{"id":15240,"date":"2020-02-08T10:42:13","date_gmt":"2020-02-08T10:42:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15240"},"modified":"2020-02-08T10:42:13","modified_gmt":"2020-02-08T10:42:13","slug":"celtic-diary-saturday-february-8-accounts-and-accountability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=15240","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Saturday February 8: Accounts and Accountability"},"content":{"rendered":"

The clubs bank statement dropped through the door yesterday, and they felt the need to share, what on the face of it, is probably good news.<\/p>\n

Iain Bankier summed them up… though I felt it was only fair to add a comment or two.<\/p>\n

SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Operational Highlights<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

– Winner of the Scottish Domestic Treble for an unprecedented third consecutive year (the \u201cTreble Treble\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n

– Winner of our eighth consecutive SPFL Premiership title<\/em><\/p>\n

– Finished second in the Europa League group stage, qualifying for the Round of 32 for the second year in a row<\/em><\/p>\n

– 30 home matches played at Celtic Park (2018: 32 including the Scott Brown Testimonial)<\/em><\/p>\n

– Continuation of significant stadium investment programme (<\/em><\/p>\n

Financial Highlights<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

– Group revenue decreased by 17.9% to \u00a383.4m (2018: \u00a3101.6m)<\/em><\/p>\n

– Operating expenses including labour decreased by 0.2% to \u00a386.9m (2018: \u00a387.1m)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Trebles all round!<\/p>\n

– Gain on sale of player registrations of \u00a317.7m (2018: \u00a316.5m)<\/em><\/p>\n

– Acquisition of player registrations of \u00a36.2m (2018: \u00a316.6m)<\/em><\/p>\n

– Profit before taxation of \u00a311.3m (2018: \u00a317.3m)<\/em><\/p>\n

– Year-end cash net of bank borrowings of \u00a328.6m (2018: \u00a336.1m)<\/em><\/p>\n

– Year-end net cash, net of debt and debt like items, of \u00a338.9m (2018: \u00a327.0m)\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

And it’s staying right where it is. One wonders again about the point of having money if its not to spend.<\/p>\n

CHAIRMAN\u2019S STATEMENT<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

These results, which declare revenue of \u00a383.4m (2018: \u00a3101.6m) and a profit before taxation of \u00a311.3m (2018: \u00a317.3m), reflect a satisfactory performance in a financial year in which the Club did not qualify for the Group Stages of the UEFA Champions League, as it had done in the prior year.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Revenue and profits down, largley due to not being in the UCL. You’d think they’d try to invest and maybe increase the likelihood of participation…<\/p>\n

On behalf of the Board I congratulate Neil Lennon, his management team, the players and all staff at the Club on achieving the \u201cTreble Treble\u201d. At short notice, Neil took charge of the squad, delivered an eighth consecutive League Championship and triumphed in the Scottish Cup, making it the Club\u2019s ninth successive domestic trophy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

That is something that Lennon still doesn’t get enough credit for,as if he had failed, which was certainly at least touch and go at the time, his career and credibility were finished.<\/p>\n

Of course, we were disappointed to lose Brendan Rodgers during the season, when he left to pursue an opportunity in the English Premier League. Brendan and his staff delivered record breaking success and they leave a phenomenal legacy for which the Board and everyone at Celtic is truly grateful. We thank them for their outstanding contribution.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I wasn’t. And I wasn’t surprised either. But on a lighter note, at least I know where Leicester is now.<\/p>\n

The Board was delighted to welcome Neil back to the Club in February and to confirm his appointment as manager following our success at Hampden in May. Having been the manager when the Club embarked on the present run of domestic success, Neil understands what it takes to be the manager of Celtic. He has the full support of the Board, executive management team and all the staff at the Club. At the time of writing, having qualified for the Group Stages of the UEFA Europa League, the Club retains a 100% record in domestic competitions and we look forward with optimism to the season ahead.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Except when it comes to spending.<\/p>\n

The financial results for the year demonstrate the robustness of the Group\u2019s strategy of investment in football operations, whilst maintaining a self-sustaining financial model. This continues to provide a stable platform for football success and shareholder value. The gains on sales of player registrations, primarily reflected by the gains achieved on the sales of Moussa Dembele to Olympique Lyonnais and Erik Sviatchenko to FC Midtjylland, as well as contingent fees crystallising on previous player transfers, were key to the performance of the Group.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Self sustaining ….if you don’t count the return of the Old Firm.<\/p>\n

Post year end, the Club completed the sale of academy graduate Kieran Tierney to Arsenal FC for a Club record fee.\u00a0 This was a great milestone achievement for \u201cone of our own\u201d and recognition for the Club\u2019s high standards of player development. Also, post year end, in the summer transfer window we bolstered the playing squad with the additions of the permanent registrations of Christopher Jullien, Luca Connell, Hatem Abd Elhamed, Boli Bolingoli-Mbombo, Greg Taylor, Jonathan Afolabi, Jeremie Frimpong and Lee O\u2019Connor.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

