Trading well is everything. Two years ago we watched a World Cup game between our then right back, playing for Croatia, and the right back we were interested in, who played for Canada. Josip Juranovic went to the semifinal with Croatia, while Alistair Johnston’s Canada went home without a point.
Celtic’s recruitment system told them to trade Josip and buy Johnston. Alistair was the gold nugget lost in the MLS. This and trades like it, gave Celtic a football identity which brought the latest wave of trophies. It is Tier 1 operating mechanism, learned from City Football Group, and aligned to what Hearts have now signed up with.
I am delighted Alistair has signed a new deal that could keep him at the club until 2029. He has the ability and fitness to be a stand out for us in the Champions League for all that time.
Still, ‘Trading well is everything’. You and I have learned so much since we watched the wheels come off Martin O’Neill’s great team, as it expired through age. My suspicion is that we will do less trading like the Juranovic-Johnston deals going forward and more deals like Adam Idah and Arne Engels.
The deal is a good boost ahead of the trip to Tynecastle, not to mention this morning’s AGM.
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as to away tickets and allocations,
what is fair about the system now, nothing.
each new season should start with a new ballot and rotate through all those who want to attend.
“ We’ve tried various things with away tickets “
P.S. “ they’ve no worked “
Shortie informs me ‘McCoist has an incurable hand condition’.
Why it’s taken so long for this to become newsworthy is beyond me. It’s been obvious for a very long time that he is and always will be a w**ker.
another summary from the evening times. a bit more informative capture i suggest, barrowfield oped in january.
——————-
10:28am
Double delight
Celtic’s achievements last season are being screened to those in attendance as they make their way to their seats.
Can the club go one better this campaign and win another treble – as well as European progression?
We’re just about to get underway…
10:33am
And we’re off…
Head of TV and Digital Media Gerry McCulloch is here to open proceedings – and with that, another highlights video!
10:36am
Lawwell is here, but where’s Dermot?
Chairman Peter Lawwell has arrived, though there’s no sign of majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.
This is hardly surprising, as the last time he attended one of these was way back in 2006 – when Gordon Strachan was the manager!
His son, Ross, is here on his behalf…
10:42am
Lawwell latest
The chairman is in his element, as he discusses the highlights over the past year, how much money Celtic have at their disposal and the start the club have made this season.
Arne Engels, Barrowfield and “rainy day” savings are all mentioned here, as well as “looking elsewhere” concerning failure to qualify for the Champions League and the ramifications that brings.
10:43am
Celtic “must develop their own”
The chairman admits the club has to continue to develop players on their own, as finding and buying UCL-ready talent is “difficult”
Easier said than done!
10:46am
Some remarks from the chairman…
“In the first team, we hope to play in the Champions League and then progress the careers and if they want to stay here, fantastic, but if they don’t, we transfer them and reinvest the transfer money back into the squad.”
“I think that the challenges are probably as they are, it’s to keep maintaining our dominance in Scotland.”
“Thanks to everyone for their fantastic support over the years. It’s been vital to this club in terms of success.”
Lawwell received a round of applause after these comments…
10:49am
Money, money, money…
Chief financial officer Chris McKay is next to take the mic, as he discusses how important it is for Celtic to be in the Champions League for the numbers generated financially.
The club are in a good place on that front…
10:51am
Paul Tisdale mentioned
Celtic’s new Head of Football operations Paul Tisdale has been hailed by chief executive Michael Nicholson.
“He’s going to play an important role”, says Nicholson.
10:55am
Celtic Fan Survey latest
The chief executive alludes to this summer’s questionnaire, which was completed by thousands of supporters.
Nicholson: “We’re putting a lot of work into the fan survey and analysing the results.”
It will be interesting to see those results when compiled – especially concerning ‘The Celtic End’.
11:04am
Resolutions Passed
1. Annual report – passed
2. Michael Nicholson reappointment – passed
3. Dermot Desmond reappointment – passed
4. Tom Allison reappointment – passed
5. Brian Wilson reappointment – passed
6. BDO LLP auditors reappointment – passed
7. Authority and remuniration of auditors – passed
8. Authority to allot shares – passed
9. Authority to allot equity securities – passed
No hitches as expected!
