If anyone tells you we are about to bid €7m on a guy who scored fewer league goals than Billy McKay last season, and who was signed for €500k last summer, don’t listen to them. Nonsense like this is 180 degrees away from strategy. Where would such a player’s sell-on value increase to? It’s just not going to happen, nor should it, it would be a vanity purchase, the likes of which old Zsa Zsa himself would consider.
The last season we have figures for (season 2011-12), when we had Europa League football, Celtic lost £7m. Since then three significant things have changed:
We’ve sold Wanyama and Hooper for over £17m (before deductions).
We got back into the Champions League and earned an additional £20m.
Season book sales dropped and this season cost £100 less than before.
Cutting £100 off the ticket price will bring in £4m less than last season. All other things being equal (which they will not be), this would give us an £11m deficit before Champions League income and any trading surplus. In short, to retain equilibrium, we need to reach the Champions League group stage more often than not. Money from Uefa is not so much a bonus, it is necessary to push us into the black.
I know we covered this last week, but £17m for Victor and Gary will not, on its own, equate to £17m for new players. Gary and Victor were both on their first Celtic contracts when they left, neither of which was near the top earning position (although both were offered top earning contracts).
We’re not going to spend £17m on transfers and be able to pay the new players from the money saved by not paying Victor and Gary. Instead, the boost to the football budget from these sales will almost certainly disproportionately increase wages, leaving a lesser amount for transfers (if we sign four players for £2.5m each, we’ll probably have to pay each more than the average of Victor and Gary’s wage).
Knowing where they came from, I reckon Victor and Gary cost approximately a combined total of £1m p.a. in wages, the bulk of which would have gone to Gary. If we bring in four players, each costing multiple millions, they could easily cost us an extra £2m per annum in wages, or £8m over their four year contracts.
In short, there is enough money available to buy several good players, for decent money, on high wages (for Celtic). This is a good, sustainable, place to be, but it is not transfer window nirvana. We have moved from a position of carrying a perpetual loss to being able to afford an increase in football budget without splurging into debt to fund it.
This isn’t a detailed budget analysis, there are lots of other variables (McCourt, Rogne etc off the wages, not Murphy, whose wages were off the books already), non-football budget cost inflation, considerable drop in one-off ticket sales (20k seats for £42 each at Rangers games twice a season) and commercial income from 2011-12, variations in season book sales (I hear they are marginally up on same time last year but still down on 2011-12).
The big challenge for the club is to ensure the playing squad is good enough to qualify for the Champions League group stage, and to compete when there, more often than not, without indulging in casino football every year.
We stick to plan, scout and recruit players within budget and with high potential sell-on values. €7m on a striker from Heerenveen? Better stick it on black.
The Kano Foundation have around 40 bucketeers for their annual drive at Celtic Park on Sunday. They could do with a few more. If you can do your bit, get in touch: contactus@thekanofoundation.com.
Check out the 1254125 Great Scottish Run page. I plan to keep this page updated with progress on the event and other resources. When you sign up, let me know and I’ll promote your donations page.
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tonydonnelly67
15:36 on 30 July, 2013
Tripe !
Kayal33
16:12 on 30 July, 2013
I think if we did a Keane/Belamy style deal were we picked up a % of the wages it would work. I bet Clint would love to compete in the CL
HH
gsu
…. a coupla things…..
Will it be…. The Dunfermline?
…and why does Shortie have us ‘completing a deal’, while the tribute teddies always seal a deal and a. n. other ‘ currant’ wins his deal etc etc………
Hi BMCUWP,
was good to meet you:)
I think natural wastage took care of any excess exuberance, he did no more pleading after that:)
Good you made it back…as you can see I’m wondering in that last post whether there is a new CelticTV strategy in place to curtail the watching of the green on every matchday this season. Must admit I’m a bit surprised that they appear to have a ‘kill switch’ but it makes sense now they’ve demonstrated it works to continue with it….any thoughts?
HH!
Does anyone on here think anyone in the media will have the balls to ask Dunfermline why they worked so hard for a CVA to avoid liquidation & newco??
Or do you think the media probably won’t say much?
hankray
14:24 on 30 July, 2013
Theoriginalsadiesbhoy @ 13.45
Wexford people are known as the Yellow Bellies and don’t let that term fool you.
