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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Morning all. Bright and breezy down here today.
According to Radio Scotland earlier, BDO has said that most Scottish Premier League teams’ finances are in good order and they are not missing the passing of thon deid team fae Govan. Good news.
WheresyerArmageddonnooyabassCSC.
The proof is in your headline paul, that we would be running at a loss WITHOUT champions league football . Imho we should be building as big a lead over them as is possible , because they will be back challenging us again in a few years , and if ur headline applies to us ,it will also apply to them . Now this is the point i have tried to make on here on many occasions , we have all witnessed the lengths scottish footballs authority has gone to to aid that club . As far as i,m concerned with our clubs silence on all matters throughout this newco/sevco debacle, it has allowed the cheating and rule bending to continue , had a challenge been made from not only our club but all other clubs , i feel we would have forced the end of the help sevco campaign . Now i fear its too late , they will be back and with them more of what has blighted scottish football since our club came into being . I speak of more of the cheating .more honest mistakes . Because paul when they are back , as applies to us , they need champions league football to sustain the club , and every avenue will be made available to them to achieve that .at the expense of mainly our club , but the other clubs fighting for second place ,and the prize of european football which would escape at least one other club when they return . I am convinced that our custodians are content playing our football in this backwater , because the evidence to prove we are competing with one hand tied behind our back here is overwhelming . The proof that rule bending which applies to aid only one club ,should have been enough evidence to show that celtic,s membership of scottish football was untenable ,and that in fact we couldnt win should have provided us with an escape from all that is wrong up here , sevco. Sfa . Mibs. Media house . Laptop loyal. Sectarian bile etc etc . For some reason the irish billionaire is content for our club ( not his ) to still be in this environment , if he wasnt , and had it been any of his other concerns being treated in this manner , i am sure his army of top drawer advisors would have had the detractors well and truly in their place long long ago . So i fear its another few years before its all systems go for operation rangers in the champions league , otherwise all the recent efforts to keep them alive would have been in vain . When it does happen as we all know it will , it will be role reversal . Its us who will struggle without the CL INCOME .
67 heaven
Even for a happy clapper like you did Paul’s blog not leave you confused as to the projected figures due to come out of Celtic park.£9 million down?
I have faith, blind faith but not in CPLC
Just in to say….
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Delaneys Dunky
22:50 on 12 August, 2013
I think we witnessed Victors replacement on Saturday- Jackson Irvine. With cover at the back, is it too much to ask for a Hoops replacement for a similar price he was sold for?
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I agree re: Jackson Irvine 100%
My idea of a Cellic midfielder is – Ronnie Glavin / Murdo Macleod / Craig Burley / Stan Petrov / Ray Houghton / Steve McMahon / Ronald Koeman…etc…
Big Stephen looked the part at the weekend at CH. imo
I hope big Amido clicks into gear and continues with his showing on Saturday – what a confidence booster for the big fella a right guid goal. I have to say that i’m still trying to get ma heid roon the fact that we didny get – Johnny Russell ? Strange that ? Does there have to be a foreign agent involved ? Hmmm
I read somwhere – it might have been on here – that Cellic wouldn’t be going for – Barry Bannan as he was too small ? I beg to differ wi that one – Gordon Strachan wisny the biggest and he played in the biggest / toughest league in the game at the sharp-end for a decade with Man Utd / Leeds Utd etc…you only have to look up to Aberdeen to see the ‘steel’ that’s been injected into – Willo Flood now that he is under a manager who knows how to play him / Jackie Mac at Dundee Utd last season as well !!!
Oh, and btw – are ye a hun ? :)))
Welcome to the madness – CSC
I havent read back and am a bit busy but….
Selective choice of figures to try and mask the clear additional income at Celtic. Yes we have lost some money on the huns games but not £42 per head times 60,000. We have indeed lost on hospitality – some down to lack of huns but not all – celtic’s product hasnt been great.
