My friends in Celtic, pause for a few moments and peruse your domain. On the field of play your favourites matured into accomplished football players. 2011 ended with an acclaimed Joe Ledley header confirming what we already knew, Celtic were the best team in the land.
Despite ‘losing’ the previous three league titles Celtic held firm in the January transfer window; a difficult decision. We needed to win the league – at any credible cost – but without jeopardising the financial stability of the club. More than sporting form was under debate on these pages at the turn of the year, continents were shifting.
Since 2004 readers of Celtic Quick News have read the gospel of financial responsibility. Bills need to be paid, debt cannot be allowed to rise year after year without enormous consequences. Back then we asserted that Rangers would crash and burn. By 2008 we predicted they were on course to go out of business. This message was not always welcome among our own. It was mocked by some, who demanded ever-higher spending to match the Murray Millions, but on 1 January 2012 there was scarcely a Celtic fan alive who didn’t think Rangers were going out of business. It was only a question of when.
When the crash was confirmed, on St Valentine’s Day, Scottish football embarked on a remarkable period of soul-searching. Rangers last owner, Craig Whyte, had a plan, which we explained in some detail in 2011. Whyte subsequently revealed he met with SPL directors, Neil Doncaster and Ralph Topping in October 2011, told them the likelihood that Rangers would go into liquidation, and asked them to back a plan to catapult a Newco-Rangers into the SPL.
The plan was nonsense. Whyte should have been sent away with told to pay his bills but Doncaster was oceans out of his depth. A fait-accompli would be presented to the SPL clubs, vote to change the rules and elect a Newco into the top flight, or deal with “Armageddon”.
Football eventually did the right thing, as many, perhaps most, Rangers fans wanted all along, but hundreds of scribes attached themselves to Whyte’s Cunning Plan, which was presented as a bastion of responsibility, not the work of deception it was. The fight-back started on these pages. Soon it encompassed fans of every club in Scotland and the SPL clubs have no choice but to stick with the established rules.
Rangers creditors voted against a CVA and liquidators were appointed. Pop, and they were gone! Football fans of every colour, who has endured defeat to Rangers but still asserted that expenditure must be limited to income, enjoyed three seconds of glory as they turned to the bling-addicts beside them and said, “Told you”.
A man from Yorkshire with a group of partially-known investors nipped in ahead of various groups of Rangers fans to secure the assets of the club. Evidence suggests he believed the club would achieve a CVA (the assertion that “the history, the tradition, everything that’s great about this club is swept aside” if they were to be liquidated confirms this), but he bid more than any group of Rangers fans for the liquidated assets so ended up with an opportunity to issue himself with 5 million shares worth 70p each a few months later. Beautiful.
We’re on our own.
Celtic began as the solitary voice at SPL meetings speaking against Whyte’s plan. They were not responsible for the demise of Rangers, but let the record show, when the moment of reckoning arrived, the Celtic board liquidated the Old Firm.
On the field of play we were a well-oiled machine. Our first league title in four seasons arrived with consummate ease. Kilmarnock showed what a well-drilled team could do in the League Cup final, with a little help from a last minute blind-spot when Anthony Stokes had his legs whipped from him in the box, but let’s be generous, you know it, I know it, we would have missed the penalty anyway.
Last minute Hampden penalty decisions would crop up again in the Scottish Cup, when the whole Deliberate Handball rule was cast asunder, but refereeing is always been an emerging art in these parts.
The new season, our first ever as the only superpower in the Scottish game, held one major challenge – qualify for the Champions League. Four wins in four qualifying games was better than expected, so the team who were slapped by Sion, attacked by Atletico and usurped by Udinese a year earlier, were in the Champions League.
Be generous to those who dismissed our chances. One poor guy writing the ITVFootball tweets wrote “Bye bye Celtic” on the day we were drawn against Spartak Moscow, Benfica and Barcelona. Based on the evidence available, it was a fair call.