11:14am
Sadiku takes to the stage…
Following a successful SWPL campaign last season, Celtic manager Elena Sadiku is next to address shareholders…
11:18am
Barrowfield in conversation
Celtic’s redevelopment of Barrowfield for their academy and the Celtic Women’s side has been praised by both Peter Lawwell and Elena Sadiku thus far.
Lawwell: “An exciting project that will hopefully open in January.”
Sadiku: “Will help my team become professional 24/7.”
11:22am
Rodgers faces the music
The Celtic manager is next to speak to shareholders, as he bigs up his time at the club since returning last summer.
He talks about how last month’s Atalanta draw acted as a springboard to the defeat of RB Leipzig in the Champions League.
Praises the transfers of Adam Idah and Arne Engels – as well as the appointment of Paul Tisdale as Head of Football Operations.
A happy manager, is Rodgers.
I’m sure we’d all have liked to have seen more signing like AJ under Mark Lawwell’s time. Unfortunately we can’t re-write history and will continue to cut losses on his players for some years to come.
P67 either has the memory of a goldfish or he thinks his readers do.
St Stivs,
Many thanks for the AGM updates. Much appreciated.
Where we can reduce ticket prices, lets do it.
I would be happy for fans to buy single use tickets for certain league games at a lesser price.
This would reflect the uncertainty of getting a ticket, the hassle of actually buying a ticket, late transport arrangements to be made and the fact family and friends may not be seated together.
Im sure there would be concensious from existing season ticket holders.
Cheers and HH.
Cheers for Agm links Stivs
Only thing am touch uncomfortable with is Gary Hooper gag,true though.
It’s to reminiscent rorybremner jokes in the past.
It’s Celtics agm and a little unprofessional to play to(the old firm)gallery by discussing/referring to/alluding to another club.Well seen questions from the floor are not noted in law
As the voting percentages show it more or less a legal duty to pass an hour with the blowhards and placed questioners.
Just my view
Carry on with the good work board of solidifying Celtics future.
HH
Thanks for the updates.
Watched the Christmas movie last night and cried like a wean. Some wonderful memories came flooding back over the years. Sprinting downstairs to see the latest Celtic tap under the tree and ripping off the paper to put it on, and watching wee Myles glow with Joy and wee Maria asks why no the same excitement about the new chopper bike:)))))) I remember the Christmas parties as a young player and being so nervous as it was Karaoke and I could hold a wee note or two. I was made to sing Elvis, Suspicious minds,and then the legend Paul McStay sang unchained melody, whit a hard song to sing. I left the party early to get the 240 back to Wishy. Still, 18 yrs old and waking up on Christmas morning ripping open the New celtic Jersey and wee Maria shaking her heid saying you wear that every day, and I said ay I know, and now I’ll wear it every night:))) Nothing has changed since I have been living over here in Merica for the last 30 years. Last year one of my daughters bought me a black hoodie with the Peaky blinders on it, all wearing Celtic Scarfs. I wear it all the time. My classroom is filled with so much Celtic memorabilia and scarfs and flags that I have my own Celtic end in my room. Watching that video to me is why our club is so special. It doesn’t matter your age, we have a connection to every player and era that wore the hoops. We can rhyme off teams that we never even saw, and we can hold our own in conversation with any other sporting organization in the world…bar none!!! Watching Auld Joe on the hallowed turf last night was brilliant as it was my da, your da, everybody’s da that is no longer with us. It was that Grandpa that sat us on their knee and told us about Jimmy McGrory and thank God they did, because we cannot forget the ones our club was built on. What a club, what a support, what an honor to be a part of something so special that a simple 4 minute Christmas video can make you feel so vulnerable, but elated at the same time. Thank you Celtic.
Sean ( sorry for the long post)
Rather than moan about the council’s restricting parking plans, celtic could and should built a couple of multi story carparks behind the Js and ll stands to accommodate another 1000 cars at each side. Cost per car parking space £10,000 pounds. The average lifespan of galvanised steel car park is 60+ years. 20 million construction cost for the 2 carkparks. Based on supporters paying £5.00p per game @ 30 home games per season at present and inflationary cost of parking over the next 60 years and that initial investment has at least doubled in value over the life time of the carparks. Throw in parking costs for all other events at celtic park and the velerdom and it makes prefect sense even if the start up cost is high.