As for £9M down a year – really? I’m sorry I dont buy that and wasnt it not so long ago when our expectations were again being managed when we were told we didnt budget on any European income?
You see thats the problem with spin – people have memories.
Its clear Celtic continue to short change their supporters and THAT is their strategy.
Chairbhoy
we have certainly had a few strikers in who didn’t get near 20 goals, even in the past 6 or 7 years, but depends what criteria you set of course. Some were loans, some were speculative. How many of them did we buy, or grab for free, or take on loan that we actually thought could hit 20 goals? Indeed some didn’t get enough playing time to get anywhere near 20 before they were punted.
Morten Rassmussen (2)
Diomansy Kamara (2)
Marc Antione Fortune (10)
Darryl Murphy (3)
Pawel Brozek (0) I think.
Bangura (hmmmmm)
Miku (2)
Lassad (3)
Cillian Sheridan (4)
Ben Hutchinson (0)
Chris Killen (2)
I am sure there are another half dozen.
Of course we have has a load who did hit the mark, most recently, Hooper. Add, JVOH, Skippy, Riordan, Sammy, Robbie Keane (12 in 16), Stokesy.
Morning,
I wonder if Ahmad got to cash in his shares yesterday as part of a settlement?
Kev
it was myself who suggested Barry Bannan, and got slaughtered. (Fair enough, all about opinions). I can tell you though he is well regarded by Villa fans and I have seen enough of him to form an opinion that he is (IMO) a decent player.
Wasn’t jinky a featherweight? (Aye, ok, I took that too far:-)
Scotland’s top football clubs are becoming more confident about their financial future, a leading consultant has claimed.
Charles Barnett, of BDO, said a large proportion of Scottish Premiership clubs believed they would be profitable in the coming year.
He also said revenues had not been adversely affected by the loss of Rangers.
Five of the 12 teams in the Scottish Premier League took part in the survey.
It was carried out before the Scottish Premier League was rebranded the Scottish Premiership.
The BDO report, “A new dawn for fair play”, questioned the finance directors of 66 teams from leagues in Scotland and England.
It said SPL clubs were more optimistic in terms of predicting profitability than English Premier League clubs.
Wage costs
In Scotland 60% said they would make a profit after player trading and depreciation, whereas in England’s top league it was 42%.
Continue reading the main story
“
Start Quote
There are clearly some deep-rooted difficulties in Scottish football which may take some years to work through”
End Quote
Charles Barnett
BDO
Mr Barnett, professional sports group partner at BDO, said: “After a year in which both Hearts and Dunfermline Athletic fell into administration it is welcome news that a large proportion of SPL clubs believe that they will be profitable in the coming year.”
He said there were “welcome” signs that clubs were making an effort to control wage costs but they still had some way to go.
“In actual wages 20% said they would spend the same with 80% stating they will spend less,” he said.
“The fans never like this but it must be the way forward if Scottish football is to remain viable in the future.”
Mr Barnett said the biggest financial concern for Scottish clubs over the next 12 months was falling attendances due to the current economic climate, with the potential fall in TV income second.
He said it was too early to predict the financial impact of the change in the structure of Scottish football to the SPFL or the arrival of BT as a newcomer into the broadcasting market.
He said: “There are clearly some deep-rooted difficulties in Scottish football which may take some years to work through.
“The excesses of the last decade or so are still working their way through the Scottish football sector.”
Mr Barnett concluded that many clubs continued to exist on a “financial precipice” where an unexpected additional expense might push them over the edge.
TnT
Only reason jinky is a featherweight is because I stop him from eating his Buchanan sausages all by himself…
What day is Ayr meeting?
I’m meeting oldtim on Thursday and will fill him in..
NegAnon2
08:18 on 13 August, 2013
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There are far too many – brainwashed happy-clapping sheep amongst the Cellic support of today for this state of affairs to change. imo
Glasgow Celtic FC are the only club that I have ever heard of who came home from a UEFA Cup final an claimed to be, what – £17mill in debt ? Have ye ever heard the likes of it ?