That kind of reads like he’s proud of selling Tierney, like it’s a sort of target achieved. Which worries me mightily as it says a lot about the clubs ambitions.<\/p>\n

Our year end cash net of bank borrowings was \u00a328.6m (2018: \u00a336.1m) which equates to a net funding position of \u00a338.9m (2018: \u00a327.0m) when adjusted for debt and debt like items (as defined in the Summary of Results on page 2). This allows the Board to continue to plan for the long term, whilst managing the reduced revenues derived from playing in UEFA Europa League in two successive seasons. The Club continued its significant stadium investment programme to maintain and improve Celtic Park\u2019s reputation as one of the best football arenas in the world.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

It did ? Where ?<\/p>\n

The Club believes that children and young people have the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse. We are unequivocally committed to ensuring this. Celtic Football Club was the first club in Scotland to appoint a safeguarding officer, responsible for developing our\u00a0policies for the protection of young people, and monitoring and reviewing our procedures to ensure they continue to reflect best practice. During the year, a number of individuals were found guilty of historic offences committed against young people. The Club expressed its sincere sympathy, regret and sorrow for those affected and stands by its\u00a0responsibilities, respecting the due process of law.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0As we look ahead, the future of UEFA competitions beyond 2024 remains uncertain. While recognising the risks, the Club considers that the developments being discussed by UEFA, the European Club Association and other stakeholders, present an opportunity to clubs such as Celtic. Through Peter Lawwell\u2019s continued involvement on the Board of the European Club Association and the Professional Football Strategy Council of UEFA, the Club and the game in Scotland continue to be well represented in this very important arena.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

There is talk of a new European Super League, and there was an article in the Guardian yesterday hinting at an ePL expansion to two leagues, and the rest regionalised. Greed is the main motive in football these days, and you can thank Sky TV for that.<\/p>\n

In closing, I thank all of our supporters, shareholders, sponsors, partners and colleagues for their contribution to another successful year for Celtic Football Club. We all share a common passion for Celtic and everything it does. The Board is committed to building on our current success for the long term future of the Club.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Oh, come on, you’re not fooling anyone. Fair play though, he hasn’t called us racists which must have been hard for him.<\/p>\n

Ian P Bankier<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

27 September 2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Chairman\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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That does read like he’s rather chuffed with things, but it also confirms what we already knew. We’re a business now, a PLC, and I can’t help thinking that if Brother Walfrid read that, he’d be heading towards Bankiers office with a rolled up copy looking to perform an endoscopy.<\/p>\n

The full results are here, for anyone who wants to read them…<\/p>\n

Celtic_PLC_June_2019_Stock_Exchange_Announcement<\/a><\/p>\n

….though i can’t imagine why anyone would.<\/p>\n

The feeling is that we should celebrate them in the way we’d celebrate a good result on the field, but I can’t get into that frame of mind.<\/p>\n

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Craig Whyte’s book will be published next week, and that means that our spineless media will be able to quote freely from it, safe in the knowledge that they can point the finger at someone else should the bears have a moan about it.<\/p>\n

Certainly, from what I’ve seen so far,\u00a0 there is nothing new in the book, with the possible exception that Whyte is now taking aim at those who really did knacker the original club and trying to absolve himself a bit.<\/p>\n

He even blames Duff and Phelps for not working with him,which is interesting, as some sources claim the only time during the whole process he was worried was when it looked like he wasn’t going to get his way and his way was to have Duff and Phelps as administrators\/liquidators.<\/p>\n

Had a proper company been appointed, of course,\u00a0 the switcheroo would have cost much more than the \u00a35,5m that Green paid for his basket of assets….and that would have meant the whole deal was off.<\/p>\n

Green thought he’d be quids in until someone told him he didn’t own the players as well.<\/p>\n

It still stinks, and all this book will do is deflect the blame, when really it should be the basis of some proper investigative journalism to highlight a significant part of a massive scam by venture capitalists, but bearing in mind that the S in MSM stands for Spineless, that’s unlikely to happen.<\/p>\n

And you know as well as i do that an awful lot came out in court that no one has run with yet, but those who do are free to share that with me because frankly, I don’t give a toss about saying it as it is.<\/p>\n

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Remember the controversy over the Morelos interview, where Sky sports went with the translation offered to them instead of bothering to do it themselves ?<\/p>\n

Well, here’s something to think about before you pick up the phone and cancel your subscription…<\/p>\n

