Back in 2011 a campaign was launched by Craig Whyte (subsequently adopted by others) to convince Scottish Premier League clubs that Rangers were necessary for their survival, and in the event of a liquidation event, the league should invite a phoenix club into the top flight.
The people at Celtic became aware of this and after the initial revulsion that a team, who at that stage were three-in-a-row champions, could liquidate, then phoenix with the same players and income streams, but without the debts associated with building the playing squad, they ran the numbers. They asked themselves the question, could we survive without Rangers?
The answer was straightforward, if we can’t survive without Rangers we’re as well not surviving at all. We needed a strategy which would cope with the drop in income, the lack of domestic competition, but still deliver Champions League competition. Easy, right?
Not easy but by no means impossible.
Celtic were running at an operational loss without selling players or getting into the Champions League group stage. That season (2011-12), in reaching the Europa League group stage, we made a £7m loss (mitigated by a later player sale). The subsequent drop in season ticket sales in a league without Rangers (it happened), drop in associated commercial and match-day ticket sales cost around £5m. Dropping the price of season tickets by £100 this season arrested the decline in sales, but brought in £4m less than last season.
To balance this, we qualified for the Champions League group stage last season and this, sold £20m worth of talent this summer (and have spent £6m so far on new arrivals).
We have something practically unique in football, a sustainable strategy which is also successful.
Is it without its risks? No.
Will it tax the team and manager, even against teams like Elfsborg and Shakhter? Yes.
Is it as good a strategy as we could have? That is a matter of opinion but results on the park are the only place that matters.
We’ve made lots of decisions so far this summer. Selling Hooper, Wanyama and Wilson, while bringing in van Dijk, Derk Boerrigter, Balde and Mouyokolo, before getting to this stage. Would Norwich and Southampton have waited or signed alternatives, leaving us with rapidly depreciating assets?
I’ve no idea, but these are the kind of factors which contribute to each decision.
You can play your hand cautiously, hold the players, risking buyers leave the market, or sign more players early, on the basis that they are available and you are prepared to pay the asking price, irrespective of your valuation. You can certainly give yourself an easier ride by taking decisions against strategy based on pressure.
This would not guarantee success (nothing does) but it would further mitigate the risk of failure, however, it would potentially leave fewer resources to build a team which can reach further still.
We played a more ambitious hand. Strategy was adhered to, which looked a folly, to some, a week ago.
For the first time in 40 years we have a sustainable, successful, team development strategy, which is only just beginning to bear fruit. It is too tempting to take those fruits and blow them on the same strategy most of our UK-based peers do in an attempt to guarantee entry to the promised land.
Faith in the squad, manager and scouts was rewarded. Whether you like it or not, we have one of the best development strategies in football. Well done, Celtic.
Neil Lennon is an ambitious man but if he thinks he can stem the “disgusting” “hysterical” reaction to a Celtic defeat he is overreaching. Some will learn but others will have rationalised their reaction within a second of the manager’s comments being made. ‘Tis the nature of the beast.
Well done to everyone who attended last night. The place wasn’t full but there is something about a Celtic Park crowd of around that size which seems more effective than when we’re crammed in.
Enjoy being a Celtic supporter.
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garygillespieshamstring
13:37 on 29 August, 2013
‘lenny s no help might be a reference to the lack of coefficient points gained by other Scottish clubs’
###
Maybe.
The only thing we can be sure of is that it was in no way intended to be a criticism of the board.
mickbhoy1888
13:37 on 29 August, 2013
Sad and bitter.
2 ex Celtic footballers been interviewed on SSN so far today……
Andy Walker is a discrace and shouldn’t be seen near the stadium again.
Then
John Hartson was on SSN. This man is a true Celt. Andy Walker should take note of what it means to have pulled on the hoops!!!
Oh and as for The Draw. Big bad John wants the easiest group possible. I think he has a cheeky wee 10er on us to lift the big one again.
Bignan,
The width of the crossbar saved us from going out ………
——————-
Would that the be the same width of the bar that denied KC a great away goal last week?
Let’s just enjoy looking forward to the draw this afternoon
I had a dream,
Man utd.
Atletico Madrid
Ajax
Celtic.
(Might have been a nightmare)
Martinluthorkingcsc.
Favourite Uncle
at 13.42
Thanks Fur the Nod,pal..
Appreciated.
Kojo
Still, Laughin’
Davie Provan – last night said Celtic’s first two goals were LUCKY. fair enough you could argue got a break for our second but sammy was right place at right time and finished superbly. But to say the movement commons got on the ball was lucky is incredible. Rarely will you see a ball hit so well. Embarrassing from Provan, as a Scot and an ex-Celt a bit of praise would be welcome for a change.
Anyone but Benfica & Chelsea for me
Benfica= Bored:))
Chelsea = Dont want that mob anywhere near our dear green place.
Enjoy the journey Bhoys & Girls
Even today some still come on and try to get others to bite
howsadcsc
Hope this works its brill!!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=725029497522680&set=a.270248559667445.89814.245447908814177&type=1&theater
Ram this ‘I want Madrid’ stuff I’m hearing. A bit of glamour is fine but I’d rather have the best chance possible of getting to the knock out stages – then you are guaranteed the glamour.