It came about in the 17th century in Ireland when King William – yes that guy – arranged a hurling match between his fancied caman players from Wexford and a champion team of Cornish hurlers. The Wexfordmen wore yellow waistbands and played brilliantly on the day with spectators shouting c’mon the Yellow Bellies.
……………………………………………………………………………
Thanks for the explanation of the term as it applies to Wexford. My memory was of old films were cowardly characters were mocked for being ‘yellow bellies’.
CQN is an education!
Manager: Elfsborg are dangerous opponents
By: Mark Henderson on 30 Jul, 2013 15:50
NEIL Lennon has underlined how formidable Elfsborg will be in tomorrow´s UEFA Champions League third round qualifier in Paradise, but he remains confident in Celtic´s ability to progress in the tie.
While the Hoops have yet to get their domestic season underway, the Swedish champions have played 17 league games, giving them an edge in match sharpness.
And the manager was impressed by what he saw when taking in their 1-1 draw with Atvidaberg at the weekend. He knows the Scottish champions have a fierce fight on their hands.
“You are talking about the Swedish champions here,” said the Irishman. “They have international players and international-calibre players. They are 17 games into the season so they are match-sharp and a good side.
“They pass the ball very well and are very well-organised. There is a good blend of youth and experience in their team, and on the back of winning the title they come into the season confident.
“I think they´re putting more emphasis on qualification for the Champions League at the minute than probably their own progress in the league, so they are very dangerous opponents.
“It will be disappointing if we don´t make it,” he added. “Our whole emphasis on preparation for the last few weeks has been on trying to negotiate these ties as best we can. I think we have enough quality in our side to give them plenty of problems.”
It´s almost a mirror image of last season when Celtic overcame Swedish opposition in the form of Helsingborgs to make the group stages. The Hoops boss expects another close contest but not the same tension and anxiety in the dugout.
“I wouldn’t say I´m relaxed but I am aware of the situation now,” he said. “I suppose it´s coincidental we have a Swedish team again. It was two tough ties against Helsingborgs last year and I would envisage it would be the same again against Elfsborg.
“There is huge expectation now to qualify,” he continued. “It’s a new season. We have sold two very good players but we feel we have brought in a couple of good players as well. It´s a short spell of time to blend the guys in and get them up and running.
“Obviously with the Wanyama and Hooper situation dragging on a little bit, it does hamper your preparations but we have been very focused now for the last week or so since the draw was made.
“But it’s not going to be won one tie anyway. It´s going to take two ties to win so we will be prepared for that as well.”
Curiously, on-loan striker Mo Bangura could come up against his current employers, with Elfsborg adamant he will be involved, despite the compromising situation for the player.
“It´s a situation that doesn’t occur very often in football,” admitted the Celtic manager. “It´s one of those strange scenarios that are thrown up but we will deal with it as best we can.
“It´s a difficult position for Mo but if he plays, he plays. We are preparing for it as if he is playing so it´s a difficult one for him.
“You would probably need to ask him how he´s feeling more than me. We have made our feelings clear in the last week or so but we have to respect Elfsborg´s decision on it.
“I´m sure he will know plenty about our players but we have plenty of information on Elfsborg, having watched them myself at the weekend and Johan knows Swedish football very well.”
Celtic could be boosted by the return of three important players from injury as Adam Matthews, Joe Ledley and Charlie Mulgrew came through training, having all saw match action against Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend. Virgil Van Dijk, however, remains sidelined.
maestro-number8
thanks!
Our new signing is Ian Black !!!
https://twitter.com/NoelKiely/status/362219598780694529
Greenside & Kayal,
Don’t mention any more names or Tiny Tim nameplayer police about.
Ain’t life a bitch sometimes.
Came back on Sunday from France intending to take my brother -in law to the game on Wednesday as a bit of a break for him.
His wife has primary progressive MS and has been in a care home for the past 6 years following his caring for her at home for the previous 5 years when she had to retire from a senior position with the Dept of Health and he gave up his job to look after her. I only mention her job to compare that person with someone who now can’t speak has no use of her limbs and is fed through a tube. When we talk of devotion and good acts I think of Les who visits with her twice a day 7 days a week and has done for those years and unfailingly ensures that she everything possible is done for her comfort and welfare. He frankly puts me to shame as I don’t have the confidence that I could be as unselfish as he is and thankfully have not been put to that test.
