The Australia deal, Ibrox narrative and grievance complexes

Let’s clear this one out of the way, Newco are not being paid the same money Celtic will receive for competing in the Sydney Cup; Celtic will receive more than twice as much as their city rivals (figures reported elsewhere are accurate).  Confirmed.

The fee Celtic will receive, let’s call it, a ‘Jota’, is a lotta money.  The commercial department has delivered bigger deals – multi-year kit contracts, but as a one-off arrangement, this is exceptional.  The manager, who has not been home in three years, was also very keen on it happening.  The deal was not contingent on playing Newco or their participation in the tournament.  This payment is also not at risk if Newco get so much bad publicity from being filler in the Ange Homecoming Tour they decide to pull out……

I expect a couple of top English Premier League teams will also confirm games in Australia during the World Cup break, each working independently with the same promoter.

There is nothing particularly exceptional about this.  Ange Postecoglou is a sporting hero in Australia, the higher value offered to Celtic reflects this.  If he was at Ibrox, the story would be different.

This one does not suit the narrative from Ibrox, or from those peddling hoary old stories about Celtic and imagined partnerships.  It’s a lot easier being on the outside with a grievance complex and a keyboard, than being the commercial team that will put money on the table for the transfer window.

Tomorrow we might pick up on the vanity project that Chelsea has been for the last two decades.