberties they managed to take.

     

     

    HH

  13. twentyfirstofmay1979 on

    TRAVELLERBHOY

     

     

    Tonydonnely’s getting exactly the reaction he’s looking for on here, let him sit in the Brazen and talk about his secret meetings with the board and all that crap but dont expect to meet him at an away game soon. Getting fed up with the the Tony Donnelly show on here,

     

     

    HH

  14. Moonhowling from yester year !!!!!

     

     

    Yeshua is the King of Kings and he sacrificed himself to take away All of our Sins.

     

     

    I disagreed with Kojo a few Times publically, privately loads, but I loved his Brutal Honesty.

     

     

    You can’t ever beat those Irish, as they are Superb. Dena.

  15. Teentyfirstofmay1979

     

     

     

    I’m a traveller man

     

    Nothing worse than your own turning against you

     

    Lifestyle no problem

     

    sleekit

     

    Well

     

    I’ve had 3 bros

     

    The worst thiing in all my life

     

    Is my family turning against me

     

    It never happened

     

    We are all Celtic

     

    Hail Hail

  16. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    TWENTYFIRSTOFMAY1979 on 4TH DECEMBER 2015 3:05 AM

     

    Saint Stivs/ MACJAY

     

     

    Do you think that scum mob would have got away with last Thursdays antics back in the day ? Don’t know if I was more gutted with the result than finding out the liberties they managed to take.

     

     

    HH

     

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

     

     

    Sorry,mate.Been out.

     

     

    You referring to the hun game and the roof falling in ?

     

    Literally as well as figuratively.

     

    :-)

     

     

     

    Mate,I haven`t lived in Scotland for 30 years,so my opinion on current events has to be assessed around that fact.

     

    Back in the day,the hun and it`s fellow travellers had much more power and influence.

     

    In the `50s George Graham attempted to shut us down over the “Eire flag” issue.

     

    I get the impression that now they require to jump thro` a few hoops to achieve their aims.

     

    They need subtlety .

     

    Fergus McCann may well have been the catalyst for letting them know that were not going to sit at the back of the bus any more.

     

    And our previous chairman,John Reid.

  17. It’s not often I say goodnight on cqn

     

    Well already said

     

    The killer booze has caught me

     

    And he won’t let go

     

    Before I go

     

    Just need to reiterate the point

     

    Sleek it monkeys in the background or decent moralisti Celtic men at the front

     

    Well

     

    No contest

     

    The Celtic

     

    Won 7-1

     

    Hail Hsil

  18. twentyfirstofmay1979 on

    MACJAY

     

     

    No mate, was referring to the crap that happened after the ajax game. the clip you posted from 71 reminded me of past days, they’d never have got away with it then. had their arses kicked back to Amsterdam, and govan

     

     

    HH

  19. Honesty will not bring wealth in Material things, at this late stage.

     

     

    Stop buying the latest…. or even warn yer kids……

     

     

    Ephesians 6 …Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

     

     

    2 “Honor thy father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise:

     

     

    3 “that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”

     

     

    4 And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

     

     

    5 Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ,

  20. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    twentyfirstofmay1979 on 4th December 2015 4:35 am

     

     

     

    :-)

     

    There was a post on here which suggested that retribution had been sought and achieved.

     

    The impression I get is that many Tims now have moved on from “street fighting.”

     

    A higher demographic,if that doesn`t sound too snooty.

     

    The hun,however is still mired.

     

    That pleases me.:-)

  21. twentyfirstofmay1979 on

    TRAVELLERBHOY

     

     

    Keep travelling mate, as far away from this insular wee country of ours as possible, you’ll always find the real Celtic family wherever you go

     

     

    HH

  22. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    petec on 4th December 2015 4:43 am

     

     

    The recent tragedy in San Bernardino…………

     

     

    U.S.A. correspondent suggesting that there had been a ” holiday” celebration which morphed into a celebration with a large Christian influence.

     

    Christmas,but you can`t say that.

  23. twentyfirstofmay1979 on

    MACJAY

     

     

    Doesn’t sound snooty at all, Iv’e moved on myself. Just annoyed me the thought of them running amok in the Gallowgate, Hallowed Turf

     

     

    HH

  24. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    TWENTYFIRSTOFMAY1979 on 4TH DECEMBER 2015 4:53 AM

     

    MACJAY

     

     

    Doesn’t sound snooty at all, Iv’e moved on myself. Just annoyed me the thought of them running amok in the Gallowgate, Hallowed Turf

     

     

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

     

    Love it.

     

    I was lucky enough to attend B.M.C.U.W.`s hootenanny in Machuills ,High St. in October.

     

     

    Where is BOBBY Murdoch and his curled up winklepickers?

     

    His absence is unacceptable.

  25. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 4th December 2015 4:51 am

     

     

    petec on 4th December 2015 4:43 am

     

     

     

     

     

     

    The recent tragedy in San Bernardino…………

     

     

     

     

     

     

    U.S.A. correspondent suggesting that there had been a ” holiday” celebration which morphed into a celebration with a large Christian influence.

     

     

     

     

    Christmas,but you can`t say that.

     

    …………………………………………………..

     

     

    Stay away from MSM news jibberjabber m8ty.

     

     

    The next US presidente will be even worse than Bramstokers, nae shadow of a doubt…. End Times.

     

     

    Erdogan got cocky thinking he would be invincible, with NATO backing him.

     

     

    That Armenian Genocide………………

     

     

    Vladimir Putin is acting like a responsible World Leader, to me he is being led in to a Trap. Vladimir isnae a Christian when he ………………………………………………………… What do I really know?

     

     

    To me, Vlad is fighting this Obvious, Anti Christian, New World Order. And I genuinely think he isn’t in the Club.

     

     

    I know nothing but I do Know that I love this

  26. twentyfirstofmay1979 on

    MACJAY

     

     

    Love Machuills, used to take my son there before the game until he ditched me for the GB. Has BMCUW chucked it ? Quite a few seem to have. Any news of Tricolouredribbon ? Not heard how he’s doing

     

     

    HH

  27. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on

    PETEC on 4TH DECEMBER 2015 5:11 AM

     

     

    Celtic.

     

    100% on the same page.

     

     

    Vlad?

     

    The recreation of the Soviet empire is his aim and he`s doing well.

     

    Crimea. Now Russian.

     

    NEXT?

     

    Nothing whatsoever altruistic in his manoeuvres.

  28. macjay1 for Neil Lennon on 4th December 2015 5:35 am

     

     

    PETEC on 4TH DECEMBER 2015 5:11 AM

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Celtic.

     

     

     

     

    100% on the same page.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Vlad?

     

     

     

     

    The recreation of the Soviet empire is his aim and he`s doing well.

     

     

     

     

    Crimea. Now Russian.

     

     

     

     

    NEXT?

     

     

     

     

    Nothing whatsoever altruistic in his manoeuvres.

     

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

     

     

    The Times have moved on.

     

     

    The Leader of Russia is playing defensively, he has always done so – No Wonder he is popular when he is attacked.

     

     

    I’m a conspiracy nutter for being the non conformist that I am. I hope people can forgive me.

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