It was particularly a good time for a break (ironic) as he’d been running back and forth to hospital week before last as Penny (his wife) had developed a blood clot but was I thought safely back in the care home. Well she had been but another routine visit to her consultant revealed the reason for the clot. She has a broken femur was at the weekend in intensive care and her future uncertain. As happens these days there will now be an investigation by the Safeguarding Adults team to establish how the break occurred and who was responsible repeating events of 6 years ago when traumatically Les was himself accused of harming Penny. I feel very sorry for those care workers and carers at home who bear the State’s burden but are vulnerable themselves to the lack of support empathy and care that should be theirs by right.
Well I thought I’m going on my own now it seems. Not so. Been having troubles of late with food digestion which I put down to sloppy eating with grand – daughter dominating the dining table with final college work so that it became easier to eat with trays on laps. Being away I realised that sitting at a table was not resolving the issue so arranged to see the Doc on Monday. Result blood tests tomorrow at 9.30 and endoscopy at 3.30 so no game for me whilst I’m going through the Rod Stewart routine. Hopefully the investigations will have similar results.
Sorry for the rant and unburdening but its a b****** when we’d been looking forward to going.
So you guys who can go shout loud for Les and I
C’mon you Bhoys in Green
WGS
16:25 on 30 July, 2013
Just trying keep Bishop B busy on his updates :)
gsu
If you must listen to a chat show
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Take care derbyshirebhoy.
And les and family..
KTF. .
derbyshirebhoy – hope all goes well for you. Promise yourself a midweek Champions League group stage game (if we get there – no, when we get there) to make up for it….
derbyshirebhoy,
KTF, thoughts are with you all
HH
gsu
BLANTYRE TIM 1559
If you lent me some money-or vice versa-it would be kept between us.
BOS allowing all and sundry to know the extent of Celtic’s debt breached client confidentiality.
That it was done for non-business reasons is even worse,and should have seen the principles sacked.
However,even worse was the way BOS forced the break-up of a decent Hearts team by leaking details of the type of offer required for individual players.
Moral-lenders have their own best interests at heart. If yours aren’t just behind them,borrow from someone else.
me three penneth worth
The trouble with the model we are operating (strategizing, actioning, visioning, operationalising etc.) at the moment is that we sell good players – it’s the whole idea of it. The board will be working like fupp to get new potentially good players in. If they got vic in and sold him , they will want to get a new vic in, if they rescued a hoops and sold him, they will want to rescue a new hoops ‘cos that’s what makes the money. Buy a hoops, sell a hoops. The trouble is you won’t know if the strategy works ’til 18 months down the line. You can’t tell if ‘get a vic, sell him, buy a new vic’ works ’til we let new vic show his mettle. This involves a leap of faith and a belief in a world which gets paid a whole lotta mullah. Whilst neganon2 maybe a contrary ole bassa (neganon2, please, please take this a compliment, ‘cos it is, however, you’re free to call me all sorts of names) he wants quality at cp, we all want quality at cp. The trouble with the current model is it’s counter intuitive. If you want quality at cp, why in contumnacious hell are you selling it for jaysus sake, we already have a vic and a hoops for example ( you can argue amongst yourselves the relative quality of vic and hoops) so why sell them. Well, it comes down to head or heart – operate the model or have vic sort messi out – who knows which is right ? we won’t know for 5 + years when we look back at our trophies or lack of them.
that’s me serious post quota reached – i’m aff oot on a flounce
derbyshire bhoy
Good luck with the tests and best of luck to Les and his wife.
Hail! Hail!
Just had a call with some Dutch colleagues there. Very surprised we’ve got Boerigter. They reckon he was one of the best players in the Dutch league.
From the BBC:
German prosecutors have charged Uli Hoeness, president of European football champions Bayern Munich, with tax evasion after a lengthy inquiry.
Lawyers for Mr Hoeness have one month to respond to the charges before a court in Munich decides whether the case should go to trial.
The former footballer reported himself to the authorities earlier this year over an undeclared Swiss bank account.
Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund to win last season’s Champions League.
News of the secret bank account caused a stir in Germany with even Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman saying she was disappointed in the former West Germany international.
Neither he nor officials have disclosed how much money is involved, but German media suggest he deposited millions of euros in a Zurich-based account over 10 years.
He is said to have failed to pay capital gains tax.
Ken Heidenreich, a spokesman for Munich prosecutors, declined to give details of the indictment on Tuesday, citing tax secrecy laws.
