Celtic are about to embark on their fourth season as the last remaining Superpower in Scottish football. The old wars were won, while current challenges on the domestic front are accomplished with ease, but many questions remain about the club’s place in the world, what it’s objectives should be and how best to deliver them.
My expectation is that Celtic’s annual accounts, which will be released next month, will show they club washed its face, largely aided by the sale of Fraser Forster, but turnover is likely to be around 35% below the peak figure from season 2012-13, where we progressed to the knock-out stages of the Champions League, selling tickets and merchandise by the ton.
Season ticket sales are down around 10,000 from their peak a decade ago, reflecting the lack of domestic competition, an overhang of the economic climate, and – I expect – a tail off from what was an unsustainable high during the years of regrowth after the long, dark, 90s. The good news is the distress rate appears to have bottomed out. New blood has replaced old in many parts of the stands, as many learn to appreciate The Game for its sporting merit, not simply a means to three points.
We had a terrible start to the Ronny Deila era. We huffed and puffed in Iceland, were torn apart in Poland, but the performance against Legia at Murrayfield was nothing short of a capitulation. From the opening minute of the game we were worse, much worse, than we were in Warsaw.
Results and performances remained disappointing for months as Aberdeen regularly led the league into the new year, but signs of recovery appeared in the Europa League, where we qualified for the knock out stages and put on two credible performances against Inter.
Last autumn Ronny was under pressure. In another era, this could have been overbearing pressure. The change in managers brought a change in tactics, training and personal objectives, which disoriented the club. It also meant that we didn’t have a recruitment strategy in place for the new requirements.
There are many long term strategic threats, but if Celtic ever lose a league again, it’s likely to be when they embark on such an overwhelming technical change. If we do this again, we need to anticipate the shock and compensate accordingly.
Sporting objectives remain clear: win the league every season “forever and ever” and qualify for the Champions League group stages. Having given this some thought, I cannot see the scenario when we will lose the Scottish league title.
A horizon exists in Scottish football, no one can see beyond 10-in-a-row. This season WILL be five-in-a-row, most bookies are offering 1/33, a 3% return on your money, on this outcome. After that the countdown to 10 will grow louder, but 10 is not a real horizon, it just exists because Jock Stein’s ways were eventually copied. He had no mystical touch, only good strategy.
Rangers should never had stopped at 9. The money they had gave them an enormous advantage. Wim Jansen arrived from nowhere (Japan) with half a team signed by Jock Brown. It defied logic how we won that title, but it’s also clear than many at Ibrox had put their tools away before the start of that season. There is a warning here for Celtic. The latter parts of the Martin O’Neill, Gordon Strachan and Neil Lennon eras were all characterised by less innovative signings. More scouting trips to Edinburgh, fewer to Cracow, and the like. When the players, manager or scouts get weary, teams fail.
Achieving Champions League group stage qualification is the most difficult challenge Celtic face. We are clearly a better team than Qarabag, and have considerably more resources, but much of Wednesday night was spent worrying if the goal would come, and about what we would face in Baku. Even if we’re successful, strong unseeded teams will await in our section of the next round draw.
We are more than good enough to win league after league, but we’re not more than good enough to qualify for Champions League after Champions League. This should be Celtic’s objective for the next year – arrive in next summers’ qualifiers with a much better team.
The success of this will depend on Ronny’s ability to turn potential into actual European class players. He can do this, but he’ll need a tail wind. In particular, we have to hope that an earlier, ‘recruit from Edinburgh’ strategy, has not been redeployed in the form of a ‘recruit from Dundee’ one.
There are objective measurements we can point to. We are sound financially, pay our bills when due, have seen off all domestic competitors, will report more than 40,000 season ticket holders, a buoyant retail business and strong commercial partnerships. The stadium looks incredible, whoever conceived of the Celtic Way deserves some credit – but please – finish the job.
Copy what we saw at Murrayfield, put turnstiles at the perimeter of the footprint, build fan zones, build a café outside the ground. 30 years from now people will not sit in stadiums like Celtic Park, they will have better facilities, start planning for them now.
As anyone will tell you, football is a results business, and results over the next four weeks will have an enormous bearing on what state we feel the club is in. Defeat will not mean we are on the wrong path any more than victories mean we are on the right path, but it’s the game we play, so ‘play on’.
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Just back from holiday!
Whits happind tae CQN?
To everyone going to CP today for flag day, enjoy your day you lucky peeps.
This is brilliant.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9x4bfHllX2A
HH
John Clark the. Great unsung hero of the Lions
Imagine being in Paradise every almost working day for 50 odd years?
Seen it all done it all, watched them all come and go and still oozing class, integrity and that finest ingredient humility.
There was a wee night at CP a few years ago when I met a bunch of CQNers for the first time – great fun.
We were offered the chance to take a photo with the Lions and waited in line patiently.
I watched John Clark meet and greet every fan who stood beside him as if they were a long lost brother or sister. Genuine and without any hint of just playing to the gallery,
100 years from now he will be remembered and loved in the same way as Loney, Hay, Dunbar et al
John Clark A true Celtic Legend- enjoy your day, you have earned that right.
