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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Keep your friends close – and your Willie Pettigrew doublers closer
We used to stick the endless supply of Willie Pettigrew doublers to the windows of our house to scare off potential burglars.
Worked a treat.
Does Irvine’s tentacles (?) stretch as far as Nottingham, or does Davies act out of love ?
In a move which may alienate some of the Support. P Lawell has attempted to boost the flagging attendance for tonight’s game by arranging for HRH Prince George of Cambridge to do the half time draw.
I love European nights at Celtic Park, I’ve been a season ticket holder for years, and I don’t know how many guys have came up to me an said “a think that’s ma seat mate” lol, so I just say lets see yer ticket pal, and they are no where near there seat, it’s funny.
Steinreignedsupreme
They have several season books at Ibrox too boot – Dougie Donnelly always gets first pick for the seat that seat faces the river.
He’s a big Clyde fan after all.
I seem to remember Alan Sneddon had a fair few doubler’s as well
Missed out wee smiley thing
:-))
I had my own Henry Hall collection.
Hopefully, we will get 30k+ tonight….. VERY important game
bognorbhouyle 10:43 on 31 July, 2013
I assumed you were going for the deadpan expression.
Big G
Christ Alan Sneddon doublers, brings me back a bit! that dopey mullet haircut and the floppy moustache! and Gordon Rae beside him looking like yer man from the Goonies! “Hey you Guys!”
I’ve also still got Albert Kidd (no doublers there…) and yes, he does look like Bobby Ball.
Any news on who the perceived 2nd medical was for yesterday? Or was it all tosh?
Contrary to previous reports Buckingham Palace has announced that HRH Prince George of Cambridge will NOT be doing the half time draw at Celtic Park tonight, as he is away at boarding school.
Hmmm, somebody on good form this morning. Maybe self-prescribing again…?! :-)
T4
New Dutch bloke in the squad for tonight game, does anyone know where i can get a tangerine top from,purely as a tribute to our growing Dutch contingent;)
Hi fellow Tims, long time no preach.
Watch and learn, if you dare.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX5TEsK9gvs&list=UUV1QyIsnVeRDWNLvKsLSveA
Ticket booked on line.Area 405 north stand.Very excited!Mon the hoops! And Ghuys? Let’s lose all the negativity thats been kicking around cqn for the last wee while.This is a great Celtic foram.Lets keep it that way. Hail! Hail!
in light of NHS financial restraint, CQN unveils new free Eye Test
TTTT
geeza winner…my bets are on but if you can gimme a winner…I’ll take it:-)
The pantomime continues via rm ……hahahahaha
“I see that David Leggat returned from his self-imposed exile to write his first blog in quite a while about yours truly.
I am not going to address the lies Leggat wrote about me; if I was to respond to every untruth told about me it would become a career.
No, what is far more worrying for me – and should be for every Rangers supporter – is Leggat’s leaking of confidential emails sent to and by Imran Ahmad – emails he published in his Leggoland blog.
It is well-known that Leggat’s source at Ibrox is his former colleague, Jim Traynor – and this leads to a question that must be asked in light of Leggat’s blog:-
Did Jim Traynor, Rangers’ Head of Communications, approve the contents of Leggat’s latest blog that appeared in Leggoland?
There have been several leaks lately of this nature – the identity of IAmRangers on fan forum Rangers Media being a classic example – where sensitive electronic data has been revealed publicly.
Now I am no expert but a lawyer friend tells me that there are potential breaches of the Data Protection Act here.
Even if those who are revealing this information have managed to stay on the right side of the law, it can’t be by any big margin and the broader question has to be asked: Is it right that sensitive electronic data is being drip-fed from within the club or elsewhere?
Rangers fans rightly decry the leaking of sensitive financial information from within Ibrox that found its way on to Rangers-hating blogs and websites but we have to be honest and ask is the feeding of private emails and sign-ins to forums any different?
It certainly all adds to a culture where the confidentiality of Rangers’ business is exposed to those who would use information against the club.
I would not accuse Jim Traynor of leaking stuff but as Head of Communications it is his job to ensure that these leaks are stamped upon.
I would be interested to know if JT has asked his old friend and colleague David Leggat how he came by private emails concerning Rangers’ former Commercial Director and present shareholder Imran Ahmad.
I am aware of how Leggo came by them but the question I would ask is does he have the permission of the senders and recipients to use them?
Not matters for me to ask about but others may take an interest.
What is bizarre is that the legal advice in the email was that Leggat has a case to answer in reference to racist or sectarian language and he published it. A top laywer confirms Leggo has possibly been racist and Leggo tells the world on his blog.
No, you couldn’t make it up.