“We have filed the charges to the Munich state court,” he said. “The defence now has one month to pronounce itself.”
In May, Bayern’s supervisory board backed Mr Hoeness to remain in the job despite the investigation against him.
The club won the Uefa Champions League in May, beating German rivals Borussia Dortmund.
jackie mac
16:36 on
30 July, 2013
The thing with the strategy is that yes, there will be failures a long the way, but if we do the job properly we’ll start to recognize the traits of the VWs and GHs and pick up them up more often and not.
TOOTING TIM
I wasn’t aware you could watch the Celtic games live on CELTICTV in England-I thought it was only available abroad.
Apart from that,I know nothing-but,hey,you’ve met me,so that won’t be news!
Great time,mate. You and the lads are a smashing bunch,and my grateful thanks.
You woulda thunk that the top man at Bayern would have known that you salt your dough in the Virgin Islands, routed via Jersey and Grand Cayman…
Hrvatski Jim- her voice changed after she worked with Daniel Lanois [Wrecking Ball?] – went from very pure to breathy and husky.
After her brilliant beginning when she reeled off 4 or 5 terrific albums in a row she got a bit samey, but she’s got her mojo back over the past few years.
The duet album she did with Linda Ronstadt is very good, great cover of Jackson Browne’s ‘For a Dancer’.
She’s had a fantastic career, no question.
weeminger
thumbs up
derbyshirebhoy- thoughts with you and your family; you’ve certainly been dealt a very difficult hand these past few weeks.
On the basis our new bhoy has played in Amsterdam I guess he knows a great stadium when he sees one!
blantyre tim
Thanks for letting me know but he has responded.
Cheers.
BMCUWP,
you can’t, no. I was rather shamelessly alluding to the way that any square sausages seem to emanate from that source, which was blocked last week leaving us all ‘enjoying’ Mastermind…
HH!
WGS
I have no idea who you are .
I just find your continual suggestions of who we should sign to be naive in the extreme.
TT
blantyretim
08:01 on 30 July, 2013
TnT.
Good luck..
Horse face
Re signed for Celtic March 1979
Original career 1970 to 75 went to Motherwell 75 to 78 then a year at Blackpool.
Calton bhoy was Vic.
*from previous thread, Vic wisnae a Calton lhad he was fae Ruby Street in Brigton. I worked there on the high flats many years ago and when I mentioned that a couple of years later a young apprentice told me that’s where he was from.
This apprentice was Vic’s brother and was playing junior fitba with Kilsyth at the time.
He also told me that Vic grew up supporting deidco as a boy as his da was a supporter of them and used tae take him tae the venom pit while he supported Clyde, they were both Celtic lhads by this time.
He also told me that after a schoolboys game, might have been Glasgow Schoolboys, he was approached by a hun scout who on hearing that Vic was a supporter wanted tae sign him as he was the MOTM that day, he asked Vic what his full name was for the signing on form, Vic replied Victor Salvatore Davidson, it was then mentioned that he went tae an RC school, at that the scout tore the form up and said this is what I hate about this job.
Sadiesbhoy.
No worries. .
BMCUWP,
Good time had by all, maybe see you in the Tap & Barrel sometime this season?
HH!
DBBIA,
Agree with you on Emmylou, but the first 5 albums were collected together last year on the “Original Albums” series on Amazon for about £10.00. I was on holiday in America about 16 years ago and picked up a box set called Portraits, which is almost uniformly excellent although you wouldn’t sit down and listen to all 60 tracks at once. As for Linda Ronstadt pretty much anything up to and including Hasten Down the Wind and you’re sorted.
BMCUWP
I must admit I really liked rhubarb when I stayed at home- but when I moved out and started cooking for myself it was either indigestible or just not as good as when my mammy made it. Tripe is one of the few things I canny stand. I have though boycotted baked beans for 43 years as it was what I had for my tea the night we played Feyenoord.
New job is currently incomprehensible , I seem to have signed on to become some sort of techie. Jeez I can hardly switch my telly off .
As for the middle class affectations, I’ve given my valet the night off. But I’ll try and resist the charms( dubious) of SSB.
Also going to try and go a week without drink!
Jimbo
TOOTING TIM
Name the day,guaranteed!
Which reminds me,I need to make some arrangements for Saturday.
Staying sober till 515 on a Saturday should be fun…
TOOTING TIM. 1652
Ooooops,missed that one!