I hear from good sources at Celtic Park that despite Victor Wanyama declining to sign a contract extension since October last year, the player is an absolute joy to deal with. His professionalism is well rooted; there have been no “rolled out of the pub” emails about this guy, nor is there likely to be.
There are usually reasons why a player with the best part of three years left on his contract (as it was) declines a one year extension for dramatically better wages (Victor is on an entry level contract and was offered a top pay deal). We now know discussions were taking place for a proposed move to QPR last summer.
According to Victor’s agent, Celtic blocked the proposed move, costing the player £1m in wages. It could be argued that advising Victor to decline Celtic’s new contract offer also cost Victor a substantial sum.
Herein lies the problem. QPR were paying the kind of money that would make Louis XVI wince. Staggering sums were paid to players, well beyond their value. Despite this, those very same players are now readjusting to life as lower-division players.
The irony has escaped Vic’s agent, but the contract value proposed to the player during QPR’s pre-guillotine era made declining Celtic’s offer almost a year ago look like a good idea. The contract offered by saner-Southampton clearly pales by comparison, which will make the decision to sit on entry-level wages at Celtic for nine months look ridiculous. Of course people are getting irritated, there are questions to answer about the advice given.
My guess is that the agent needs to pull a big contract offer out of the bag. Victor is a special talent but Louis XVI-type offers don’t always come along in twos. If Victor goes, it will be to a club matching Celtic’s valuation and the money will come in handy. If he stays, Celtic expect to retain their top player for another two years. No one, and I mean no one, is distressed at this prospect, after all, Celtic sell when they choose to, not because they have to.
So the Daily Record have (for the second time, in case you’ve not been paying attention) dipped their toes into Charlotte waters. Items “leaked on to the internet, where they are openly available” have been used, without reference to source, and without concern for apparent legal consequence.
As far as I am aware, none of the owners of the material leaked have disputed their authenticity or declined permission for it to be used. Our media are a huge part of this story, they feature in galling terms in many of the leaked documents. The cry of legal probity was convenient, but has twice been shown to be nonsense by the Daily Record (who have been highly selective on who to target).
It is a huge story.
There are months of material waiting to be written about.
The Daily Record are doing what many said cannot be done, without consequence.
But, this one does not fit popular narrative, and is likely to cause the kind of schism Mme Guillotine did in 18th century France. Seek Truth, as someone once said.
Willie Wallace………… what can we say?
Willie came onto CQN last night before leaving for Australia today. This is a taste of what he said:
“I just wanted to come back onto CQN this evening to say my farewells as myself and Olive head back to Australia tomorrow. I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the Celtic supporters I have met during the past month, at book signing events, in supporters clubs such as Greenock and at the CQN Golf Day.
“Also to everyone at the Lions Roar event last Friday where Bertie stole the show as usual! I came all the way from Australia and I couldn’t get a word in! The 1254125 charity tells you everything you need to know about Celtic supporters.
What is amazing about this Celtic family of ours is that when you live at the other side of the world you still know that this is a special club with wonderful supporters. Then you come back to Scotland and realise you actually under estimated these things because Celtic is even better than you remember and the fans are truly amazing. The best in the world.
“To everyone on CQN can I say a very special thank you. I hoped that the book would go well and we’d sell a few copies but it was never about money – it was about telling my story. I arrived at Winning Captains house and was met by a mountain of books to sign – all ordered by the CQNers. I had to go back another day to finish signing and the mountain was as big as before! I’ve been avoiding him ever since!
To Brogan Rogan Trevino and Hogan – when I heard his name I thought that would be some round of drinks! He’s been great, helping make Heart of a Lion what it is – a really good Celtic book – and turning up at the CQN events and book signings.
“Thank you the CQN’ers.
“Thanks to the Celtic family and I look forward to our next trip home to Paradise.
“Hail Hail and all the best to each of you and your families.
“Willie Wallace
“Keep the Faith!
“Hail Hail!”
Willie, it has been an utter joy. Thank you.
Heart of a Lion:
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Cavani does a bit of defending like big Sammi.