What I love most about John Clark is that I don’t think he’d ever have imagined ‘someone like him’ being honoured in such a way.
Humility throughout his greatness.
Off to catch a train to Paradise
HH jamesgang
Jamesgang
You might pick up a stray. At Fallirk high
Beware Oldtim on his way to paradise
Hope he has his meds :-)
Kev J
Hail Hail
I will give a wee extra roar for ye today.
—-
Big Nan
Have a great day sir
one of CQNs finest gents .
Kev j…
Good to see you posting mate. KTF
Ohhhhhhhhhh
Barrach Qbampot :)))
I sent you an email
If yer still about
I will walk round to turnstile 49 at FT in the hope of meeting you Sir.
6″4 head of grey hair an attempted goatee beard and will be wearing a Celtic parka,
So everyone else thats a sure sign it will be tshirt weather:)))))))))
Ohh and I will be smiling (as always)after broonie scores today.
Some ones having a laugh?
06:00, 1 AUGUST 2015
BY MARK MCGIVERN
DAVID GRIER, Paul Clark and David Whitehouse have filed papers seeking damages over the BBC documentary ‘Rangers: The Men Who Sold The Jerseys’.
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SNS Group / Alan HarveyDavid Whitehouse (left) and Paul Clark of Duff and Phelps
THE BBC have been hit with a £3million libel writ by the men who handled the Rangers takeover.
Three top accountants from Duff and Phelps have personally filed papers seeking damages over an expose of the controversial sale of the club to Craig Whyte in 2011.
David Grier, Paul Clark and David Whitehouse lodged the defamation writ at Glasgow Sheriff Court – the same court which will host a criminal trial centred on their handling of the Rangers administration.
The trio’s role was called into question by the BBC Scotland documentary, Rangers: The Men Who Sold The Jerseys.
The programme, presented by Mark Daly, made serious allegations about Duff and Phelps partner Grier and his role in Whyte’s takeover of Rangers, where Whyte used funds raised from ticketing firm Ticketus.
Daly is personally named in the writ, along with the BBC and an expert witness who appeared on the programme in May 2012.
It was shown 12 months after Whyte officially bought the club, and just three months after it plunged into insolvency in February 2012.
SNSDavid Grier at Ibrox in 2012
Whyte bought Rangers from Sir David Murray for £1 and paid an £18million debt to Lloyds Bank by selling three years of season tickets to Ticketus for £25million. The Daily Record revealed the Ticketus deal.
As well as being involved in Whyte’s takeover, Duff and Phelps were appointed as Rangers’ administrators after the club’s finances went into meltdown following the sale.
The documentary also raised questions over whether it was appropriate for Duff and Phelps to accept the appointment as administrators, given the nature of the firm’s relationship with Whyte.
Duff and Phelps threatened to sue in 2012 but no writ was forthcoming. The three employees served their writ in May this year.
But shortly after it was served at the BBC’s HQ in Glasgow, the writ was “sisted” by Grier, Whitehouse and Clark. That means it was put on the back burner so no hearings would take place before any criminal trial ends.
BBCMark Daly hosted the BBC documentary
A legal insider said: “The action was promised but it went very quiet until the writ appeared, which came within days of the third anniversary of the documentary’s screening.
“It may be that the pursuers feel they have a strong case and can win serious damages. They may be seeking an out- of-court settlement, or they may wish to be seen to be challenging the very serious allegations in the programme.
“Cases that are sisted fall into different categories. Some have good reason to be put on hold and others are simply being kicked into the long grass. We will have to wait and se what category this falls into.”
In the immediate aftermath of the 2012 documentary, David Grier issued a statement denying he was aware of the Ticketus claims.
He said: “I categorically deny that at the time of the Craig Whyte takeover of Rangers, I had any knowledge that funds from Ticketus were being used to acquire the club.
‘This accusation is wrong, highly defamatory and betrays a lack of understanding of the facts.”
VIEW GALLERY
Craig Whyte is due to stand trial alongside the Duff and Phelps trio and solicitor Gary Withey later this year.
Clark and Whitehouse were appointed joint administrators of Rangers on Valentine’s Day 2012, after the club failed to meet PAYE and VAT demands of around £9million owed to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
An earlier investigation into whether they should have taken on the role was quashed by the Insolvency Practitioners Association.
Whyte was released on bail in November at Glasgow Sheriff Court, where he is accused of fraudulently plotting to take over at Ibrox.
He faces a string of charges including claims that he failed to pay VAT and national insurance at the club. Whitehouse, Clark and Grier face charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
The BBC yesterday confirmed that the writ from Clark, Whitehouse and Grier had been served. A spokesman said: “We stand by our journalism and the action will be robustly defended.”
A spokesman for Duff and Phelps said: “Duff and Phelps is not a party in this action and therefore we have no comment.”
KEVJUNGLE on 1ST AUGUST 2015 8:04 AM
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Glad to see a really positive post from you mate. Hope you are well, take care.
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Going to pick leftcliclicktic up shortly to head in for the Kano Foundation Bucket collection. Remember Ghuys any change you have drop it into the Buckets, 1p, £1, anything at all.
