Scott Brown’s injury-enforced absence from the team in recent weeks has at least taken heat of his contract situation but that will change in January, when he is back in the team and available to sign a pre-contract agreement. Neil Lennon reports that Celtic have met Scott’s terms but have declined to meet his agent’s demand.
Agent’s often have exclusive representation agreements with players which guarantee the agent a cut of any contract signed when the agreement is active. 5% of a four or five year contract for a top-earning Celtic player could easily reach £300k, or £360k including vat. This is a lot of money for the player to pay out of his after-tax income so what commonly happens is the agent uses his exclusive deal with the player to negotiate a pay-off from the club instead of acting for the player. Unlike the player, a club can reclaim vat and pays before, not after tax, so the same money going to the agent costs the combined player/club less.
It’s often the case, however, that the agent’s fee paid by the club has little resemblance to the percentage the agent would get representing the player. While a player has an exclusive deal with an agent, a buying club has three deals to agree: the selling club’s fee, the player’s wages and the agent’s fee.
Big agent fees don’t necessarily mean bad business for the buyer, as the agent may well have made a deal achievable at a purchase price which would not have been otherwise possible, but clubs are typically more reticent when it comes to paying agents to renew contracts for their existing players. One (then) SPL chairman told me he had a flat £500 tariff for such deals.
Artur Boruc concluded his last contract with Celtic without an agent. At the time he explained that he would need an agent if he was moving club but didn’t need one to negotiate a predetermined level on the Celtic pay structure. This would have saved Celtic money and might have earned Artur an extra bonus.
Scott Brown is not in this situation. If he is offered a contract of around £6m over five years, after 50% tax and 12% (?) national insurance (which Celtic and staff pay…), his take home pay from the contract will be considerably less. 5% of the contract could end up looking like 14% of take home pay after vat is added.
Celtic will also be alert to the dangers of precedent. If a player’s ‘advisor’ can get a significant pay-day out of a contract renewal there is no incentive for the player to conclude a deal with Celtic without an advisor, indeed, there is incentive to get one involved.
I’ve no information whatsoever on what is going on with Scott’s contract but the portents don’t look promising.
A couple of years ago we spoke about the excellent Why England Lose and its predecessor, Moneyball. Two books that sought to explain how to find value in football and baseball respectively. The Brad Pitt movie, Moneyball, based on the events analysed in the book, is now out. Not sure making a drama out of statistics is wise but I’ll need to check it out.
Read CQN Magazine for free online here. Subscriptions to the online copy are discretionary but you can contribute here. Old-school hard copies are available here from Magcloud.
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Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo – I like your partner Scully a loater. (thumbsup)
Canalmar,
I said to you, once, that I’m happy to agree with the principle of your point, albeit in a very loose way. That wasn’t enough. I complimented you on the rhetoric too. That’s as good as it gets old man. I’m afraid I simply don’t regard it as a logical question, the answer to which bears no relation to your footballing allegiance. I mean to say the situation could quite easily be reversed and whilst I may be ashamed of the board behaviour I would remain a Celtic fan. So, what the …. is your point?
Actually forget it. You have a one track mind. My post today was a contructive football point. You have no interest in football though, do you. You want to plug your narrow minded agenda at every turn and that some play along is all the validation you need. I know that your bizarre agenda’s will play to a certain crowd, just as much as I know that a great many Celtic fans would think you’re hectoring behaviour and the substance of your thoughts to be strange, self-serving and a bit of a drain on the fun they have watching sport and following a proper football team.
Moonbeams WD. \o/ Supporting Neil Lennon 100%. C’mon the hoops. says:
29 November, 2011 at 12:54
TBB
I don’t believe for a minute Manish called you Bunnet.
MWD
He didn’t, he called you Bunnet ……. or was it me?
I agree Scott Brown came onto his game from January-April, much like Samaras.
Broon gave us a new dimension form right midfield and was rightly praised.
But were those few months of telling contribution in 4 years worth 25K a week basic?
I think we’d be better off letting him go and getting in two players at 10-12k a week, which is still very attractive money in this financial climate.
Clanmalirtim @ 12.48
Agreed Diawara would be a top signing but it would seem that Neil wants to keep Brown at the club.
I Think, Celtic would make more in security savings, than they make from the hearts support.
The polis presence would be halved, or greatly reduced as there is less likelyhood of disturbance, no ?
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire says:
29 November, 2011 at 13:02
We also wouldn’t have to replace any broken seats after!
BOBBY MURDOCH’S CURLED-UP WINKLEPICKERS
haha
do you have colour TV yet ?
and where do you park your horse when you get to Staples Corner ?
