Our Annual General Meeting, held at Celtic Park this morning, was a more prosaic affair than last year’s. Chief executive, Peter Lawwell, told the meeting last season’s on-field and financial results were “fantastic” in difficult circumstances.
He repeatedly referred to the “balance” required between immediate expenditure policies and judging the long-term requirements of the club, adding that in recent years, “Rangers went bust, Hearts went bust, and Hibs were relegated.”
For the first time the AGM heard from the Celtic FC Foundation chief executive. Tony Hamilton was given a video slot alongside the chairman, chief exec and the manager and he spoke about how the Foundation was interwoven into the fabric of the club, from the top to bottom, and of our history.
The alleviation of poverty is a major target for 2015, building on work the Foundation carried out this year in north and east Glasgow, Inverclyde and North Lanarkshire. Tony added, “If things weren’t tough we wouldn’t need a charity – but they are.
“We’re deadly serious about making a difference.” I’ll try to get the video, it’s worth watching.
Ronny Deila laid out his objectives for this season: qualification for the Champions League, win the treble, develop players and play attacking, attractive, football. Peter Lawwell didn’t want to use the managerial transition over the summer as an excuse for failing to reach the Champions League, but suggested it was grounds for mitigation.
The chairman, chief executive and manager all liberally infused their comments with transformational effect Champions League qualification would have on the club next season.
The Celtic Trust proposed two resolutions, the first of which, concerning club-fan interaction, they agreed to adjourn. In his video message, chairman Ian Bankier informed the meeting that the directors would oppose the Living Wage resolution, but that they had entered into discussions with the staff on the matter, proposing that the starting pay for permanent staff is set at £7.85 per hour, which just happens to be equal to the Living Wage.
In response to this Jeanette Findlay, proposing the resolution on behalf of the Trust, reached the microphone and tore up her prepared speech. She did, however, urge the club to go the final mile and become an accredited Living Wage employer.
Peter Lawwell informed the meeting that he would be meeting John Guidetti’s agent within the next two weeks and that he is waiting to hear back from Kris Commons representatives on his latest offer.
Ronny Deila added that it was important for the club to retain its top players, giving Guidetti and Justin Denayer special mention, but insisted it was wrong to give into demands from any one player three times the going rate for other senior players.
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“As for zombies, it’s like a scene from the walking dead in there:))”
Sipsini,
From now on I’m going to picture livibhoy as Rick:))
On to the Living Wage, as some have said this needs discussion so that long serving employees don’t feel hard done by.
In the case of agency staff, they may need to wait until contracts with the Agency are renegotiated, as a couple of pounds/hour increase for them may cost a more than that to the club.
deliasmith-enjoy your day HH
deliasmith @ 15.59hrs.
Good post. Lets be aving more.
A reality check for those who think Celtic and PL in particular are not doing a generally good job. As PL himself states; “fantastic”.i think that is maybe a bridge too far.
I must say though, that we have our own share of “Glory Hunters” who would wish us to spend money we haven’t earned and damn the consequences.
HH
sipsini
Hardly any Zombies in here and strangely they rarely talk football these days.
The Jambos are loud and annoying but most of them go can;t hold that against them.
BontyBhoy
I think you are giving a bit of a reality check. We all use products and buy products which are probably sold at the prices they are due to child labour and other horrible means in sweat shops across the globe. Very sobering thoughts have been invoked by your stance.
I still can;t understand why everyone on this planet does not have easy access to clean drinking water but that is a personal issue for me. Surely that is achievable in this day and age.
In my opinion Children in need or Comic Relief should take out one year and say every area of this planet will get safe drinking water for children if we can reach X amount and the rest will go to other projects. That would be an event I would get behind.
LB
Greenpinata
Some spending would be good!!
A £2.2m investment in the team supposedly looking for CL qualification is simply pathetic .
Ps I ain’t no glory hunter.
Just a season ticket holder and supporter of 40 years who thinks the board are taking the proverbial out of us
BontyBoy
I believe you are suggesting I have no moral standards!!!
Yet know me you do not.
Do you expect higher standards from your family and friends than you do of strangers?
I do.
I do love your disapproval (or should that be faux disapproval) of my moral standards. Moral standards I believe to by higher than your own (so stick that in your faux pipe) if you do not expect higher standards of those closer to you (including the club you suppport) over strangers or conglomerate companies.
MWD said AYE
Paul67
Interesting to see the CST resolution re looking at SLO post as a means of improving relationships with the support was adjourned as Res12 was last but not parked.