I think it will take the return of the huns to the top league and awe their – honest mistakes accompanied by the complicit silence from the ‘bored’ before the Cellic support of today realize that ‘they’ve’ been had on a grand scale. imo
Only saying M8 – Hail Hail
neganon2
IMO your view of board strategy is just a pile of tripe.
I am sure that you and your fellow board / authority haters can come up with some withering insight into the current board strategy other than “I don’t think so. ”
Still all this intellectual muscle thrown at the board will be keeping them on their toes – if the board are doing such a crap job then put forward your alternative strategy instead of boring everyone silly
M6 beckons so I can at least be spared this morming’s negativity for a couple of hours.
twists n turns
08:24 on 13 August, 2013
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Not too far at all fella.
Talking aboot – Jinky – I can’t understand the amount that the young winger James Forrest gets today ?
I mean – and I’m not trying to be controversial here – how many times had Jinky played in the 1st team when he was JF’s age ?
I think the blind spot that Neil has here is – 9/10 – when JF gets fed the ball, his back is to the goal with 2 – 3 defenders hanging over him ?
Same with big Amido. And yet – Amido got a ball over the top on Saturday an put it away.
If I can see that – why can the dug-out not ?
HH
blantyretim
08:16 on 13 August, 2013
I’m afraid not …….. our Club is being run very well, unlike some, and I am delighted ……. when we gain entry into CL, I am always VERY delighted……. I cannot remember being so happy as a Celtic Supporter, but I do appreciate that some supporters will never be happy …..it’s not in their nature…….I do not include you in that category, since you seem to be happy most of the time, until someone praises PL ……..hahahahaha..just kidding.
Playing in Scotland, we are not going to win the CL, but we can only ‘live in hope and pray’..
But, we are a Club like no other….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
kevjungle – “c’mon the cellic !!!”
08:31 on 13 August, 2013
Doooooooooh ….. Off oot (to work)
67Heaven … I am Neil Lennon..!!.. Ibrox belongs to the creditors
08:41 on 13 August, 2013
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Aye – run away ya sheep :)))
HH n Take care.
KevJungle – “C’mon the Cellic !!!”
08:31 on
13 August, 2013
Do not know what proportion of the support are ” happy clappers ” let alone if there are too many of them.
But what I do know that there are still too many who buy the propaganda peddled by the DR and the Sun. Both of whom are no friends of CFC.
What I do KNOW is that there are Celtic supporters smart enough to suss (Plenty post on here) if the board/PLC were taking us for a ride. Unless of course they are all in cahoots with the board. :)
Would love to see Celtic sign top drawer players and compete at the higher level in Europe but at this moment in time that is fantasy football for us. As for going that wee bit further for the likes of the Icelandic boy, there are those who would soon throw it back in the boards face if he did not produce. Probably the same ones who are shouting “get him signed” .
HH
I thought transfer silly season had died with RFC and a better understanding of our finances.
It seems not.
Ah well……..
If we had £40 million (which we don’t) and wanted to spend it on players you could take £20 million off for wages and sundry expenses first.
So should we then buy 2 £10 mill players or 4 £5 million players? Or 3 £7 million players? How would we make sure they.were a success? What if we spent all that and got pit.out pf the CL anyway?
Realistically we might have £10 million to play with. And it leaves us with the same problem – getting the right players for the right money and on the right wages.
Man united want ronaldo or fabregas. Can’t get them. What do they do now? Wanting and getting ain’t always the same.
twists n turns
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I apologise for the mis-type by me :(
08:39 on 13 August, 2013
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Talking aboot – Jinky – I can’t understand the amount that the young winger James Forrest gets today ?
Should have read – I can’t understand the amount of abuse that young winger James Forrest gets today ?
My apologies – Scooby Doo – CSC
Kev jungle – your post about JF – totally disagree. There is a reason you and me are not in the dugout.
