I read one highly unlikely article yesterday suggesting we were going to sign Alfred Finnbogason AND were still bidding big money for Kevin Doyle ahead of an 11pm tonight signing deadline. It’s hard to be so wrong in so few words, but this one hit the mark.
Alfred is a target but, and this is the key point the newspapers have not picked up on, he is one of four strikers Celtic are seriously considering at the moment. He looks the part, as do the others, I am assured, but the deal has to be right for Celtic to move.
Our strategic plan is to buy players at a comparatively low price, develop them on the Champions League stage, and sell high, in order to be able to build a team capable of competing further in the Champions League.
To do this we need to buy from the right markets, at the correct age and on the right wage. There will be exceptions to this rule. A few weeks shy of his 27th birthday, Dirk Boerrigter is unlikely to appreciate greatly, but teams need experience to tackle the Champions League, as well as some specific skills, so Dirk is here for what he can give today, not to be the next £12m exit.
We will see more business like Wanyama and Hooper. Before Celtic agree a deal for Finnbogason there would need to be a gap between the buy price and the projected valuation IF the player is a success. If this gap doesn’t exist we will do business elsewhere. Sticking to strategy is more important than pursuing a target like some latter-day David “this time we’re really going for it” Murray.
You can also forget about the 11pm deadline tonight. That is only relevant if we need two or more new players to overcome Shakhter Karagandy. If we want to add Finnbogason, or any ONE other player, the deadline for a Wildcard signing is a day before the game, or pretty much when the team leaves Glasgow Airport, so there is no effective deadline tonight. As such, I would be surprised if a deal was concluded today.
Right now, at Lennoxtown and Celtic Park, people are deciding how to invest our money. We have the kind of choices consistent with a well-run club, but while we are a well-run club, we can’t get caught up in the hubris.
We are living through some big changes in our financial model. Revenue from domestic football (season ticket sales-now discounted, Rangers game £42-per-head ticket sales, hospitality sales, commercial income) has fallen, or disappeared completely (I reckon we’re in the region of £9m p.a. down in these areas, we’ll have a better indication when accounts are released later this month). On top of this, the club was running at a loss without Champions League football or significant player sale (£7m for season 2011-12, the last we have accounts for), and as well as some income streams falling, costs have risen.
I heard that one ‘St Mirren’ supporting journo on Radio Scotland on Saturday said with last season’s Champions League income and money from player sales, Celtic have a £40m transfer kitty.
In the name of all that is sacred, nine years after ‘What the Celtic fans want to know is where is all the Seville money?’, the same nonsense is being peddled. As far as some are concerned, we are back where we started on CQN. The first thing you do with your money is pay your bills, including tax… there is no creditor left behind at Celtic. After they are taken care off you can look to invest in footballers.
This year, the underlying loss has been flipped because of player sales and that Champions League income, although not by nearly as much as journos who regard researching accounts before commenting on finance as an unnecessary indulgence, will tell you. Without Champions League income (this season potentially £14m plus any prize money earned), the money from Wanyama alone would not make this a profitable season, even before the spend on our new signings.
The road ahead is clear. Get into the Champions League as often as possible without allowing any individual failure to cause a collapse, sign players who will flourish at that level, sell them for a profit, repeat and reinforce all aspects of strategy with an improved budget.
Over any business period, every penny which comes into the club, has been, and will continue to be, spent. Our money will be invested in footballers who will appreciate in value, and who will give Celtic their best chance of pushing further in the Champions League on a persistent basis. It will not rest in a bank account earning a pittance in interest. The strategy is ambitious and sustainable but not reckless.
A year ago some wondered if Celtic could survive, never mind flourish, without a Rangers-branded club in the league. If successful, this strategy will not only allow the club to flourish, it may even result in higher long-term income than Celtic achieved while locked in an arms race with a former rival, with a corresponding improvement in Champions League achievement.
Is Alfred Finnbogason the man, is he better than the others we’re looking at, good enough to excel in the Champions League? I’ve no idea, but he is just one detail in the wider Celtic strategy.