Perhaps this is the way to go. In fact it would maybe make sense to use the review Celtic have proposed re the a CST resolution to provide a system that looks into issues jointly with supporter representatives BEFORE they enter the more confrontational AGM arena and arrive at solutions that everyone can accept after informed dialogue.
greenpinata-haven’t seen anyone advocating spending money we haven’t earned on here.Maybe could start by spending the money we have earned.HH
Bonty Bhoy
Every journey starts with the first step. There are limits of effect and impact that any person or group of people can achieve. Sometimes that is limited by limited ambition. On the other hand you can’t consider everything or you’ll never take the first step.
In my own bubble world what people are paid is important (to me). I cannot do much about that for the vast majority of the world population but I think I know when effort might reap reward. My own employer has recently become an accredited LWE. 2 years campaigning to get there.
Celtic (I care about and invest in) are getting close.
I think it is a fair campaign for Celtic and its supporters. If the Board are doing the right thing then praise is due (see Mort :-))and if they are doing the wrong thing then some poking is in order.
Frankly, I cannot accept responsibility for global capitalism nor do I have the means or resources to take it on. That doesn’t mean I agree or accept it, just accept that there is more to be done.
If I pay £2.99 for trainers I should know that the price reflects the likliehood of slave labour. If I pay £100 for trainers I would want to ensure that the maker pays £7.85 an hour (I know they don’t). That’s why I don’t buy £100 trainers.
On this I think the Board was wrong and handled it badly. They are going reluctantly. ‘Total Control of Cost Base’ is a spurious face saving arguement in the circumstances.
HH
When the Politicians and Economists have finished their debates, I’ll check back to see if anyone is interested in talking about the game tomorrow. If Brooney definitely suspended, I’d like to see O’Connell partner Virgil and try Denayer in midfield.
Huge congratulations to the Knox family who accepted the Aisling Person of the year award last night in Belfast.
Wee Oscar may be gone but he will be forever remembered.
Not a single RFC share traded today.
When I was with Davie Hay last week he was talking about the way he was treated by the Celtic board in both the seventies and eighties – and concluded that despite all their faults, the current way the club is run is 100 times better than it was then.
Imagine PL coming out and saying that if Ronny wants to buy the players he is interested in he’d have to do so himself. This is what happened to Davie at a time when Souness and Murray just started their reckless spending. Interestingly he also said that up until this point Celtic could and did pay more to their players than Rangers were able to do.
Europa League Trophy heading to Greenock tonight…
Bontybhoy
Good afternoon Roger.
You seem to be making the assertion that those of us who advocate Celtic pay all employees a living wage are hypocrites because we’re not seeking the same standards from other companies.
Please do not assume to know me, you don’t.
Over and out.
TET
The SFA cannot not respond. They have already provided a reason why they must and if they don’t then UEFA is next and keeping it domestic will be SFA preference.
winning captains
Any way I can puirchase raffle tickets via PayPal – makes it much easier to do the transaction from US
HH
TheCelt45
Burghbhoy
Was the manager offered more cash to spend and chose not to?
He had to assess the squad he had. I think in future any change of manager needs to be done if possible mid season to allow the manager to bed in. CL is too vital to the club. It’s clear there is a lot of dross there and it is a struggle to get rid of them.
He has chosen to bring loan to buys in and I think that strategy is working. Scepovic struck me as a panic buy and he wasn;t exactly breaking his neck to get here. I believe there is talk of him heading back to Spain. Another purchase that didn;t seem to work out for a lot of money in Celtic terms. I would suggest it is the final straw for the current scousting staff and Ronny will take more control. If you remember when Scepovic was purchased Ronny said something along the lines that he was not his signing and he would work with him. The scouting staff identified Scepovic and Ronny clearly wants his own man in a top role there or someone whose judgement fits his own.
If we progress far in the EL and we win the treble it’s a helluva job for a small outlay. Guess it’s the glass is half full or half empty policy. Your is half empty. My outlook is half full.
LB
WC/Auldheid
Could you post a link to the Res 12 statement for those of us who are not on Faceache please – thanks.
HH
“Permanent”.
Not “Full Time”.
Permanent. Includes part time staff.
Unless there’s justifiable reason, any employment benefits for permanent staff need to be provided to fixed term contracted staff who provide the same role.
It does not include the staff of service providers such as Lindley Venue Catering who manage the kiosks around the ground. Lindley is owned by US multi-nat Centerplate Inc.
The majority of these staff will be employed by Lindley on casual – zero hour – contracts, and called in as required for each event at each venue they service.