:)
Moneyball isn’t the only forthcoming sports themed movie.
They’re also filming “The Alex Rae Story” – http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1101107712/tt0077681
A Craig Whyte biopic – http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1805485312/tt0095031
And a film about the Rangers support – http://www.imdb.com/media/rm1454674432/tt0079871 (thumbsup)
bomtybhoy,
on the contrary, my whole argument is to remove bitter and twisted huns like yourself from the blog. to that end I will not rest, I will continue to expose you at every opportunity.
enjoy
Philvis
yep Whytey surely has an Asian agent working for him called Blue Mulder ;-)
Hail Hail
Moneyball ?
A great book — I know zilch about baseball but loved the book .
Made me think about Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forrest —– looks like Brian knew ” a productive player ” when he saw one.
Nice wee ” human interest ” story re Pascali in today’s Fitba Pink —– Serie C no mark to scoring an historical winner against those morally and financially bankrupt Huns.— He was convinced he was offside but then he saw where Rangers new signing was standing !.
Warm and sunny —lovely day -way down south.
Put an extra £50 on the tickets for the skittery farts.
Do as much as possible to discourage them.
If you dont mind me asking
Who amongst you has the very nice black car with the TKF logos on the door thats just parked in my workplace?
philvisreturns says:
29 November, 2011 at 12:51
coorslad is Neil Lennon – Curses!
Next time, Gadget. NEXT TIIIMMME!
(thumbsup)
share
Enjoyed that wee first,the wife and the big fat neighbour carried me around the kitchen shoulder high..The celebrations are continuing
Richard Wilson and Gerry Braiden
Share
29 Nov 2011
RANGERS are exploring the potential of a formal relationship with the Brazilian club, Corinthians while the TAX man pays for it.
Gordon Smith, the Ibrox side’s director of football, is currently part of a trade delegation visiting the South American country, and has already been involved in talks with team officials.
Although British clubs are restricted by work permit regulations to signing only full internationalists, meaning that Rangers could not bring young players over from Brazil, the Ibrox side could benefit from shared commercial and scouting expertise.
It is understood that Smith could announce the tie-up on Thursday, when he returns from the trip.
He is Rangers’ representative on the trade mission, which was organised by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry. Why Rangers should be given this funding specifically is open to public debate.
Along with Michael Moore, the Secretary of State for Scotland, delegates from the golf, banking, whisky, oil and legal industries, among others, are taking part in the four-day visit, which began in Sao Paolo, where Corinthians are based, and is currently in Rio de Janeiro.
“Like many football clubs, Rangers are looking to develop their global brand and enter into partnerships with Brazilian clubs, most notably Corinthians,” said Moore. “They’ve also been attending the Soccerex Global Convention, the biggest soccer expo in the world and an opportunity for Rangers to show their wares.
“Rangers have a lot of interesting plans and it shows the world that Scotland can produce not just whisky and golf, but a lot of other cultural wares, such as Rangers.”
Smith’s visit is part of an ongoing bid by Rangers to strengthen their fanbase and income potential abroad. Ally McCoist, the Ibrox manager, spent some time in Argentina during the summer to look at players, while Sunil Chhetri and Jeje Lalpekhlua, two Indian strikers, are currently on trial at Murray Park.
The former was offered a contract two years ago by Queens Park Rangers – where Ali Russell, Rangers’ chief executive, was working at the time – but couldn’t sign for the club due to work permit issues.
With the British government keen to strengthen trade relations with India, it is felt that Rangers could secure the necessary paperwork if they choose to sign either player now.
It is more difficult for British sides to sign South American players, which Gordon Strachan criticised during his time in charge of Celtic. Yet Manchester United had a working relationship with Corinthians, and once sent youth players to Sao Paolo during the summer to train with the Brazilian side.
In June 2001, John Rankin was one of two United youth players to go to Brazil for a two-week training camp, although the pair returned early because there was no translator provided.
Smith’s time in Brazil may result in a similar relationship with Corinthians. The Sao Paolo side currently top Brasileiro Serie A, but only by two points from Vasco de Gama and tension is building in the championship race. “It’s a crunch moment in the Brazilian league and I’m bumping into lots of football fans of differing rivalries,” said Moore. “A lot of it would seem similar to people from Glasgow.”
Rangers, meanwhile, have agreed to play cash strapped Crusaders in Belfast next year. The Irish outfit, who have just settled a £350,000 tax bill, urgently require funds and the Ibrox side, despite their own financial problems, will play a fixture between January and March. “We are delighted Rangers have said yes to our invitation,” said a club spokesman. “Obviously, they are a massive draw and we expect a capacity crowd.”