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Keep the Faith!
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Hail Hail!
Off to a wedding
Enjoy yer day bhoys
HH
Boyata Goalmachine csc
https://youtu.be/jcULjeoiHzY
LEGENDS
Have a great day all you bhoys and ghirls attending flag day. Wish I could be there!
HH
From a sunny Germany
Best Wishes to all ye lucky Bhoys going to Paradise today. As usual I will be home alone in my one man CSC but there will be a smile on my face and just maybe a tear in my eye.
Re the game itself, I’ll be intrigued as to how team is set up, looks like we have no left back available, I don’t expect a scintillating game but as long as we bank the 3 points and have no injuries this Tim will be happy.
BT
Like the wise men of yore I got warned in a dream to go by a different route.
That said it was pure murder trying to squeeze my camel into the bike rack on the train so mibbee I’m not so wise after all!
Kevj. Good to see you’re back. You had us worried there.
HH jamesgang
Morning bhoys and ghirls. Work for me shortly so no game today. So everyone going enjoy the day.
Kevjungle good to hear from you this morning enjoy your kip and the sleep of the just.
Clogher celt thanks for email last night. I appreciate all your hard work and will look forward to standing you and Almore a few beers when we meet.
HH
KTF
Utlr
Bhoys, I know it’s been posted before
My wee Ghirl and her hubby are on holiday in Dubai
Where can they see the Celtic game today ?
Thanks in advance, will pick up when I return from vet with wee Shug :-)
Hail Hail
Big Nan on 1st August 2015 7:31 am
Top of the morning to you all from a still, sunny, Fife.
Off to the game today with my grandson Connor and granddaughter Rosie. Their first flag day so looking forward to a good game and hope the weather holds. H.H.
IF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY: 100 YEARS AGO CELTIC UNFURLED THE FLAG WITH A 3-1 VICTORY OVER MOTHERWELL BEFORE A CROWD OF JUST 16,000
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/1915-08-21%3A+Celtic+3-1+Motherwell%2C+League
– See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/state-of-the-club-report-summer-2015/comment-page-14/#comments
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Only 16,000 at the game – I blame PL.
So pleased for John Clark – wish I could be there.
Mr 67
When I first log in I can enlarge print.Then it stops me from enlarging screen help
Wee Jay
https://twitter.com/martinbeatty70/status/627363574768386048
HH jamesgang
I’ve noticed (because I’m a very perceptive person) that some of you chaps are now inserting smileys onto your posts……how do I do that from my iPad, please ? …… I can do it on Twitter etc but not on here ……
…….and, when I try to insert a smiley, I’m told my post cannot be saved, and to try again later .????
KEVJUNGLE
Good to have you back on board,mate.
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Playing possum for a while there,you had us a trifle concerned!
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Wee vid for you,Love football,love Celtic
Cowiebhoy
The dubliner shows the games
They have had a few players over and always take care of hoops fans
Happy flag day to all. Give ’em a cheer for me!
67
I’ll show you today
It’s a clique thing. :-)
OK so these smilies :)
67
Go to numbers on your keyboard
: – )
Without the spaces and your set good to go
Good morning friends and Happy Flag Day from a pretty dry, bright and hopeful looking East Kilbride.
Apologies for the fact that I under-woke ;-)
Everyone going today ,enjoy flag day.
John Clark true legend
COYBIG
BLANTYRETIM IS PRAYING FOR THE KNOX FAMILY on 1ST AUGUST 2015 9:37 AM
67
I’ll show you today
It’s a clique thing. :-)
see above,if the post is c&p,the smiley is ignored!
Who cares,I’ve finally worked out the link creator thingy-jooooost as it is no longer highlighted!!
Here we go again, we’re on the road again, we’re on the road again we’re on our way to Paradise…C’mon the Hoops! Make it a season to remember!!
Ooooops,mibbe it isnae ignored!
I go for the auld wummin (90) across the roads paper in the morning.
You have your strip on early today son
Aye Mrs L its the Kano bucket collection where the collect money to try and help weans see the Celtic that maybe never have got the chance,
On retuning wae her paper she too my hand and slipped me £2
Its not much son but I hope it helps a wean.
Snotters blinding me crossing the road home:)))))))
Let the people sing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&feature=related&v=zhkdy0AOpaM
Barrach cancel the parka
a grey celtic zipper :)))))))))
Delighted for John Clark and his family today.
Fly the flag and fly it with pride you are more than worthy of the honour.
Only sorry I wont be there to see it, Wee Shades and I are off to the “land of burns ” tourney in Ayr today (cheers coach :-(. )
So can I be the first to ask, anybody know what channel the games on :-) :-).
Be Modbro for me.
Enjoy today all you lucky ones and please please please bring along plenty of spare change for the bhucketeers.
LEFTCLICKTIC
Marvellous!
COWIEBHOY
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Try The Dubliner. Mailed you details.
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MONTHEHOOOOOOOOOOPS!!!!!!!!!
leftclicktic on 1st August 2015 9:44 am
Leftie ,ya big safty! HH