Brasil bring on Bernard. To very loud cheers..
mn8
Ive saw Mike Jackson up at L/ Town a few times. Bring it up there and maybe Mike can get it signed for you. Just a thot btw Seasons over till August.
Bazzabhoy
Cannot believe I’ve just had a cyber chat with u on tennis son.
Roll in the new season, think I’m going stir crazy
Brazil have been better in the last 5 minutes than in the rest of the game.
As SoT has said oft and on, thon Cavanni is some player. Best on the park by the ole country mile.
jude2005 is Neil Lennon \o/
Cheers for your reply.
Bazzabhoy
Maybe it’s QC withdrawal symptons
Burnley…,
I hope to apply enough pressure to ensure our “custodians” call the SFA to account, ideally to cause a complete clear out at the SFA and create a national administration that has transparency as its fundamental tenet.
Now that I have answered your question maybe you can do me the same courtesy and tell me why you have decided to denigrate and insult me and the many who agree with my proposal ?
Tevez joins Juve
I genuinely think they only polysyllabic word Mark Lawrenson has ever uttered is his own surname…
canalamar1
Lets see the final form it takes but if you present something as a fact that is disputable I think that in itself could be given as a reason to dispute the basis of the resolution but I need to see it in its totality.
Do we really want a country to be independent when book shops have to close in it due to the annual hatefest the authorities allow?
Calton Books
Please note shop will be CLOSED on Saturday 6th July, as its the annual sectarian coat trailing day in Glasgow…… Sadly!
Auldheid,
Did they get a license without meeting the criteria ?
Brazil 2-1
Is that recorded as a matter of fact in the FTTT ?
In sarth america.. tims are allowed to leave the field when they score. . Even bless themselves without a yellow card
Surely most of the Brazilan team should be booked there. They ran off the pitch and others blessed themselves.
SFARefsCSC
Embarrassing play-acting going on in this Brazil-Uruguay game :-(
The play acting of Neymar is disgraceful.
Is it on record that the “wee tax bill” was outstanding when they made their application to renew their license for season 10/11 ?
All that talent but what a terrible cheat Neymar can be
the long wait is over
21:42 on 26 June, 2013
I genuinely think they only polysyllabic word Mark Lawrenson has ever uttered is his own surname…
………………
I watched him and his family run over the car park at Manchester Airport to pick up his taxi at the petrol station and avoid a £2 pick up charge.
Big Phil and the bench do the ‘Huddle’ at full time.
It really will be interesting to see how Neymar fares in La Liga.
Don’t think he mishit it at all, he meant to put it in the corner.
BSR
Ramos or Pepe will probably punt him into Row el-Z!
canamalar1
21:53 on 26 June, 2013
Yes ….. I seem to remember the SFA stated (incredibly) that it was all in hand (admin situation) or something along those lines ….. I passed my Downfall book to someone else, but sure it’s in there….
canalamar1
According to Regan when questions were asked
1. Due process was followed.
2. The bill had not crystallised when the licence was granted.
The above is the SFA position and it is that which Phil Mac is questionning in his latest blog based on his reading of CF stuff. If the SFA respond as Phil suggest we will be better informed.
I’m not betting on it.
bournesouprecipe
21:56 on 26 June, 2013
Playing for Barca, Neymar will excel…..
What a crap game of football that was.
mn8
Saw Billy up there too but not that often.
Paul67 et al
Well I had the right result the wrang way roon. Good cup tie though. Uruguay put in a hell of a shift, Cavani no a bad player at all, and, well, I wouldn’t want to play against Maxi Pereira every week that is for sure.
Mac Fadd or Neymare? Mac Fadd all the way imo!!
thomthethim
21:14 on 26 June, 2013
tommysbhoy,
He has the strangest Castlemilk accent that I’ve ever heard! : > )
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thom.
Tommysbhoy was correct till a certain extent…ray houghton…went to st julies primary school and was a standout out in our school team even back then.
He never went to st Margaret Marys as his family moved to England that summer.