It is nothing short of fantastic, in the literal sense, that we qualified out of that group. Even now, halfway through the season, Barcelona have lost only one competitive game, when Victor Wanyama, Tony Watt and their pals ripped up the form book. It took Barca until the 93rd minute to secure a win over Celtic in the Camp Nou, or they would have three competitive draws on their record for this season, one to Real Madrid in the league, and a meaningless draw against Benfica being the only two.
I honestly thing we have overachieved in Europe this season. Neil Lennon and his players got everything right. The corner and free kicks from Charlie were immense. No one in Europe does better (some supporting evidence here). Forget the more fancied thoroughbreds, Charlie Mulgrew is our Moneyball player, a team full of them and we’ll win the Big Cup.
Victor’s leap and Tony’s finish will be replayed in our minds for years. Despite leaving ample hints, the DVD didn’t materialise at Christmas. Georgios has scored in all of our five European away games, a record.
Expectations will rise as a result of these achievements but we got so many things absolutely right in this Champions League campaign the odds against doing so again next season are high. Celtic will need to start preparing for next season’s Champions League now if they are to have any chance of remaining in the tournament next Hogmanay. If we were operating at 90% capacity we would have finished bottom with one or two points. As for Juventus, bring them on.
These end-of-year reports are often a lot less encouraging. 2010 was far from easy reading, the distance we have travelled since 2010’s is incredible. Celtic end 2012 as one of the most admired clubs in the European game. We develop great players, compete against the best better than anyone else, and have a sense of purpose which will never be extinguished.
Take care and may 2013 bring you all that you hope for.
Have you ordered your CQN Annual yet? Get it here!
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Paul67
A Good and Great New Year to You and Yours.
To every other posting soul on this site and all em lurkers too.
Happy New Year!
U
A good New Year to one and all.
Just ask a sevco fan this ” if you won the euromillions tomorrow and bought the rights to the Beatles back catalogue ..would it make you the Beatles ? ”
After two minutes stand well back ..usually their heads explode hh
Had a wee look into rm there …….2 posts
“this site is seriously under-moderated” ……..correct, the language is atrocious…
Then this one (honest)
“They must be bored. Playing in a pointless league does that.” ……. hahahahaha
Can anyone shed any light on the fact that Collum was refereeing the Glasgow 3rd Division Derby yesterday?
UEFA rated I think……?
U
Happy New Year when it arrives to yin an awe
We’re having a wee party tonight …been working like a slave all day
Looking forward to a few tonight …well earned I say
Enjoy yer night bhoys
HH
johann murdoch
19:00 on 31 December, 2012
A current bhun said to me ” ur ye no missin the rainjurs” …… I burst out laughing, and then said….”can I assume that’s a rhetorical question?”
Uly
They’ve had SPL refs every game
They are the peeepil after all….seems some at the SFA agree
Anything official about Celtic appealing against Kelvin’s ban.
To Paul 67 and all my fellow CQNers, greetings from Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan where we have just entered 2013.
And to all my CQNers colleagues based in America, “Happy New Holidays”.
May all our Celtic dreams come true in 2013.
Just keep believing Bhoys and Ghirls and trust in Lenny’s judgment, and who knows.
HH,
DBB
HT-exactly , a few articles from Jabba ,believe it or not saying the same.HH
UM
The reason the sfa gave was that, as their games are on the TV, they had to provide the TV audience with top quality referees……
I kid you not.
Woman or little girl, perhaps, but either way that’s no slur. Now a jackal…………
A nice review of the year Paul. It`s difficult to complain about anything to do with Celtic these days. :-)
Paul, a very complete and accurate account of where we are and where we are going. Was in NYC on Valentines Day when the the critical mass was reached. A bizarre 24 hours followed and as I find myself here in dublin on New Year’s Eve I still pinch myself that it was all a dream. The best bit ? ……..it ain’t a dream, the beautiful reality of the past 10 months just gets better and better.
Here’s to 2013 and I hope we all keep well and we all keep the remarkable spirit of this great club alive.
