I want to take a look at what Uefa might do this week that could have an impact on others, as well as our finances. Expect lots of news from Uefa, who have a videoconference on Wednesday and Thursday. We should learn how last season’s Champions and Europa Leagues will conclude, what next season’s qualification competition will look like and the calendar of dates for next season, with guidance on transfer windows.
A relatively minor point with more bearing in Scotland will be discussed on Thursday, how Financial Fair Play (FFP) will be enforced with respect to the crisis. You will remember we discussed Newco’s position with respect to FFP in a lengthy article in February. Without revisiting detail, the scenario required them to sell significantly before the 30 June financial year end to prevent them breaching FFP regulations.
FFP breaches do not instantly or automatically lead to disqualification from Uefa competition, but it would require the club to take “rehabilitative action” or else face consequences, including the ultimate Uefa sanction. Rehabilitative action means cutting costs, significantly so, in the case of Newco.
Current FFP rules allows for exemptions due to exceptional circumstances, which the current crisis certainly is. The process effectively adds-in revenue or subtracts costs you would otherwise see were it not for the exceptional circumstances, so in theory, Newco could claim allowance for a few lost revenue (although unlike Celtic, this will be very limited as they did not offer refunds).
We have to hope that no substantive changes are made to FFP rules.
Scottish football was a different place when we looked at Newco’s finances in February. Celtic’s interim accounts to 31 December showed £32m in the bank, we were on our way to nine-in-a-row and finances were very stable. 10 of the 12 others in the Premiership were living within their means and we had a new TV deal to look forward to. Since then, red ink has bled everywhere.
Our operating expenses for the first 6 months of the financial year were £7.6m per month. The manager, coaches and execs have taken pay cuts, while furloughed staff costs are met by the taxpayer, but I expect the deferrals players took will all have to be paid by the time this financial year closes on 30 June. Cash burn since 1 January will not be as high as £7.6m per month, but it will be close to this until lockdown started on 23 March and no lower than £4m per month since. There has been very little income since the new year (Copenhagen, some Scottish Cup and league receipts, retail), with money going out for refunds.
So what does this mean for our finances? The £32m balance at 1 Jan is likely to get us through to the financial year-end, plus or minus a couple of million either way. By 30 June, season ticket money will be in, but there is no way of knowing how well tickets will sell compared to previous seasons (we’ll not sell more, clearly).
Until lockdown is over, there will be close to nothing from stadium operations (£7.6m last season) and retail (£12.9m last season). The SPFL hopes to have fans attend games by October (the Championship business plan is counting on it), but we are looking at July, August and September with little income from many revenue streams. Next season’s finances are down to season ticket sales, Uefa qualification and a late bump from 10-in-a-row merchandise during what is likely to be a recession.
Champions League qualification brought media rights income to £33.9m in season 2017-18, the following season this dropped to (a still impressive) £15.7m for the Europa League campaign (other Euro revenues, like ticket sales, are not included in these figures).
If we qualify for the Champions League next season, I expect we will break-even. Progress through the Europa group stage and we will make a sizeable loss and a return to debt. Failure to reach the Europa League group stage would see us return a larger loss than at any time in our history by a huge margin.
Having spent this week looking at our finances and those of others in the Premiership, there are lots of unknowns ahead and just one certainty. Uefa are expected to confirm qualification competitions will be a single game each round, drawn randomly, home or away. Celtic should be seeds all the way through, but that advantage is lessened by an expectation of some away legs. Luck of the draw will never be more important.
We are going to win the league; I could not be more sure of this. I have not touched on Newco’s finances here but if you are interested, you can read back what we discussed in February. We might have problems to manage but they are a busted flush. It will all play out in the months ahead.
The season ahead could return the largest loss in the next 50 years of Celtic history. If so, we will need to work our way back, which will not be done overnight. Even the ‘sell to England’ strategy is not likely to be effective, as transfer fees are likely to suffer due to the crisis. Oh, and I think we need players for several positions, at least as cover.
When you look at Partick Thistle and others throughout the world, these are First World Problems. We have 10 to focus on, but just as winning nine-in-a-row did not happen as we wanted, the journey between here and next May is likely to be a rocky road.
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Lex Baillie is still my favourite rubbidge centre half.
Vivid memories of a 3-1 reverse at Easter Road in 88. Rough in goal as well!!!
the more i think about the 88/89 and 89/90 seasons, the more i realise what a miracle 87/88 was.