I want…
Benfica
CSKA
Basel
Celtic
Hail hail
I know that we have dropped income from some levels but I think I’ll wait to see the accounts to see exactly how much.
I’d also like our wage bill to be reduced. I love Scott Brown’s drive but his wage packet can cause problems (don’t know if others are on similar) when it comes to signing players or extending contracts – if X says “I’m as good/better than Brown I want the same money” what can we do?
Said it before and will say it again for Paul67 and the rest – Porto (who I think we can all agree have achieved European success in what is a restricted marketplace maybe not as bad but similar to ours) spend a lot more on transfer fees but a lot less on wages than us.
There shouldn’t be an issue spending decent amounts on players, but keep wages in check.
Nobody can say if we didn’t have a goalscorer (Hooper or a new player) in then things wouldn’t (likely) have been a lot more comfortable in both legs.
We gambled a million or two against twenty. That gamble thankfully paid off but had we went out then what? Would it be the mine-shafters who were right and the strategy wrong?
YES it did. <:o))))
provan and walker should be sine die’d from celtic park
couple of uncle tom scumbags
big john and big chris….legends forever
How happy would ye olde Starry Plough be with Basle in the draw :))
tony6714
13:42
It was a fine post. The first of many, I hope.
Istanbulcelt Oscar’s Green & White Army
im in your city 2 weeks tomorrow.
best places for a beer?
Right, if we draw Galatasary you’re all invited to istanbulcelt’s for a party!!
Havinapartyinthechampionsleague CSC
pabloh_aka_neil lennon
Agree, at one point Provan was telling Shaktar how to break us down, I find him very anti celtic and negative in his comments, that said I’ve been told off in our house for getting pest at commentators.
On the plus side I quite like Croker’s (sp) commentary
Looks like Bignan likes to stay on the negativity train, god almighty honestly where do we get them from, moan moan moan moan moan.
The anticipated arrival of scores of first-time posters on Celtic Quick News today has failed to materialise.
I suppose it is all about the Ramsdens Cup now.
Are Provan and Walker not just negative about everything, rather than just Celtic?
I see the draw was kind to us today – Morton at home
Slabhoy – Duntocher is Green and White
Hardgate must have really lowered its standards over the years – imagine let folk fae Duntocher in !!!!!
rt rev david hay
If you’re wanting an Irish bar…..The James Joyce in the center of town is a good….slightly over priced place.
It’s a real Irish bar tho. The owner has a band lot’s of live Irish music.
Lot’s of bars in that area. taksim / istiklal
Embdae except Chelsea..
.
Ernie, could be right there
TTTT
surely our Coeff is about to take a hike next year ?
While I agree with your stern assessment. They need to throw the punters a bone.
MON, WGS both left at this juncture . I want to see Lenny do a SAF with us.
Ten years at the same level ….come on lets take advantage of our relative financial safety.
HH
Malone Bhoy in support of Wee Oscar
12:49 on
29 August, 2013
Finding some of this point scoring disgusting if I’m honest.
I personally find the whole happy-clapper/mine-shafter thing a bit childish and one-dimensional – surely people should have more balance than that? You can be happy about certain things and be frustrated and upset about others.
In saying that, having the polar views on issues can be important and adds a lot to the blog – point scoring like spoiled children does not.
There has to be an acceptance from the mine-shafters that we are a very well run club (there might, and I think have been mistakes made, but in general we’re very well run). Likewise, the happy clappers need to realise the mine-shafters just want what they see is best for the club and for us to STRIVE.
Blindly following along is good for nobody, that’s what the zombies did. There’s a difference between faithful through and through and blind loyalty and obedience.
Stop bickering like kids and realise that without both sides this blog would be boring, nobody wants to discuss football where everyone agrees, how boring would that be.
……………….
Entirely agree, but will it catch on.
Point scoring, disparagement, vitriol and invective, Told You so, circular arguments…
One day maybe we’ll leave most of that behind.
HH
TTTT
Have not read Scottishleaf’s post but the obvious answer for Scottish football is to waken up to the fact that they need Celtic in the CL every year for their benefit.
To help that, summer football removes the main cause of the latest disharmony, the inability to release and sign players in harmony with the importance of the competitions being played in.
That is apart from the return to fitness angle, but if players leave in January because the previous season has just ended and titles are decided and we know we will be trying to qualify, that gives say 3 months after new players signed to be ready for the CL.
To further encourage change I would add to the solidarity payment each SPFL club gets a further percentage of the pot the qualifying team earns. Say 10% so £2m between all SPFL clubs.
That would go a long way to producing a sustainable league. Most of that percentage only ends up in the pockets of players already well rewarded who should remember that without opposition they would not be earning what they do.
So move to summer football and share a bit of the wealth the CL brings amongst the other clubs BUT make this conditional on stringent FFP in Scotland which means dismissing those at the SFA who have been unable to provide it since 2000.
All of this is as to sense and reason as football is to stupidity.
If folk just stood back from emotional judgements and looked past people to blame for doing their best in a stupid industry then a consensus for change might follow.