HH
Logical
yep, televised games have to have a “top” ref according to the SFA
Sipsini and voguepunter…
Cheers. Was away seeing my wee mammy, came home, saw your replies and had to look in for a laugh. I was truly shocked at the language – these people obviously truly don’t care what anybody thinks about them or their infant club of dubious parentage.
Hail Hail!
JohannMurdoch I think if it worked like that Pablophanque (strange to type that name again) would have bought the catalogue back in the days before he left us.
Dushanbe
Happy new year to you ,
Hoping to see a few of the crew on Wednesday
I think all teams in the third division should have grade one refs for every game, it would improve the overall ref performance’s in the SPL overnight.
http://www.thefootballlife.co.uk/post/35653783779/spl-viewing-figures
More SPL Viewing figures for the season so far.
I found cqn not long before black Sunday, when the A word was amortization not administration and the L word was loanees not liquidation. Paul was the first blogger I recall forecasting the demise of the botanists and it has all come to fruition in 2012. I wavered a few times, wanting a bit of speculating to accumulate, which is all easy in hindsight, the board delivered in a hostile environment when sir Dave continued playing Russian roulette with other peoples money.
So, well done the board, well done the coaching staff, particularly the scouting team, who have barely sourced a “dud” in over 2 years. The next progression I expect will be youth development. Finally, well done to the players, a young, determined, hungry and talented group, a fine squad we will do well to hold onto, but I think we have more in the pipeline if we lose any core players. CL money will keep our finances ticking over so we are in a strong negotiating position.
Running a youth football team I now get to games less often but thoroughly enjoy watching this team when I do.
The only negative for me is the apathy amongst some supporters to minor set backs in results and also the intense scrutiny the green brigade are subjected to by the authorities. This has to be addressed.
Hope 2013 is half as much fun as 2012, enjoy!
Any updates on the crossbar challenge at ibrokes?
My daughter is having a few friends up tonight my beady eyes will be watching :-)))
Time to get ready and cross the road
to jonny the tims annual feast and what a feast it is.
All the best to all.hail hail
Happy New Year when it comes.
I dont do the bells as prefer my bed and the extra sleep to cope with the kids. After being floored for a week with flu and having a pretty crap Christmas I cannot wait for the game on Wednesday and a few jars.
I only want one thing in 2013…
Wembley, Wembley!!
Rangers FC as we know them are DEAD. It’s all over. They are about to shut down for ever but not a single person among the game’s hierarchy was open for comment.
=====================================================
No matter how Charles Green attempts to dress it up, a newco equals a NEW CLUB When the CVA was thrown out Rangers as we know them died.
=====================================================
They were closed and a newco must start from scratch although their fans will insist the history will be boxed up with the strips and balls and carried into the future with THE NEW CLUB.
Technically that history belongs to something else, some other company but even though the governing bodies appear consumed by technicalities and protocol supporters have other priorities.
Of course, they could let them back in while insisting the NEW CLUB has to accept penalties for the behaviour of the old, especially if the SPL enquiry finds Rangers guilty of issuing players dual contracts with their EBTs.
==============================
McCoist and Green are committed to opposing any move to have history books rewritten even though they accepted they had to begin again as a new concern after RANGERS, THE CLUB WITH HISTORY SLIPPED INTO LIQUIDATION AND CLOSED. That should mean the titles aren’t really any of their business
======================
And I believe concern over the NEW CLUB`S finances has prompted Brian Kennedy to make a £5.6million bid for a controlling interest.
===========================================
t’s not even about the cause of the current crisis, the club formerly known as Rangers. In an ideal world their offspring would have been forced to apply for membership of the SFL, starting at the very bottom of course. But Scottish football has never been the perfect environment.
They have the power to deny this NEW CLUB any chance of life but they’ll be condemning themselves to a miserable, empty future. Without the millions a healthy Rangers and their fans help generate, Scottish football will decline rapidly. All credibility at home and abroad will be lost.