If Celtic were to agree to pay ALL staff the Living Wage, it would mean increasing the pay of those currently on say £7-10/hr to say £10-13/hr and that in turn would lead them to having to increase Peter Lawwell’s meagre earnings to £6Billion/hr (approx).
And that would not be sustainable.
Burghbhoy
Other teams reach the Uefa cup and champions league on less!
Livibhoy
I would have agreed with your post mate in particular about RD assessing his squad first if we had a track record in previous windows of investment.
Unfortunately, we do not.
Also, if that is true about RD and the Scepovic signing I would be Disapointed in RD. I do not recall RD ever saying what you quote.
My love of Celtic will never diminish but when I hear our CEO talk about investing in the team, whatever we bring in, my heart sinks because it is a blatant lie. A lie that has been a content ( apart from the MON era ) during my 40 years of supporting the club .
I am tired of rhetoric from the suits.
They have no ambition to further our team and our club.
They show no ingenuity.
They always respond from a position of weakness.
If it weren’t for Jeanette and the Celtic Trust they would now not be paying some a living wage .
Everything is forced, nothing us volunteered.
I will tell you something though they show plenty ambition in the prices they charge for merchandise and even catering at the game.
Oops, I’m half full again lol
HH buddy
Friesdorfer
Page 1 of this thread from Starry Plough at 14:34.
Get our Big No. 9 signed up Pedro :-)
When’s the ad going out (is it January??).
I believe I paid for at least part of word of the advert last night via my raffle contribution – I choose the word “…liquidation…”, if that’s OK with everyone else ?!?!?
HH
BGFC
For the amount of guys to go at one guy saying he is making assumptions is kind of daft, he is only stating and saying what I was, to many just can’t wait to use the LW as a stick to batter PL , it’s predicable, and the usual suspects, I swear they have just copied and pasted what they posted last year afte that AGM, I’m not assuming, im stating a fact, in my opinion of course.
Lurking HUNS GIRFUYs
Content= constant
Friesdorfer
16:48 on
21 November, 2014
WC/Auldheid
Could you post a link to the Res 12 statement for those of us who are not on Faceache please – thanks.
HH
===================
It should go up on Phil Mac Giolla Bhain’s blog later to reach as wide an audience as possible.
Phil was at AGM.
here is a copy.
Question and Answer in relation to Resolution 12 of the previous 2013 AGM of Celtic PLC.
Question – Would the board provide an update in relation to Resolution 12 from the AGM last year?
CHAIRMAN Answer –
At the AGM last year, a resolution regarding the application of UEFA licensing processes by the Scottish FA in the 2011/12 season was requisitioned by shareholders.
Prior to the AGM, representatives of the Board met with representatives of those shareholders who moved the resolution. The meetings were very positive and assisted the Club in understanding the shareholders’ concerns.
At the AGM, the resolution was adjourned indefinitely, so that the board, through the Company Secretary, could continue to liaise with the representatives of the shareholders moving the resolution with a view to progressing matters.
In the last year there have been regular meetings between the Company Secretary and the shareholders’ representatives.
The Board recognise that the shareholders’ representatives have conducted these discussions and meetings in a professional manner, with detailed expertise and knowledge.
Matters continue to be progressed.
The board and the shareholders’ representatives are committed to continuing with this process of dialogue.
The shareholders representatives have confirmed to me that they recognise and appreciate that, during the course of the year, the board have worked continuously to meet and deal with the concerns raised by the shareholders, have made representations on their behalf to the SFA and shall continue to do so.
Made on 21 November 2014 at AGM
Further to the above the shareholders representatives would like to add:-
During the course of the past year, there have been a number of meetings between shareholders representatives and the Company Secretary of Celtic PLC acting as a representative of the board of the company.
Those meetings have concerned certain licensing issues and related events which embroiled Scottish Football in the course of 2011/2012. In the course of the discussions it became plain that the board of Celtic PLC had already embarked upon a line of enquiry surrounding the same issues prior to the 2013 AGM of Celtic PLC.
However, it also became clear that the shareholders, acting independently, were able to provide further information, analysis, and detail which had not hitherto been made available to the board.
As a result, further enquiries were made by Celtic PLC and dialogue and correspondence was set up with the SFA in relation to these enquiries. This is an ongoing process.
Further, in the course of the year and in the course of the discussions and the dialogue referred to above, it also became plain that in presenting and discussing various pieces of information and documentation, very careful regard had to be had to the rules of evidence as they apply to court actions and other tribunals in both England and Scotland.