67heaven
Hail hail…
I had a wee chat with auldheid on Saturday re my concerns, we parted on good terms as you would expect from two fans of Celtic.
morning cqnrs
is it possible that ahmed sold the 2m shares yesterday for £800k ?knowing that soon theyl be worth zilch!as he didnt buy any in the first place. as they were given to him..oh and is he charlotte mmmm hh
This is WEE BGFC. Shacked up lager shandy (stolen from twist and turns).
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
LOL’S
Ah, kev j – just read your amended post. Apologies. I agree……
Bring on the day……. Hail hail
DontPatmadug
08:50 on 13 August, 2013
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Well – I’m afraid that Celtic fans will continue to read the papers that you mention so lnog as they see them plastered all over the advertising screen thingys at CP.
Come to think of it – are these papers any less believable than the Celtic View ?
As for the Icelandic striker – well I think that PL’s ‘puppets’ are spinning that particular yarn. imo
The Celtic bored don’t think that the Cellic supporters deserve to be watching players of that calibre. imo
No ‘bored’ will respect a bunch of sheep who continually – joost turn up – hand over their hard earned cash and, remain locked on the OOTSIDE of THEIR club. imo
Simple simon – CSC
RobertTressell
08:56 on 13 August, 2013
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Cheers – HH
BT
I think it’s Friday 20th Sept we are looking at. Yeah, see what Oldtim thinks. Thanks
Steve Bruce on talkSPORT:
No idea where the story about Doyle signing for Hull came from – have already signed 2 strikers.
Hmmmm!
popped my head into FF…….it’s ok I’ve showered and used a wire brush and dettol.
Anyway one guy on FF has countered a suggestion that Sevco may fold with this gem
“Nonsense…….far too big a club to go under” You really cannot argue with that level of intelligence and understanding
Tn’T @ 08;24,
We certainly have had a few that haven’t hit the mark but then again how many looked likely too. Twenty is rough rule of thumb way to look at a Striker.
But my point is really that MON started most seasons with 3 20+ goals a season strikers.
GS also started most Seasons with 3 20+ goals a season strikers.
Of course that didn’t mean all those strikers hit that target, injuries to BBJ or Loss of form Majic or Kenny Miller!
The point is we are starting this Season looking unlikely to hit that target. Sure Tony Stokes has done it, Sammi’s European record is excellent but we need more.
Last time we struggled with Strikers is TM’s Season getting Robbie Keane in during January was too late to rescue our Season.
Hail Hail
DISGRACED former Rangers director Imran Ahmad
What has he done to be described as disgraced ??
Not getting a striker in for this qualifier is mad !!
Unecessary risk.
Since before January we knew Hooper was for the off. Balde is a different type of player we needed, but Hooper gave you goals, goals, goals.
Messing about and dithering has cost us in the pass. This should have been a formality when he left. He leaves somebody straight in if we done our planning right.
roberttressell
I want Finnbogasson. Why can’t I get him! Please! Please! Pleeeaaaase!!! I’m stamping my feet now and sticking out my petted lip.
Chairbhoy
09:07 on 13 August, 2013
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Not looking for trouble but – I hardly think that we’d need 3 – 20 goal strikers ?
Apart from the CL games – who are we playing against ?
I sat at a Q & A session attended by Paul67 n Phil Mac n Paul McConville(spelling)
and Paul67 told us – chapter and verse about how well the club is being run / how successful we are and bigging up PL and NL for their achievments.
Then on the other hand, sneeringly told us about how all the other clubs in the SPL were being run on the bread-line etc ?
So – how big are our achievements domestically when you think of all the millions wasted on ‘bargain-type’ players who don’t cut it – v’s clubs whose top earning player may be on just -£1k a week ?
No more spin-doctors – CSC
Good morning all from a very sunny and dry Seaham on England’s North East coast.
25 years ago today she agreed to become Mrs Baldie. Thanks, P.
Off for breakfast….
Jobo
Happy anniversary jobo.
can anyone copy the Sun Record nonsense re Ahmed so the rest of us dont give them the clicks!