==================================================
One time was probably once too often for the OLD CLUB`S former manager, who was tempted to take the lead in a group involving Jim McColl and Douglas Park
==================================================
However, the fans are not powerless because despite all the nonsense about tens of millions of pounds set to flow into the NEW CLUB it’s season-ticket revenue which will make or break this regime. The fans must choose but they should stop listening to all the people on the sidelines
=================================================
Green bought Rangers and their assets yesterday for £5.5million, just hours after Smith revealed he was spearheading a group to buy the NEW CLUB.
=====================================================
There you have it, ladies and gents, ALL the above quotes were from some guy nicknamed Jabba, the one and only James Traynor, The Rangers media man.
Airbrush that one, Chuck & Co (co)
haha botanists = govanites. Predictive spelling putting a flowery, benign, face to them
Clashcitybhoy
19:19 on
31 December, 2012
Dushanbe
Happy new year to you ,
Hoping to see a few of the crew on Wednesday
====
ClashCitybhoy
Slan go foil, my son.
Give my regards to all my erstwhile pals from the 80s and 90s.
DBB
Celtic…
….supported all over the World…
…..even in downtown Dushanbe, Tajikistan
PF, TET
I truly wish I could say I was surprised in any way, shape or form.
The continual mockery the leading bodies make of all the other teams in the lower divisions is reprehensible.
I was sent a link to a bit on the SKY coverage near the end where Tanner (?) states that because Rangers are so far ahead (Not mentioning they played against 10 men for 37 mins and failed to score) and that Celtic are running away with the SPL – ‘isn’t that an argument to allow Rangers back into the SPL?’
There you go Divisions 2 and 1 – you don’t count. Your clubs, your history, your support doesn’t count.
Because Rangers leading the 3rd division and Celtic leading the SPL is reason enough to just get the powers that be to adopt a Mike Reid accent and bellow ‘Run around NOW!!!!!’
U
Thought i would copy thisbfrom Richard Wilson’s above posted URL
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Administration Part Deux
The Rangers IPO closes at 1pm today
There have been some basic issues with the IPO that have been covered before – Football clubs are risky bets at the best of times. Ones that have only been in existence for under 6 months tend to be at the higher end of the risk scale.
As we approach the end of the process, the issues have become far clearer. The hoped for £10m investment from fans appears to not have materialised. RST’s scheme to gather fans together to get one larger stake has flopped totally, receiving a reported £175,000. The rest of the supposed £2m comes from smaller investors. The damage is obvious and severely worrying – fans will, at best, have 4% of the club and, worst of all, the largest voting block of that is likely to be 0.35%. Fan shares will be an irrelevance and the governance of one of Scotland’s largest clubs will be in the hands of Charles Green and “institutional investors”.
There are already institutional investors in the club. Blue Pitch Holdings, Margarita Funds Holding Trust and more.
And Charles Green says it best:
Some of the people in these companies are huge, huge investors in other businesses. Rangers to them is a very small almost secondary interest.
One on hand, the investors are people who “Know what they are doing”. On the other hand, they “Know what they are doing”. Institutional investors who put spare change into risky companies do it because they are well aware of the large potential rewards and the potential risks. The fact is that the institutional investors aren’t the respected arms of banks or benevolent people – they are teams of men like Craig Whyte: prepared to risk little of their own for large reward should their investment come off.
The gamble of the IPO was that fans would enthusiastically invest. They haven’t. Institutional investors (even the riskier ones) won’t invest without some guarantee that they will see their money again. The likelihood is that the institutional investors money was intended to complete the property development and commercial side of the plans. Were Charles Green to go to them and state that their money would, instead, be used to pay the bills, they would likely run for the hills.
Plans will have to be rewritten nonetheless. Money that was earmarked for revitalising Ibrox or on improving the commercial prospects will have to be used on working capital instead.