Stick to plan, Celtic.
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Cheer up bhoys new series of breaking bad just started. Downloaded and ready to watch. Very nice
hamilton tim
the guy charged withe the banner was NOT a member of the gb..he was known as a wannabe,had behavour and attitude they didnt like..this is from a good source h.h
Cowiebhoy
Payment details to follow when I get back from Nessie land. Maybe Wed, defo Thur.
HH
CRC
celticrollercoaster
Liked it ….the joke not Hartson’s hairstyle!
re signings,
I agree that our team have been weakened badly and the timing seems wrong while attempting to qualify for the CL.
I still believe we will sign a decent striker at least, its the timing of the signing which seems wrong and the better quality player will only arrive if we qualify, looks like a gamble and not so much strategic planning to me.
Lets hope we make it through and NFL does eventually get his player (s) in.
V
@charlottefakes
How long will £10m last? Claim looming, notification 3 weeks ago. Not Craig Whyte related.
i.imgur.com/1GTe9T2.jpg
#WaitingOnGccSafety
This has probably been discussed but could someone clear it up.
Sevco announce Daly and Law by name on Saturday and also in match programme, when it should have been ‘trialist’.
Yet another breach of league rules?
80 year old arrested at his London home in connection with operation yewtree.
Not a lot of people know that.
oglach
21:01 on
12 August, 2013
*******
watched it this afternoon, magic!
Something that was not obvious yesterday, guys.
It’s confirmed that the game in Astana will be shown in a TV (via Sattelite as well).
Shakhtar Karagandy are after talks with Russian TV company who works for Eurosport. Russians will set up 18 cameras, including 2 HD at the stadium.
Hen1rik
Who could they owe money to ?
bada bing – no way?
Twists
Of course. As long as I do not use the excess funds and gamble it on one of T4s tips I should be ok.:-)
Ayr Gold Cup coming up soon, need to arrange the CQN gathering.
HH
CRC
Ps hoop u r well?
Shaktar away on 3e in Ireland next week, as well as ITV 4.
Buy Irish CSC.
supersutton
20:44 on 12 August, 2013
————
Agree completely with your , IMHO , very perceptive post.
The fear factor has also gone. Being a goal down with two minutes to go at home against a team you expect to beat, ie anyone, the consequent roaring on of the team to a regular equaliser or better still winner was fuelled by the terrifying thought , not of losing or drawing per se , but of losing ground to Rangers. At least it was for me.
That fear has gone but , for me ,it’s a price worth paying to see justice done.
So I agree that we will not , indeed should not , pay silly money for players for the domestic market as long as we give ourselves every chance of qualifying for the CL.
I too am happy with that.
TLWIO
CRC
PF was looking to organise a gathering for Ayr gold cup meet. Sounds good. Ah…TTTT is finding his old form….watch that space!
If someone on the Sevco board can buy two million shares to increase their vote at the AGM, DD can afford to buy replacements for Celtic players that we knew we leaving. Unless Maggie McGill is right and the Celtic plan is: last 16 in CL (if we are lucky); EPL shopping fodder; wait and see what Sevco are dain.
‘We did it by having large end of year accounts. Pure, beautiful, accounts’.
That last RT is Not connected to Craig Whyte. So who is it? It realistically can only be Ticketus or someone like that.
oglach
21:01 on 12 August, 2013
watched it earlier – enjoy – no spoilers from me
pfayr
20:57 on 12 August, 2013
Cowiebhoy
Tosh ….I’m not advocating financial stupidity
And neither am I.
Taking out the CL money, which is not guaranteed year on year, through signings or not.
The club was running at bare minimum break even ? And I’m not an accountant, but want to see us survive and grow.
The Club needs to invest in growth through the triangle, which needs money, and yes last years champions league money will fund this.
I could go no, but believe you see where I am coming from.
Like you I would like to see us sign a high calibre CF.