Liverpool, too, will play Crusaders in their bid to finance a move from their current ground to a new stadium at North Foreshore within the next few years.
So according to the herald, Wiggy is in Brazil funded by the tax payer to discuss a tie in with Corinthians.
Wonder why they’re not interested in that other Paulista outfit Palmeiras.
Rioskorrie can you not make a phonecall to end this craziness.
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo – yep Whytey surely has an Asian agent working for him called Blue Mulder ;-)
That got me thinking.
If you want to see cognitive dissonance in action, offer one of the facecombers a bottle of Blue Nun. (thumbsup)
Neil canamalar Lennon hunskelper extrordinaire says:
29 November, 2011 at 13:02
Naw. All the polis stand round the GB anyway.
The reason we were able to play Scott Brown in his best position in January was that Beram Kayal returned from injury. Beram gave us two players. Our best midfield had Ledley and Kayal in the core but as soon as BK became injured it was back to playing Broonie in the middle because we had no-one else.
Now we have big Vic, plus Beram on a longer term deal. We also have Ledley able to play in the middle or over to the left (or back to the left).
I would like to keep SB for the heavier winter pitches and inevitable battles that we seem to get drawn into but not at any price. And since his agent is not actually out on that same pitch contributing, we certainly shouldn’t be paying him what would be a very good SPL wage. From his agent’s POV he likely knows what kind of signing bonus he (the agent) would get if SB moved and is trying to get the same out of us. Its probably down to SB now to work out how much he really wants to keep playing here. Is there likely to be anything binding SB to that agent? Could he tell him to GTF? Could he let his current contract expire and then sign a new one with a new agent?
Swiss Tony
Almost certain it’s on ESPN.
Hertz fans boycott
win win
NL’s body guards can take the day off to go visit their mum’s and buy some flowers n chocs for her, boosting the local economy (in this current climate haha)
and der Meeja will be all out of gash to write
C_F
That was very quick. Impressed.
I only realised how much I loved Celtic after I left
By KENNY MacDONALD
Published: Today
Add a comment (6)
DUTCH striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink knew he was in the wrong country when he turned to the sports pages of his local paper and found himself reading about SKIING.
The former Celtic star has opened his heart on how much he missed the Hoops and Scotland during a miserable spell in Austrian football.
Vennegoor of Hesselink quit Hull City for Rapid Vienna last year, but the move was a disaster on the park as injuries restricted him to just ten appearances last season.
But it was off the park the hitman — now back at PSV Eindhoven — really missed Scotland.
From scoring Champions League goals against the likes of Barcelona and Manchester United, Vennegoor of Hesselink found himself in league games against the likes of little-known Kapfenberger SV in front of crowds of barely 4,000.
He told SunSport: “There aren’t many better places to play football than Celtic Park, but it’s only now I realise that.
“Maybe when you’re there every day you don’t completely appreciate what you have.
“In Scotland people are very serious about football. Everybody has an opinion or knows something about football. They talk about it all the time. It’s a way of life.
“For instance, in Scotland you pick up newspapers and the back page is all football. Turn the page and it’s football. And it’s like that for page after page after page. Every club gets a lot of coverage.
“I was used to that being the way of life for four-and-a-half years. I’d got used to two countries, Scotland and England, that were full of football.
“In Austria they write about football, but nowhere near as much. And near to skiing season, football went into the background.
“After what I’d come from, I found that difficult to adapt to. I missed the intensity of Scotland, the way they live for football.
“Maybe I’m a romantic concerning football in Britain, but it’s the way I think it should be. Football in Austria was secondary and that wasn’t what I’d been used to at all. The Austrian outlook to football was totally different to what I knew. For that reason, I didn’t enjoy it there.
“I admit, I couldn’t adapt to that. It was a big change and I missed the British culture.
“In Scotland and England, football is the number one thing in the lives of some people. Everything revolves around it and I really like that mentality.
“It was the thing I missed the most. It was why I left. I wanted to get back to enjoying football and training every day.
“I wasn’t depressed, absolutely not. I’m always a positive guy, but I missed the fact I wasn’t enjoying football. It was a very new feeling to me and not one I enjoyed.
“I’d never had it before, but luckily I found it again when I came back to PSV.”
Vennegoor of Hesselink admits even day-to-day life in Vienna was completely different for him.
He said: “When I walked around Glasgow I knew I would be asked questions. People would say hello, ask for autographs, ask if we were going to win on Saturday and so on. But in Vienna it was completely different. You could walk round and sometimes no one would say anything to you about football. There just isn’t the same passion about it.
“Okay, sometimes it’s nice to be able to relax and not have to be asked about football all the time.