TURKEYBHOY
Sadly I even remember Jim Forrest 😂
CONEYBHOY
Retired and became a cop 😂
BSR
that’s interesting, didn’t know that. Good at tackling criminals i hope 😊
.
UEFA confirms qualifying games will be single legs.
Timaloy29 – That’s a lottery, especially if we have to go to one of those places where there is no lockdown and the stands are packed….
How many rounds again?
When’s the draw and how come Lawwell’s no bought anybody yet?
Encouraging to see Forster and Elyounoussi at Lennoxtown. Keeping both for next season would be a huge boost.
Single leg qualifying is fine by me.
RB Kay
LB Filippi
CG Garner
CB Munro
I wonder if they started in the same team,if at CP at the same time…
BIG WAVY on 17TH JUNE 2020 2:53 PM
Timaloy29 – That’s a lottery, especially if we have to go to one of those places where there is no lockdown
How many rounds again?
___
First round 18/19 August
Second round 25/26 August
Third round: 15/16 September
Playoff (two legs) 22/33 & 29/30 September
Luck of the draw apparently for the first 3 rounds.
Considering defeats in Gibraltar and Bratislava I’m keeking myself
Moi and Fraser are under contract for the rest of June. I wouldn’t put too much stock in them training with us right now.
The main factor in keeping them will be who’s competing with us for their signature…
UEFA Champions League/UEFA Europa League 2020/21
In order to achieve the necessary separation with the final phase of the 2019/20 season and avoid impact on the access list and on clubs potentially involved in both competition phases, the qualifying rounds of the two competitions will be played in single legs (instead of home and away), with the only exception of the UEFA Champions League Play-offs which will remain over two legs.
The draw will determine which club will play the single leg in their stadium.
The new calendar of the qualifying phase and group stage 2020/21 is as follows:
UEFA Champions League 2020/21
Preliminary round: 8 and 11 August
First qualifying round: 18/19 August
Second qualifying round: 25/26 August
Third qualifying round: 15/16 September
Play-offs: 22/23 and 29/30 September
Group stage: 20/21 and 27/28 October, 3/4 and 24/25 November, 1/2 and 8/9 December
What about away goals ?
In the sapce of 1 week in August we could be through 2 rounds of it then…
or out on our bahookie…
Then in the space of 1 week in September it could straight into the group stages..
or out on our bahookie…
Not long to do our annual wallowing and catcalling then? :)
or GIRUY Hun Monkeys dance….
What qualifier do we enter comp on?
MWD
Celtic will compete from the first round.
TOMMOCELT on 17TH JUNE 2020 3:22 PM
What about away goals ?
_____
It’s a one-off cup tie. Extra time and pens.
BIG WAVY on 17TH JUNE 2020 11:57 AM
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Now did I not read a post from you a wee while ago ( wish I could find it ) that you stated we need to muscle up in midfield . And I agreed with you . I still think we need steel in the middle of the park to back up our wee tanner baw players . With regards to my comment on them catching up ( maybe wrongly worded on my part ) but we beat them comfortably at there place , they beat us at our place , they ran over us in LCF , two seasons previous we were outclassing them , with goals galore into the bargain . ,it’s not happening now , so why is it not happening now . Are they better , or are we worse . Again with regards to Jullien , I’ve seen some great centre half’s at celtic in my days . ,we had big billy , supported by John cushley , Paul Elliot , mark rieper . Mick McCarthy . All big hard men. What’s so wrong with wanting someone of the same ilk in the team , no doubt he is a fair player but he needs to put his strength and size to better use . I don’t just want us to beat thems , I want us to continue to batter them , like a couple of seasons ago ,I want to be standing looking around the Victorian lavvy seeing three quarters of it empty with 20 mins to go . What’s not to like
See that this years Champions League final(s) are to be played in Portugal with the final played at the newer Estadio de Luiz. In Lisbon!