There are two possibilities now – Either it is written off as a total failure and Rangers plunged into administration now (before fan money is used to pay the bills while institutional investors get theirs ringfenced) or Charles Green dances to the SPL’s beat, gets down on his knees and begs forgiveness so that league reconstruction may favour the penitent man.
If the institutional investors have not met their side of the bargain as well (and the news regarding low fan interest will give jittery nerves), then the issue will not be Rangers’ to dictate.
Only one thing is certain – should Rangers choose to antagonise the SPL and SFA further and should the SPL or SFA choose to carry out league reconstruction less favourable to Rangers than the current proposals then the choice will be simple: Administration now or Administration later and fans will be forced, once more, to watch their club slowly die.
Fans invest based on their hearts, Institutions invest based on their heads. There is a big difference and the fact that the former hasn’t happened will make the latter sit very nervously in their seats.
DUSHANBE BHILLY BHOY
Happy New Year to you, and to all the Tims worldwide where it is the new year.
HH
Lying here on the couch sick with flu watching the snow falling and reflecting on the year 2012 and all the good that happened.
January started with us on our way to the title and the anticipated demise of our south side enemy.
February brought Valentine’s Day and the official announcement of Administration. Roll on 2 weeks and I got to celebrate turning 50 in great style as I stated in a post that day. Special thanks to MWD for the birthday ticket to the match.
March & April saw the young side start to jell and you could see big things happening.
May allowed me the great pleasure to be in Glasgow in the week leading up to the title party. I had a great time with MWD, CRC, Hamiltontim, FourGreenfields, SmashingMilkBottles, 31003, Dick Byrne and the friendly but cantankerous BlantyreTim. Unfortunately United Airlines spoiled the title party for me by insisting a $1200.00 change fee so I missed Rugby Park.
June and July brought about the anticipation of Champions League qualification. Transfer news, etc.
August comes and we circumvent 2 tricky ties and NL brings the young lions to the Champions League stage at last.
September brings the draw. ITV tells us we have no chance. Boy did we prove thee nay sayers wrong.
October brings Barca and we were 30 secs away from the best away result in decades built we could hold our heads high as it took the best club team in the world 93 minutes to beat us. Whereas it only took Scotland’s worst team 92 minutes to beat Scotland’s Shame that same week.
November and I return to the Fields of Paradise and the highlight of my year. I attended the Wee Oscar Night at the Kerrydale Suite where I met Minx1888 Bundoranbhoy, Lennybhoy, Doc is Neil Lennon, several other CQNe’rs along with the great man himself Paul67 for the first time. But the crowning moment was standing at the bar and briefly speaking with Oscar’s Dad. What a humbling experience that was.
Now we come to the end of December. We have the Juventus games to look forward to, the year 2013 beckons with promise and in roughly 9 and 1/2 hours I will have been smoke free for a year.
I wish all you safe journey wherever you go tonight. A healthy and prosperous 2013. Thanks to Paul67 for bringing us all together and allowing me to meet some of the finest people on earth and last but not least, I hope to see all of you in Wembley Stadium in May.
Albert was right, remind them at every chance you get.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/A_d12kxCUAAnx09.jpg:large
Uly
The contempt held by Sky and the SFA for the lower league clubs is disgraceful
It will be interesting to see how sevco get on against Dundee Utd ……the last time they played an SPL team they got stuffed
Richard Wilson,
Re viewing stats.
You can cut those numbers in lots of different ways, but , a quick analysis suggests , that of the £30 , I fork out every month , ignoring champions league games, Celtic are on twice a month, and if you correlate , viewing figures to revenues received, then the SPL is under selling itself.
Happy new year to each and every one of you in this wee Celtic corner when it comes , i hope you have a safe and healthy one .
Edward,
Good to see you posting again. Happy New Year to you sir when it arrives later.
New name for the bhuns ….The Deluded..
TimsinOhioand
the friendly but cantankerous BlantyreTim.
——————————————————
Friendly? I must have missed that side of him.
p.s get aff the couch ya big lassie,get a drink ,you’ll be bran new. hh