I believe Rogic was signed early, with Vic in mind ?
We have signed 2 centre halves, do we need another, not for me
We have signed a new winger, not directly to replace anyone ( Paddy ?) although could be for Miku or Lassad , as we change our style of play ?
We have signed a project Centre Forward, Yes as above another required.
I believe last seasons squad was to big, needed trimmed ?
We need to give some of the youth a chance, particularly in current environment ?
Just my opinion, and at times frustrated with no signings, but bigger and long term picture needs looked at.
Now if we had guaranteed champions league money or English championship tv revenue, it would be a different position
Hope this answers your direct question
Hail Hail
Twisty
Was thinking of the Friday meeting …suits you better ?
If interested we will need to book soon ish
Looked at hospitality ….fortune …therefore better booking in for lunch somewhere …
PJHoops twitter.
So £10 mill down to £6.6 mill Just like that BOOOM
Brilliant Insolvent trading already if an AIM member are they not duty bound to inform straight away and admin straight away
Hello this is WEE BGFC. It’s prediction time (again).
I have another 3 games that I am going to predict today.
1) Aberdeen 1-6 Celtic
2) Shakhter Karagandy 1-4 Celtic
3) Celtic 5-0 Shakhter Karagandy
hen1rik,
Was there no a wee consortium of asian gentleman ready to call in their debt no too long ago ?
Hello this is WEE BGFC. It’s prediction time (again).
I have another 3 games that I am going to predict today.
1) Aberdeen 1-6 Celtic
2) Shakhter Karagandy 1-4 Celtic
3) Celtic 5-0 Shakhter Karagandy
There you have it, my predictions for they 3 games.
WEE BGFC
WEE BGFC
Get to the bookies wee man …you’ll make a fortune on those scores
Canamalar
Think your right
I feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. I just knew the euphoria of beating the “Pool” in Dublin wouldn’t last despite a few questions being answered regarding what we’re gonna do because we’ve lost so and so. Congrats to the young team for doing a great job against better opposition than we’ve faced in a while. I hope to see a few of those lhads getting bled into the first team very soon
Paul offers a very decent interpretation of where we’re at financially and the meltdown begins. This progresses to what are the board doing with all the money and goes onto the treatment of the GB. Getting really fed up with all the doom and gloom that permeates this blog on a daily basis. Not surprising really, I remember the Gordon Strachan years and the abuse he took and was spouted on here.
As Celtic supporters, we all want the best for the club financially, but most importantly where it counts, on the park. We are not some cash rich EPL club funded by a Russian Billionaire and we do not play in a big market league. Until we can better our environment this is the way it is and the sooner we accept that the better.
Some really good ideas presented today regarding expanding our market in Ireland, it would be good if the club followed up on this by making the game on the weekend a regular thing, the St. Josephs thing can only help in that regard
HH
gsu
tomtheleedstim-unconfirmed…
This is WEE BGFC. Sorry I posted the same thing twice! :D
£3.4m! Ooft that’s a sore one..
Sevco are finished.
celticrollercoaster
Thank you :))
hen1rik
21:13 on
12 August, 2013
Has there been another dumping of sevco shares??
If the lad Finboggasson wants to further his career and its between the Bundeslegia and us we should be able to land him given the CL carrot and the bigger stage, hopefully we’re in with a shout.
gsu
WEE BGFC
Guess we need to BUY a new defensive coach after losing 2 goals
PLENTY MONEY CsC
PF
Friday is good. Lunch also good. Lets get it done.
prestonpans bhoys
21:22 on 12 August, 2013
hen1rik
21:13 on
12 August, 2013
Has there been another dumping of sevco shares??
Someone Has Just Traded 2.02 Million Rangers Shares For £838k! http://t.co/DiqazRpQxA via @Paulmcc12
canamalar1
21:15 on 12 August, 2013
hen1rik,
Was there no a wee consortium of asian gentleman ready to call in their debt no too long ago ?
Not sure mate I’ll ask the ? now