TIMALOY29
Thanks’ mate
EPL Fixtures copied from elsewhere
Wed 17 June: Aston Villa vs. Sheff Utd, 6pm, Sky Sports
Wed 17 June: Man City vs. Arsenal, 8.15pm, Sky Sports
Fri 19 June: Norwich vs. Southampton, 6pm, Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Fri 19 June: Tottenham vs. Man Utd, 8.15pm, Sky Sports
Sat 20 June: West Ham vs. Wolves, 5.30pm, Sky Sports
Sun 21 June: Newcastle vs. Sheff Utd, 2pm, Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Sun 21 June: Aston Villa vs. Chelsea, 4.15pm, Sky Sports
Sun 21 June: Everton vs. Liverpool, 7pm, Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Mon 22 June: Man City vs. Burnley, 8pm, Sky Sports
Tue 23 June: Leicester vs. Brighton, 6pm, Sky Sports
Tue 23 June: Tottenham vs. West Ham, 8.15pm, Sky Sports
Wed 24 June: Man Utd vs. Sheff Utd, 6pm, Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Wed 24 June: Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace, 8.15pm, Sky Sports
Thu 25 June: Southampton vs. Arsenal, 6pm, Sky Sports
Thu 25 June: Burnley vs. Watford, 6pm, Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Sun 28 June: Watford vs. Southampton, 4.30pm, Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Tue 30 June: Brighton vs. Man Utd, 8.15pm, Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Wed 1 July: Everton vs. Leicester, 6pm, Sky Sports
Wed 1 July: Bournemouth vs. Newcastle, 6pm, Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Wed 1 July: West Ham vs. Chelsea, 8.15pm, Sky Sports
Thu 2 July: Sheff Utd vs. Tottenham, 6pm, Sky Sports
Thu 2 July: Man City vs Liverpool, 8.15pm, Sky Sports
You have to laugh…
Zombies on twitter complaining that the SPFL have cost them the Leverkusen tie by calling the season..
Some free EPL games on Sky,Amazon, BBC, not one from BT Sport
‘GG on 17TH JUNE 2020 3:55 PM
I thought all games were free to air.?????????????????????//
Fav u
Absolutely not – I believe sky and bt suspended subscriber payments for football but it’s now kicking in again – so most games will be on subscription channels but a number are free to air.
I understand if it’s possible for Liverpool to win the league against Everton it’ll be on free to air
Hmmm, Reagan being wheeled out again.
It will be interesting to find out now sharp these players are, especially late in the 2nd half
Ive got Black Lives Matter for first booking👍
Re big Jullien –
If a team is paying £7m for a 27 year old it would suggest he is not the best defender in the world. I think he does have his faults but that’s the world Celtic are living in.
Also, if you were asking me whether to pay £7m for him or the £5m that was getting quoted for Aberdeen’s McKenna last year, I’ll pay the £2m difference myself…
Poor wee Gordon on radio Clyde still canny accept we are champions again.
😂😂😂
GIRFUY Gordon
As for Jim Duffy I think he talks pish.
Full of Eh’s and Ah’s and stuttering trying no to upset the Hun hordes.
All in my humble opinion of course
D. :)
Three months football famine has given me an appetite for recent freeview tv games.
I prefer last night’s Porto player chatter to Monday’s Betis crowd noise tannoyed. Enjoyed both draws but I forgot to calculate whether any team made five substitutions. Porto’s penalty decision was hunlike by the referee.
Moravcik67 has indicated we don’t want FC Copenhagen to win their league so there’s a Celtic reason to enjoy tonight’s game.
Now I’m hoping those EPL Sky Pick games scheduled refer to the Pick channel my telly shows. Life is strange.
Bring back Celtic.
https://twitter.com/JohnnyDundee/status/1273305493193265153?s=09&fbclid=IwAR0J31tj8r-y-9JY7-1sbp7sDG0sz-tqUfoJDYQ_Lry3_di7sWyoZQSwnwc
huns rioting again tonight
Just seen a phot of George square Huns out again.
This will go on and on and on, unless the polis beat the shit out them😂😂😂
D. :)
GENE
BT did not suspend payments during the lock down.
Sky allowed customers to suspend payments online, BT did not.
Instead, you had to phone BT to cancel. If you were under contract that would incur a charge. Luckily, I wasn’t under contract but getting through on the phone was near impossible – reduced workforce etc
In the end I cancelled the direct debit and sent them a letter (not a flattering one).
Just on the euro qualifying. In the past we’ve sold tv rights for the early rounds to premier sports. Hopefully this year we keep the rights and broadcast direct to our fans.
Videos now of Huns at George square attacking Police.
Hunbeilavable
D. :)
BT had a rebate online which I’ve used for the past two months, expect to be charged next payment day the full amount