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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livibhoy
i would take doyle only if they exhaust all other avenues on a goalscorer..hh
Hi all!
Long time no see.
Been off this for a wee while (was getting to be an addiction)
But you just cant have too much of a good thing!
Quick question for all you bhoys and girls:
I am in Norwich for next weeks return leg.
I know the Norwich CSC meets in the Temple Bar.
Is this the best place to go?
Or would other people reccomend another place to watch the game?
Cheers,
Lenny
Lenny, are you Gary Hooper?
Can’t believe Kevin Doyle is available for that kind of money. We have a serious International player here……….suppose it depends on the wages and keeping Leeds Utd at bay.
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/profile-erich-schaedler-hibernian-hero-1-1370998
sannabhoy
11:36 on 31 July, 2013
———————————–
Details sent
tommysbhoy
14:14 on 31 July, 2013
steinreignedsupreme
thanks for that hh
tontine tim
didnt know that m8,think i better get they old Celtic books of my da’s. out the loft and read them lol
*It seems we were also after Donald Ford fae the jambos and John Duncan fae the jam makers (Dundee) at the same time.
I was told from an old Celtic member of the board that there were 2 teams, not including deidco, that would never sell tae us, Dundee hence nae WGS and St Mirren, both Maccas had tae go south before coming tae us.
I know Tommy Coyne came fae Dundee so mibbes that’s no that accurate.
Ok guys, talk later. I’m oot.
Weefra HH
tommysbhoy
He is an international who is available for the same price as Balde! It’s a no brainer.
His sell on value will be decent too.
LB
Twists,in Manchester now.Up to Stirling on Saturday,but going back to Belfast 8th to play on the 9th.Back to Scotland on 10th.Thought I,d be up for Musselburgh.I go back to Belfast on the 18th but I,ll be in Liverpool for a couple of days as well.I,ll sort out sometime soon for a drink or 2 with Chris and your good self if God Wilson it.Got my email problems sorted out eventually so will bein touch.
God Wilson it?Jeez!!
Maybe ;)
I believe that Erich Schaedler, along with Davie Hay, was one of the guys who tried to launch a rescue mission when wee Jinky decided to try and cross the Atlantic single-handed that (in)famous night in Largs.
Unfortunately the boat they picked had a hole in it, and quickly sank.
By that time Jinky was a dot on the horizon – but still singing.
HH!!
Kevin Doyle will be a brilliant player for Celtic if they get him.He,s in the wrong team at the wrong time.Mick McCarthy knew how to use him,and so would NL. He’d be a great player with Stokes beside him.
Livibhoy & hankray
He’ll still be on ‘premiership wages’ I’d guess.
That’s not to say the guy wouldn’t take a pay cut for a change of scenery.
CADIZZY 1424
Thanks very much for posting that.
new article posted.
WeefratheTim
Doing good, seriously hot, hence on the computer.
Love to yer Ma.
Dugs are great.
Enjoy the game.
HH
Raymac
no worries mate. Thanks, we’ll sort it.
What score tonight Raymac? You told me 3 0 last round in Belfast, and I ignored you and went for 3 -1.
What’s your feeling about tonight?
Livibhoy
“His sell on value will be decent too.”
He is 30 shortly.
i may be far away from home, but last night i had the ipad tuned to radio 5 and i hear chico and wiggy discussion the problems in scottish football. couln’t believe my ears.
the highlight was wiggy trying to praise dunfermline without stating that they avoided going out of business… after about 20 seconds struggling to comment while staying “on message” he eventually he settled on “they’ll be ok”.
those without a life, listen on the iplayer for conclusive proof wiggy knows they died, they’re dead and some devil’s spawn start up havetaken their place. its a great example of what wiggy didn’t say.
finally, that radio 5live would bring a bankrupt in to comment on the financial affairs of scottish football is……
now its my turn to be lost for words.
Decking sick of working away and missing European games:-(((
At least I have Captain Morans in Hayes
Fecking even