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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Are any of our bhoys in Wee Gordon’s team for Wednesday?
gsu
Irvine off to Kilmarnock
Clink if it’s anything like season four I canny wait.
Just watched the programme in Liverpool TV about Liverpools first game after Hillsborough. Very emotional stuff! The whole of CP chanting Liverpool at the end too!
Also, it was stated that £0.5m was raised for the Hillsborough fund that day.
One of the Liverpudlians in the studio said the reception from the Celtic fans towards them that day was unforgettable and that they should repay Celtic when they get a new stadium and give under privaleged kids free tickets. He also said the Celtic/Liverpool bond will last forever as they will always be thankful for what we done for Liverpool FC that day.
That’s the kind of thing that shows just how much more than a football club Celtic are.
T B J
??
Geordie
Half of season five was aired earlier in the year
The Spirit of Arthur Lee
Please tell me on loan !!!
Evening all
Word on twitter is, Jackson Irvine has agreed to join Kilmarnock on loan till January. Deal expected to go through in the next 24hrs.
Weefra HH
TET
LOAN
Tet,
Nope. But I don’t think we are a shambles either.
I’d hate to think of the words you’d use to describe us if the Swedish champions had papped us oot. Eeeek
Jude..
Catch up pal… you did state that Jackson was a player ;))))
Soal
Close. .. but no ceegar.. travel past killie on M77 .. irvine is another few miles down the coast :)))))
Tbj
Aye I heard that on here at the weekend.
Through net flicks or somert?
19lisbonbhoy67
Such an emotional game that was. An unusual conflict of emotions, sadness, yet pride and a real sense of togetherness. Shoulder to shoulder was never more apt.
TSOAL
Ffs.
My “bonus” lasted 5 mins. Geez.
Twisty/Geordie,
As I said very conservative, like you I expect the figures to be much better so I made them up to suit Paul’s State of club warning of doom, if we even think about spending £5M on a player we’ll end up like the huns
Lets hope he can’t play against us:-)
TheBlowJob
Enjoy Goa
Geordie Munro
A feckin shambles >}
Weefrathetim Hope that proves to be twitter nonsense. Feel young Jackson is ready for our first team.
Loan is Ok
He wasn’t going to get game time, so we will see how he progresses.
Pity, never a better time to bleed the young fellas.
Bhoys of cqn
Apologies if this has been acknowledged…. but…. England beat australia by 74 runs as the ozzie batting collapsed in the last 2 hrs of the fourth test.
This gives England an unassailable 3-0 lead in the ashes series with one test match left to play
I think you should all join me in congratulating chris broad , ian bell… and all the England players on a historic victory .
Naw ?
Stupid old ass licka
I always do amigo :)
Hilsborough game @ CP
took 3 mates along, 2 were fans of the now deid club. they wanted to show their support too.
Canamalar, I think the figure will be closer to your figure than the other.
I’m in firmly in the middle ground on this one.
Whilst I don’t believe a £5m player will end the club I don’t think the acquisition of one is the route to untold riches.
THE EXILED TIM
‘bleed’ – hopefully not :-)
delaynies dunky
Me to, but that is the story from an Express reporter. Thought he could just about slot in to our team seamlessly. Just my opinion. :))
Weefra HH
T B J
Uv lost me.
twists n turns
23:08 on 12 August, 2013
Emotional just watching it on tv. The Liverpool guy was saying it was the first time he had ever stood in amongst opposition fans. He couldn’t believe the welcome he received from the Celtic fans in the Jungle, which is where he ended up standing.
Tear jerking stuff.
TBJ
Bore, bore bore. :)))
Weefra HH
neveralone
23:17 on 12 August, 2013
It was mentioned on the programme that fans from other Clubs including RFC(IL) went to pay their respects. Amazing!
T B J
Got it. Night all.
canamalar
season ticket money 40k x ave £350 =£14m?
Tommysbhoy
Apologies for late reply but I had some work to do.
I wasn’t referring to anyone who was arrested I was only pointing out that the banner was made by the GB.
Jude
I’m married and divorced three times.. so… the words ” u v lost me” are like water off a dux bak ;)
Weefra
Shirley you dont mean me…. you mean the cricket. .. right ;)
neveralone
Is that no the correct term then >}
Sangre !!!!
HH
Jude
To the same Guy
keepingyouintheloop
https://twitter.com/Hullbhoy/status/367046758850781184/photo/1
Helbhoy on Kerrydales street has a few Ads worth checking out.
plus whatever we made over and above uefa money for champs league..tickets,merchandise,hopitality blaa blaa £5-7m?