However it is a lot easier to blame than look for sensible answers, it is the lazy option.
Had a look back at many of the posts last night during and after the game. Joy unrestrained and many posters giving credit where it was due to players they had previously been critical of. That’s what it’s all about. We’re football fans after all and our comments are often guided by emotion rather than logical thought. I need to apologise to Efe Ambrose who had a great game. Efe usually scares me senseless and I have been a huge critic since the Juve game. Well done Efe and I hope you kick on and become a true Celtic hero of the future. One thing I have been aware of though it did not temper my criticism of Efe is that he hasn’t had a break for two years. Here’s hoping that Neil can excuse Efe of his duties at some point so that he can go off on holiday for a couple of weeks.
In my earlier post I forgot to praise Kris Commons and Sammi. How valuable are these ghuys to Celtic? Both were brilliant last night. Sammi scared the life out of Shakhter and was totally unplayable during that second half. Credit to him for being in the right place at the right time for his goal. Kris is a very, very clever player. We always knew he was skilful but as he gets older he has added strength as well to his assets. He used to get knocked off the ball too easily for me a couple of seasons back but he has obviously worked on his upper body strength and that is allowing him to display all his skills in the middle of the park. A really intelligent player.
The only disappointing thing about reading back the blog was a few posters coming on and having a go at Mineshafters even after a great Celtic victory. It’s not enough for Celtic to win for some unless they can come on and gloat at others as if they themselves have won some type of victory. One poster disgraced himself by naming 4 posters he considered to Mineshafters and made it worse by making a fool of their blog names.
Hope we get a good draw that will give us hope of qualification.
Hail! Hail!
Love them Thia kids. Hoops thru and thru!! It must make the Gormley family very very proud!!
rt rev david hay
Where are you staying/how long are you over for?
ernie lynch
Not sure but Provan tried his very best to talk up that absolute bore-draw the other night between Man Utd and Chelsea.
Árd Macha
Re. that piece by McMurdo, he obviously doesn’t do irony! Loads of lol moments in it.
So, we need to be careful because the CO-OP Bank has lost £550m, and they service our overdraft?
Even Celtic supporters believing that Celtic’s finances are in a perilous state?
Hurting, big time, hun!
GIRFUY
HH
Delighted to see UEFA have invited Big Billy as last captain to lift the big cup in Lisbon to be part of the draw.
God forbid UEFA ever decide to hold the cup runners up cup final in a toilet
we would never hear the end of the deadco and Big ham and eggs
I followed the game last night on CQN and then watched it here in Spain on Canal + this morning. First of all, thanks to the posters for the running commentary, made for a magical night.
Now to Canal +’s coverage. Simply put – informed, polished and professional. The commentators made it clear from the start that it would not be a technically brilliant game due to the limitations of the players on display but that it would be a fantastic night full of passion and commitment and excitement. Their knowledge of the players strengths and weaknesses was good and they spotted every tactical change that was made throughout the 90 mins. They also heaped praise on Kris Commons and JF throughout the 2nd half and gave JF MOTM for his contribution, crosses and goal the latter being the key to edging on KC for the award) – while paying particular attention to mention his youth.
The panel summed up the game as the “best of the qualifying stages” and that we were easily the deserved winners.
Hardly a negative word or comment in 94 mins.
Ah am excited aboot..well.. aloata things..
But..
This Israeli Chap, could be the Answer tae Ma.. Exhortation.
It’s a Start..
At least,He May be the Fore-Runner of the Shape of oor Mid-Field tae Come.
Ah mak a Loata Them.. Exhotations… It’s a Chronic Habit.. Kojo’s Exhortations!
But.. The Following …Exhortation..is the Wan, tae which Ah refer..
“Celtic ,need tae. Clean OOT the Mid-Field.”
Yep…that’s the wan , Aweright!!
We wull Never reach the Heights ,tae which we ur Mair than Entitled ,tae Reach..
With the Present Cast Members,in oor Mid-Field…in Situ.
Broonie, Kayal. Ledley.. are Two Bit-ers~
They ur Far too Unimaginative.. Content. tae spend maist of the Match.. in Playing Pat a Cake across the Mid-Field..with each ither.
Completely, Bereft, of making that Killer Pass. so loved by.. Me, Lou, Mabel.. and Nutsy..collie,is still trying tae find oot…whit. .”Bereft”, means!
Obviously, that,”Killer Pass,” is ,Certainly…No Loved, so much… by the Majority of Fans oan here..
Fur ..many of them Still think that Joe Ledley,, Makes a Contribution .
and..
Broonie is a Prized Asset..
and Kayal,jist needs Mair time .. tae Settle.
Ah hope that this Signing..of the Israeli, with the Name that Ah hiv completely Furgoatten.. as soon as Ah read It!
Wull
Be the Start of that “Cleanup”.
Of course Ah am Pre-supposing ,here..
He may , not be much of a Help …
That remains tae be seen..
But.. Ah kin always Live In Hope..?
Right?
Kojo
Still,Laughin’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23680545
How Uefa’s seeding system helps Arsenal & hinders Celtic