Supporters benefit from secure parking close to stadium, pedestrian areas can be better defined and managed, traffic flow can be better managed. It would provide a service that is needed for such a big venue. It would also remove 2,000 cars from the streets around the stadium during match days. This is better for the local community as well and address their concerns.
Celtic could and should build a grandstand at barrowfield training centre (behind the supporters club on the 9 a size pitch) and could add another 250 car parking spaces there as well. Again benefiting the supporters, the club and the local community.
Having a designated fulltime home at a central location where the woman and b team play their games makes it more accessible and would helps grow attendance and therefore generate money.
A designated home would also save the club money as they would not need to hire out other teams grounds.
Saying it’s difficult to build the main stand because we don’t play in the EPL is ridiculous. Lots of clubs around the world manage to do just that. Guys running multi million pound businesses should not be throwing out execuses but finding solutions.
Keeping money in the bank for a rainy day, aye some money but there are many ways money can be invesred to save money, generate money, increase the value of shares and give supporters the best facilities possible.
I do like idea of a big standing section but I would be happier if we had standing sections dotted at each corners of the stadium. After a while they would sync into harmony with each other and that would help create one hell of an atmosphere for the whole stadium.
The amount of many celtic have paid out in corporation tax over the last 2 or 3 years would have paid for everything i mentioned, except the main stand and none would be white elephants. The club would have the same level of money in the bank, the value of the club would have increased, the supporters would have had better facilities, the woman team and b team would have had a home in a central location. On top of that the local community would have had less disruption and parking issues, entering and leaving the stadium would be better managed and the landscape around the js stand and LL
Stand would be much improved.
In my opinion Celtic need an aggressive plan off the pitch that looks to maximise every possible avenue of revenue. I get the sense celtic are very short sighted.
HH
Espanyolification re-test
Big Jimmy from previous thread/blog, hope you keep better big man.
If you cannot make 29th do not worry we can catch another game later in season, so do not feel pressured, but just let me know Monday or Tuesday.
Stay safe fella.
Remember if you need anything gee me a call.
D. :)
Stephbhoy67 on 22nd November 2024 2:55 pm
Good post with constructive initiatives.
Do you think the council would give us planning permission for a giant carpark ?
A giant cycle carpark maybe.
Cheers and HH.
Could also get the council to get rid of the cycle lanes along London Rd,and put on shuttle buses from different locations to the Park,a large majority don’t drive and use public transport. Fergus done a deal with bus companies years ago, could try and do something similar.
D66- well done on the diet,good luck
A lot of folk get this wrong….
Within Saint Stivs otherwise excellent summary of the AGM, he refers to Dermott Desmond as ‘majority shareholder’.
He is not. He may be the biggest shareholder, but that doesn’t make him the majority shareholder. He doesn’t hold the majority of shares.
Weeron.
The way that away tickets are allocated is a joke.
There must be some inside dealings going on, some buses get 1 or 2 tickets for places like Pittodrie but end up with 10-12, with guys who just go to odd away game going, not even attending home games.
D. :)
thats the other thing – no way should buses get extra priority for away tickets than fans who go by car or train, but many of them clearly do
Boondock Saint @ 2.47
Another wonderful post from you, full of passion and appreciation of the gift that Celtic is to all of us.
In my own business yesterday,our Medical Director and his wife gave a powerful presentation on how a positive mindset, not pretending that problems do not happen but how to deal best with them, will enhance every aspect of your personal, family, friends and worklife. One of the key factors is Gratitude – recognising what we have and appreciating our successes and those of others.
I am grateful to Celtic for the many times that they have brought me an abundance of joy and so clearly are you.
lets all do the huddle on 22nd November 2024 3:14 pm
Sorry I must disagree. Clubs are the glue that holds many Celtic communities together.
No tickets, eventually no clubs.
Cheers and HH.
Greenpinata
The hydro holds 14000 folk and is closer to glasgow town centre than celtic park, it also benefits from a train station less the 1/4 of a mile away and glasgow city council have allowed a 1200 capacity car park to get built.
Glasgow city council would have to come up with one hell of a good excuse for not allowing such a project, particularly as we are based in a residential area, the travel connections are piss poor and putting a 1 mile restriction zone simply moves the problem of parking a mile away.