“But I missed the 60,000 crowds, the Champions League, being at Celtic Park for big games.
“In Austria I played for a club where the games had a good atmosphere, but it was nothing like Celtic or even PSV, where big games get crowds of 35,000. I had a lot of success in Scotland and after that, Austria was an anti-climax.” Vennegoor of Hesselink, 33, admits part of the problem in Austria stemmed from his own successful past. He won two titles with PSV before moving to Parkhead for £3.4million in 2006 and winning two more in his first two seasons at Celtic.
He said: “The way it went in Austria was a shame because I thought I was going there to sign for a club who’d be challenging for the title, but we didn’t have a good season.
“Some of that was to do with my own circumstances. It was fine on a personal level, but as a player you want to be competing and trying to win trophies and be successful.
“That’s what I had been used to in Scotland, but it wasn’t the case last year.
“In Austria the training methods were also different to what I’d been used to in Britain.
“I didn’t play a lot of games due to injury, which made it more frustrating. If I’d been playing it would maybe have been a better experience, but the fact I wasn’t didn’t help my feelings about the transfer.
“It’s a shame it didn’t work out, but you make decisions in your life. Some of them come off, some of them don’t.
“Now it’s a new chapter for me. I’ve played at PSV before, I know how the club is and how it works and I’m looking forward to it.
“I’m enjoying football again. It took a while to sign the contract, but I was happy to get it done.
“Now I feel as though I can get back to football matters again.”
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo – Rangers are looking to develop their global brand
Rangers aren’t a global brand.
They’re a UK/NornIron regional brand, and even then, when most people here in England think of Rangers, they think of the Manchester riots. (thumbsup)
He’s only there at the expense of the taxpayer according to Awe Naw.
What you have here is classic hunguffery.
Lots of people are at Soccerex (Chelsea, Real Madrid, Andy Cole, Howard Webb, Giovanni Van B, Christian Nerlinger, Patrick Viera, Francesco Toldo). On one of the Soccerex flyers, the Celtic crest is there among those of other big clubs.
Duffield is using it to make it look as though he is at the cutting edge of high-end football administration.
Canalmar,
Weird wee man aren’t you. Granted if the blog were dominated by your like then I’d look elsewhere, but then so would a lot of people.
Think you’re going to have to step it up a bit. I can honestly say that I’ve only been replying to you out of politeness, that necessity removed, I’m afraid you’ll have to really go some to even attract my interest – I really don’t rate you as a football fan… and given that Celtic are a football club… I think you’re just a bitter old fool who finds it easiest to express that through a major social institution that bring joy to the masses. In other words I don’t think of you as a Celtic fan. Not a hun mind, just an angry nothing.
More good news! I despise that mob.
HEARTS fans are considering boycotting forthcoming away matches at Celtic and Hibs because of new ticketing measures which will see them pay more than 25 per cent extra to attend the games.
Officials at Celtic Park and Easter Road are opting to sell tickets straight to Hearts supporters and post them out, ensuring revenue goes direct to the home clubs without any involvement from Hearts. However, fans are outraged at the booking and special delivery fees they are being asked to pay to secure their seats.
philvisreturns says:
29 November, 2011 at 13:15
Why are Rangers the only Scottish football club that has been giving this excellent opportunity at the tax payers expense ?
Talk about extracting the urine.
Hail Hail
Salary £1,200,000 per annum
Awe Naw
They aren’t. They haven’t.
http://www.scdi.org.uk/tm/tm1.html
Awe_Naw_No_Annoni_Oan_Anaw_Noo – It’s not an opportunity, it’s a junket. (thumbsup)
Celtic_First
are you stating or implying that Chelsea, Real Madrid, Andy Cole, Howard Webb, Giovanni Van B, Christian Nerlinger, Patrick Viera, Francesco Toldo are all in Brazil at the expense of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry ?
Hail Hail
Hankray,
Thanks, I’ll check.
Swiss
Try again……….ages since I posted
Salary £1,200,000 per annum
NI £27,381
Tax £578,000
Take home £594,619
In addition CFC will pay £164,624 employer’s National Insurance
Courtesy of listentotaxman.com
Wet and windy way down southwest.
I’ve just seen the #9 Enigma jogging past in just his shorts and a t-shirt.
I asked him if he wanted to come in for a cup of hot chocolate and he just said ‘Man is disturbed not by things, but by the views he takes of them.”
And he was off again through the puddles, his lovely hair streaming behind him like licquorice.
Celtic_first
where does the grant of 750 quid or commercial assistance come from ?
Hail Hail
Can I upgrade a junior ticket to adult by ringing the ticket office?