Leggo is off his head if he thinks this email discussion makes him look like the victim. His attempts to smear Ahmad with the charge that he is not a Christian are crass and offensive.
In addition to the slurs against my name, Leggat also in his blog accused Charles Green of trying to unseat Walter Smith as Chairman.
The same Charles Green who asked Walter to be Chairman more than once and who has publicly endorsed Walter’s appointment to the Chair. As have I on this blog.
There are fails, epic fails and then there are Leggo’s blogs.
It appears that Leggo is determined to make as big a chump of himself on his return as he did when he left for his sabbatical.
Maybe the recent heat got to him or maybe he should quit the blog on a more permanent basis.
People keep saying to me that David Leggat is the bluenose version of Phil – The Failed Journalist.
As the once great man himself might say:
I couldn’t possibly comment.
What Jim Traynor has to ask himself is if, as the club’s Communications Chief, he is happy to be associated with a man who is using his blog to brief against Rangers shareholders and make snide digs against the club’s newest director, James Easdale.
More to the point, will the club’s investors be happy that Traynor is so cosy with a man who is smearing some of them and attacking them online?
People keep asking why JT is not turning the guns on Rangers’ many detractors.
Maybe he has too much to do reining in loose cannons like Leggat, who is doing a great destructive job on the good ship Rangers.
After the recent boardroom upheavals Gers fans have been enjoying the stability and calm at the club.
If David Leggat wants to come back and muddy the waters by smearing James Easdale and Rangers shareholders with his tired old snake oil insults, this will not go down well with both supporters and the Rangers board.
This may place Jim Traynor in a position where he has to consider if he can afford to be associated any more with someone who vilifies his colleagues and associates at the club.
Traynor is paid a hefty salary at Ibrox for his expertise. He will be aware of the damage that his old chum is doing to the club with the smears. He will also be aware that if he doesn’t disassociate himself from this, then people will only draw one conclusion from that. “
Steinreignedsupreme
as long as I don’t have the torn slipper face on later :-))
Celtic will not have allowed this game to be on TV as it will affect attendance, as mentioned this has been pretty common place in the last few years. One of the reasons Cliftonville requested the tie with us was swapped was so tie was still live and would attract a good crowd as well as a TV deal.
BBC2 are covering the away fixture
The next round is classed as Champions League Match by UEFA and both legs will be on TV as Celtic have to agree to this as part of the competition rules. The next round will also see Champions league branding around the stadium etc.
On some of the chat last night…
I might be in a minority here but I don’t miss the games against deadco
I don’t care if we ever play newco…ever…
in fact if they were to disappear entirely I would be delighted!!
I’m looking forward to tonight, should be a good game and hopefully we can do enough to make the 2nd leg a formality
hail hail
Bobby Ball was a very good football player – he had a shot like a cannon.
Very slow day at work CSC
More coveted – doublers
I will be there tonight with the wife and 2 step kids .
They are 17 and 14 and excited as hell at the thought of seeing Celtic live.Both have been learning Celtic songs and chants on YouTube.
Don’t know where our seats are as my sister got them but hoping their near the Green Brigade.
I doubt the is footage but Wullie Pettigrew scored on of the most efficient goals I’ve seen against us in the SC I think it was.
A long clearance reached him just on half way line. He controlled the ball and pushed it forward well into the empty Celtic half with one touched. He hared after the ball and arrived at an angle just as the Celtic keeper came to block. Wullie’s second touch was to sweep the ball into the unattended net.
Saw him score 2 v Rangers in a cup Semi as well. He could play a bit.
the = there
bournesouprecipe
11:02 on 31 July, 2013
Who gave youbthat photo of my wife..?
If Celtic bought 2 more Dutch players and brought out an orange top, would you buy it?
cavansam \o/
Every panini pack me and friends opened had a guaranteed Sneddon card! Our school playground was littered with them.
Didn’t get so many of the Gordon Rae ones, just as well, that face would have gave me nightmares. Was a decent footballer though, just had a look at some of his best stuff on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pnrs3zu0xeI
Cannon and Ball were as funny as Andy Cameron.
HH!!
Twisty – bad day yesterday, with only Casper Netscher coming close. Couldn’t believe I talked myself out of Brown Sugar and Tidals Baby! :-( Shocking stuff.
Going through the card just now and will text you later.
T4
bournesouprecipe
Willie Pettigrew has changed a fair bit
Willie Pettigrew was a fine player but his hairdo would never have been accepted by the Celtic support.
Willie Pettigrew’s sideburns were also far too long.
HH!!
Didn’t know which game to get ticket for Tonight or Sat
Daddy or chips :)) problm solved just been told I’m needed at home on Sat night so off up to celtic shop in the coatbrige for a ticket (ice pick and rope required for LL upper)