The cycle lanes are not a bad idea but will take generations to actually be normalised behaviour for the many.
Brendan presser
https://youtu.be/IRkZvfkb6f8?si=W_834SfzgJ-Pq5DH
HH
Sorry I must disagree. Clubs are the glue that holds many Celtic communities together.
No tickets, eventually no clubs
—
with respect that isnt true.
how does getting 3 tickets for dundee for example hold a ‘celtic commmunity’ together?
surely the 52 folk who go to the home games is what keeps that ‘celtic community’ together these days and not the handful who get their hands on the miniscule away allocation?
the buses situation is definitely a case of who you know in the ticket office to determine if your a lucky bus or not!
Wee Ron
Re DD
He does have the majority power stake
Nothing will occur at Celtic without his say so imo.
He is the power
HH
Stephbhoy67 on 22nd November 2024 3:21 pm
I am in agreement 100%..
HH
Who mentioned Phil Taylor?
David66 on 22nd November 2024 2:56 pm
Big Jimmy from previous thread/blog, hope you keep better big man.
If you cannot make 29th do not worry we can catch another game later in season, so do not feel pressured, but just let me know Monday or Tuesday.
…………..
I know that you meant the 30th…NOT 29th November .
I should be fine for Saturday the 30th/
I will TEXT you on Monday evening to Confirm.
HH Mate.
Bada bing,
I like the idea of free access to public transport and shuttle busses to and from celtic park on match days. I have no issues with the bike lanes and think over time more and more people will use them as the network improves. A good transport network includes a range of options. celtic and the council, from the outside at least, don’t want to own or address the issue of having a 60,000 capacity stadium in an area poorly served by public transport.
I like many others would struggle to get to games without a car, lots and lots of folk are in the same boat. Celtic should provide facilities for said supporters. Improved and increased parking would offer a lot of benefits to folk like me.
All of the above would benefit those coming by private car, by public transport and on bikes as it would allow the traffic flow to be managed much better.
Desmond has a market in the Barrows place
BSR
He’s got a Tesco clubcard as well
Fergus McCann set up free transport when the stadium went up.
The average crowd before Fergus McCann was 28,000
Big Jimmy and David66 going to the same game. The stand will keel over and end up in fooking Duke Street. 😳
GENE
That awkward moment when you forget to take it 😂
An Dun
Here’s an ACSOM article outlining the Mark Lawell signings. The writer says it’s damning, as he applies his Hit or Miss ratings, arriving at 7 hits and 14 misses, but a few of his Miss ratings made money for us- Oh, Iwata & Bernabei (soon). And he declares Palma a hit and Kühn a miss, as a result of judging too soon. I would also query his rating of Jenz as a Miss- he has gone on to play for 3 strong Bundesliga clubs.
I agree that Haksa, Kobayashi, Haksabanovic, Tilio, Lagerbielke & Phillips are definite misses plus Siegrist- a signing that fans clamoured for but was a wage thief.
Kwon is a successful SPFL standard player but not Celtic standard. Nawrocki and Holm are either injured or playing up behind the scenes as they’ve both looked good enough on the rare occasions they’ve been given a chance.
So I’d have the Hit/Miss rate a lot closer to 50:50
https://acsom.net/the-final-damning-verdict-of-mark-lawwells-celtic-signings/
AN TEARMANN
Dermot has been outvoted at board level on more than one occasion though not very often, mainly because the board are generally unanimous on most votes.
In common with all board members, Dermot has one vote. Don’t believe the hype that what he says goes every time.
Yes, he can be very persuasive, but board members are not weak-willed yes men.
I think the club ran a wee Choo-choo train on the road from Dalmarnock Station to the Park a couple of times. It was pretty slow and took inadequate numbers as it could not make return trips easily in congested traffic.
Maybe a moving escalator on the cycle lanes would work if you could shut them down to bikes for an hour before and after a match.
Tom McLaughlin on 22nd November 2024 3:58 pm
Tom,
can you give any exaples of anyone going agaist DD at board meetings, I am positive there is policy discussions, but I do think he gets his wishes.
i dont have the numbers, but if a project signing doesnt make the grade with appearances on the pitch, but is sold at a profit anyway, does that make that transfer a success for the model ?