Celtic mad when i knew him.hh
TET
Would expect Spain to beat Brazil (poor defence) – wouldn’t be surprised to see Italy turn them over if they get a result tomorrow night either.
praecepta/67 Heaven
How tall is Neymar? © DBBIA
And what weight is he? – and how far does he bounce back? – when the españoles catch him.
Canamalar1
Phil
It is no secret that the business model that Celtic Football operates is based upon European income.
If Champions League football is not available then the club has to sell a major asset to cover their costs that season or be forced to borrow substantial sums.
Of course, supporters get emotionally attached to the players and that is part of the fascination with the game.
However, players like McGeady and Wanyama are also in the assets in the balance sheet and the people in charge of the operation can’t afford to take any of this personal.
The players certainly don’t.
It is clear that the young Kenyan was bought to be sold on if he progressed as anticipated by scouts and coaching staff.
What Champions league money means is that the club doesn’t have to sell to cover outgoings and that the sale of any player in that year will be a profit that can be re-invested in the squad.
The bottom line is that Champions league income is the key determinant in how Celtic conducts their business in any given season.
In season 2011-2012 Celtic, as runners up in the SPL, got a crack at the much less lucrative Europa League.
They were beaten by FC Sion, but those matches were forfeited by the Swiss side because they had fielded ineligible players.
Celtic were subsequently re-instated and then the Parkhead club turned in a number of creditable performances in the Group stages of UEFA’s second tier competition.
Rangers, as SPL Champions, got a crack at the big time, the Champions League.
An issue that has rumbled on from that time is whether or not the Ibrox club should have been granted a licence by UEFA for that season.
What became known as the ‘wee tax case’ may mean that Rangers were ineligible to play in Europe during Craig Whyte’s time at the top of the marble staircase.
This unpaid bill caused HMRC to have Sheriff Officers going into Ibrox and latterly having funds frozen in the club’s account.
When I learned of their impending visit I considered appropriate to arrange for a Kodak moment.
The record book shows that Rangers were put out by Malmo and then dropped into the Europa league were they were beaten by Maribor of Slovenia.
However, should Celtic have been in the Champions League match against Malmo and Hearts been in against FC Sion?
I know that Celtic are aware of the situation apropos the possibility that Rangers perhaps should not have had a licence from UEFA that season.
When this issue was originally raised I thought that SFA’s Stewart Regan was somewhat dismissive in his public responses.
There was even a petition from concerned fans containing several thousands signatures.
However, this one hasn’t’ went away you know.
In the interests of transparency I think that the people on the sixth floor at Hampden should open the files on those one.
It remains a legacy issue over Scottish football and if people think that this one will go away then I think they have miscalculated.
If Rangers played in the Champions League, however briefly, in the 2011-2012 campaign when they shouldn’t have then the real victims of that oversight is Celtic.
From assessing all the available evidence now I am strongly convinced that Rangers should not have been granted a UEFA licence for their last season on earth.
The key player in this drama was the SFA.
I believe that they should have informed UEFA that Rangers were not eligible to play in European competition that season as they had ‘overdue payables’.
However, I think that we should just put that down to an Honest Mistake and move on.
Moreover, in this new age of unipolarity I am sure that the one big remaining club in Scotland will be suitably magnanimous with the governing body.
I am reasonably confident that Celtic will consider ‘sorry’ sufficient from the SFA and draw a line under the matter.
Like Rangers it’s just history now.
No need for anyone at Hampden to take any of this personal, it’s just business.
Looks like we’re resigned to selling Big Vic, which isn’t much of a surprise.
However what is a surprise are the clubs linked with concrete offers. Surely there’s better out there for Wanyama than Southampton and Cardiff?
For this reason I would love to see Celtic boost and back date Vic’s wages from last season to 20k + a week. On the proviso he now signs an extended contract & bounces his current handlers. Basically his backdated wages that he refused last season (on bad agents advice) would act as a 1mil signing on fee. Surely Vic staying rather leaving for Southampton or Cardiff would be best for both club and player. Nothing to stop us putting a release clause in his contract as well if needed. Another season at Celtic can’t hurt Vic’s ambitions, the Cardiff City’s and Southamptons will still be queuing for him in a year.