A lot of chat on social media that a man who likes a Kit-Kat analogy when it comes to describing a dead Football Club, and who is now employed by SSN, is possibly to blame for \u2018translategate\u2019, but I\u2019m assured he had no involvement other than to promote the story on twitter. The two folk responsible in terms of putting the package together, but not the subtitles, are both English and neither follow follow, so to speak. But the guy who has the final say on content is a season ticket holder at Glasgow\u2019s newest senior Football Club, and as far as I know he is not on twitter. He has previous with anti-Celtic content though, but this is by far the most serious slur he has sanctioned.<\/em><\/p>\n

So why now ? And why did he think he’d get away with it ? Our extraordinarily pish stained source explains…<\/p>\n

Obviously for Traynor it\u2019s to deflect from the car tampering tale which gloriously unraveled last week. <\/em><\/p>\n

For SSN the timing is irrelevant. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Sky was offered an \u2018exclusive\u2019 sit-down (it certainly wasn\u2019t an interview) and would have taken it whenever it was offered. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0The same reason SSN accepted the offer for Jim White to visit Charles Green at his hospital bed. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0And the same reason why there is disproportionate coverage given to the latest Ibrox Club on SSN. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Scottish football is viewed with utter distain by many people in England, and it\u2019s definitely no different at Sky Sports HQ. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0So why is there at least one SSN story virtually every day on new Rangers? – partly down to the fan who is the head of output, but mostly to fill airtime. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0It\u2019s important to note Sky Sports News is not a sports news channel.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0It\u2019s a Sky Sports channel with the remit to promote \u2018news\u2019 pertaining to Sky Sports.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0In short; a channel promoting Sky Sports with fluffy sports \u2018news\u2019 stories. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Around 90 per cent of the daily output will be linked to the Sky Sports schedule.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0It\u2019s all about the brand. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Watch SSN and the Sky Sports logo is prominent in at least two places at virtually all times \u2013 at the top of the screen, running behind the presenters, on the lapels of all the male presenters and reporters, as well as on the microphones. <\/em><\/p>\n

If there is an interview with the Gillingham manager, then it\u2019s almost certain that Sky will be showing a match involving Gillingham that week. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0SSN is live on air for almost 20 hours with the rest on a loop when most of us are sleeping. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0That\u2019s a lot of airtime to fill and showing goals (from competitions Sky Sports has the rights too, of course) only takes up so many minutes. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0So providing content is a problem as there are only so many events on Sky that can be plugged in any week. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Therefore Gary Neville\u2019s comments from his match analysis are put into a \u2018highlights package\u2019 every week like they have been discovered on tablets of stone.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0It\u2019s that desperate. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0When he was mis-managing in Spain, SSN only ever referred to his Club as \u201cGary Neville\u2019s Valencia\u201d because of his links to Sky. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0It\u2019s almost like Valencia have never won European trophies or been Spanish Champions. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0The head of output knows Traynor and has a good relationship with him. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0After all, The Fat Controller arranged for another \u2018exclusive\u2019 when White went to South Africa to raise Dave King\u2019s profile at the expense of TRIFC.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0So that gives him\u00a0 some leeway.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0In my opinion, the footage was not checked because of laziness and disregard for Scottish football.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0A good time to point out the Sky Sports Scotland is a tiny office in Glasgow and no final decision are made there. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Interesting to note the sit-down was with Craig Slater, who is based at Sky Sports HQ. But given what was claimed in the subtitles there is absolutely no excuse for not double-checking the content, and this is where Club allegiance has interfered with acceptable working practice in my opinion.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0A negative Celtic story was just too good to turn down \u2026 so good, it was rushed out with complete disregard to journalistic standards. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Under no circumstances would those subtitles not been doubled checked if the story involved an EPL Club. SSN don\u2019t even run stories about the EPL without clearance from the top man running the league. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0SSN is shit-scared of the EPL and all the big clubs in England. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Same applies to boxing stories.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0Nothing is aired until the son of a famous boxing promoter has given the OK. Sky Sports actively promotes every sport it covers with one exception – Scottish football. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0They are quite open about the fact they are only interested in one fixture. They reason this happens is because the people supposed to be running Scottish football allow this shite to happen unchallenged. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0It makes it all the more galling the SPL has agreed a new contract with Sky Sports to disrespect our game and finance the EL. Make no mistake here. If Celtic don\u2019t back down Sky Sports will.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Yet Lawwell bends to their every whim….certainly worth watching what happens next, but not on Sky sports.<\/p>\n

Get rid of it. You won’t miss it.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

Elsewhere,and fair play to Philip Schofield, although i did mishear the original news story and wondered why he was coming out as grey when it was plain enough for everyone to see.<\/p>\n

Though his real statement shows a commitment to getting to share a dressing room with the delightful Holly Willoughby that one can only admire.<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

Yesterday,we had this…<\/p>\n

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Man in Denial<\/em><\/div>\n