Celtic PLC, The SFA nor the shareholders have any control or influence over proceedings or investigations which have been commenced or undertaken by others and which are ongoing. Further, the shareholders recognise that the nature of their concerns may well stray into events and a timeframe which is germane to these other proceedings.
Accordingly, in the course of the year, the shareholders have sought professional advice from a variety of sources concerning the source and provenance of documentation, the implementation and application of the tax laws within the UK, the interpretation and application of the football rules applicable at the time and other various other matters.
The very nature of the enquiries made and the circumstances surrounding the events that have led to the shareholders concerns, has meant that all parties involved in this process have had, by necessity, to proceed with extreme caution and with a constant eye on what can and cannot be done legally.
However, we have now reached a position, with the assistance of those who have given us advice, and with the help of Celtic PLC, whereby there are clear lines of enquiry which can be pursued with and through the SFA. As stated above that is a continuing and ongoing process.
At this stage, we have been advised that the detail of the discussions and correspondence should not be made public until the process we have started has reached a conclusion or until such times as this process ceases to potentially overlap with matters which are beyond our control or sphere of influence.
The purpose and the reasoning of the resolution was to ask that Celtic PLC plays its part in making enquiries about events which were of concern to shareholders. As a result of the resolution a detailed and laborious process has been professionally undertaken and is ongoing.
TD67
Could you feed and clothe your family for less than the Living wage?
Would u have worked for less?
Why should others?
robert88
Agreed but not many and not often
Why is the Celtic statement not up on the Official site?
Burghbhoy @ Bada Bing.
I appreciate your points and yes I believe we need to spend. But we need to spend wisely and proportionally to what we earn.
We cannot begin to compete with the overpaid, overrated and overhyped EPL. We live in a different financial pond. Although we are by far the biggest fish in our pond we cannot even contemplate paying the wages that a £10m player can command in England. Yet some wish us to do so.
e.g. How much would we have to pay for Snodgrass ? An average player who I happen to like cause I went to the same school as him, but would the likes of him really improve our team.
I want more from our substantial investment in Lennoxtown and I want to give youth a chance.
IMO we missed a trick last year by not capitalising on our Antalya success. We should have played more y
Does Peter Lawwell play on the ‘difficult conditions in Scottish football at the moment’ just a little too much?
We know there have been issues over the last few years and attracting more sponsors is a challenge, but apart from Sevco other clubs in Scotland have managed to get their house in order off the pitch with some particularly good news for Aberdeen, Dundee Utd, Hearts, Kilmarnock amongst others in 2014 (. eg. Ayr Utd signalling their intention to return to full time football).
Maybe its time we took an example from our English counterparts and talked up our product a little more. God knows its worked for them for long enough even if the cracks are appearing more and more in their money hungry top flight.
HH
sorry,We should have played more youth when we had won the league, rather than go for the 100 points.
If we do the same this year at our “winter training camp” in January then it will be another opportunity missed.
HH.
traditionalist88
17:09 on 21 November, 2014
Does Peter Lawwell play on the ‘difficult conditions in Scottish football at the moment’ just a little too much?
We know there have been issues over the last few years and attracting more sponsors is a challenge, but apart from Sevco other clubs in Scotland have managed to get their house in order off the pitch with some particularly good news for Aberdeen, Dundee Utd, Hearts, Kilmarnock amongst others in 2014 (. eg. Ayr Utd signalling their intention to return to full time football).
—————–
Those clubs have got their house in order by no longer paying inflated wages to average players, how I’d love Celtic to follow suit but you’d be hard pressed to find any in our first team that is worth their weekly wage.
Greenpinata
I am not asking for Celtic to compete with EPL teams.
I am not asking for Celtic to spend more than we can afford .
I am simply asking we not be treated like mugs by the CEO when he states that we spend all we bring in in team investment.
That is not true.
Why is he not held accountable for this ?
We sold Forster and bought Scepovic.
That is our in and outs for cash this season.
Remind me how much we received for Forster and spent on Scepovic?
Kindae disproves the CEO statement
HT, because you’re easiest to answer. No… try having a conversation once in a while. Might point is self containted, and clear.
FAB,
Sorry, I agree with much of what you say. I didn’t mean to pick on you, not least because you seem to be honestly engaged. I felt some people were belittling the matter to support an agenda. I can’t say that about you. I was just replying to a particular point you made.
MWD,
I said that you said that you had no moral values. Then you said that I said that you had no moral values.
It’s not worth it. You never read anything I post, you just react. It’s amazing you are within spitting distance of the subject.