{"id":17289,"date":"2021-11-18T08:15:58","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T08:15:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=17289"},"modified":"2021-11-18T08:15:58","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T08:15:58","slug":"celtic-diary-thursday-november-18-one-more-round","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=17289","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Thursday November 18: One More Round…."},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear Mr Bankier\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Dermot can’t come to the AGM today because he isn;t feeling very well.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Signed\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0My mum\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PS, if the shit hits the fan text me lol.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The fans certainly wanted to hit the shit though….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Some readers may be old enough to remember the editorial narrative of the Celtic View back in the days when we last had a self serving board. a narrative which earned it the nickname Pravda, after the news agency from the old USSR which had been known to promote the communist party line as opposed to reporting news.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Younger readers have the BBC.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

In this digital age, it was left to the official club website to report on yesterdays AGM, presumably in the hope someone would be daft enough to believe them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Celtic plc\u2019s AGM for 2021 took place today (Wednesday), at Celtic Park, with shareholders attending in person at the stadium and also online.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

But not Dermot, though he did send in a note from his mum.<\/p>\n

\n

Chairman, Ian Bankier led the meeting, and he was joined by his fellow directors, and Celtic men\u2019s first-team manager, Ange Postecoglou, and the women\u2019s team manager, Fran Alonso.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

After the chairman welcomed shareholders to the meeting, a series of video interviews were shown, featuring Ian Bankier, acting Chief Executive Michael Nicholson, Finance Director, Chris McKay, Celtic FC Foundation Chief Executive, Tony Hamilton, men\u2019s first-team manager, Ange Postecoglou, and women\u2019s first-team manager, Fran Alonso\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

You can see them online. Alternatively, you can light a couple of cigarettes and stick them in your eyes.<\/p>\n

\n

In the formal business of the AGM, the first 10 Resolutions were proposed by the board, nine of them ordinary resolutions, with Resolution 10 a special resolution.<\/em><\/p>\n

Resolutions 1-4 were passed, while a poll was called for Resolutions 5 & 6. And Resolutions 7-10 were passed.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

A poll. This creates the illusion of democracy. In reality, Bankier texted Desmond who has more votes than everyone else put together.<\/p>\n

\n

The first Resolution sought to confirm the Auditor\u2019s Report, the Strategic report and the Directors\u2019 Report for the year ended June 30, 2021.<\/em><\/p>\n

In Resolution 2, Michael Nicholson was appointed as a director of the Company, while in Resolutions 3 & 4, Dermot Desmond and Tom Allison were re-elected as non-executive directors.<\/em><\/p>\n

Resolution 5 called for the re-election of Brian Wilson as non-executive director, and Resolution 6 called for the re-election of Ian Bankier as non-executive director and chairman. A poll was called for both of those resolutions.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

And this “poll ” resulted in the re election of both.<\/p>\n

\n

BDO LLP were re-appointed as auditors of the company after Resolution 7, and Resolution 8 granted authority to the Board to determine the Auditor\u2019s remuneration while Resolution 9 granted the Directors a general authority to allot shares and Resolution 10 granted the directors authority to disapply pre-emption rights.<\/em><\/p>\n

Resolutions 11 & 12 were special resolutions, requisitioned on behalf of certain shareholders.<\/em><\/p>\n

Resolution 11: That the Board provide an update on resolution 11 from the 2020 AGM and add a Note of Concern regarding the same to the 2021 AGM records.<\/em><\/p>\n

Resolution 12: That the Board publicise plans related to the current Board members and set up a Relationship Agreement.<\/em><\/p>\n

A poll was called for both of these resolutions.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

The “poll ” rejected both<\/p>\n

\n

The Chairman then gave an update on the Fans Forum, before a video tribute to former Celtic captain, Scott Brown, was shown.<\/em><\/p>\n

This was followed by a lively question and answer session, and the AGM finished with a moving video tribute to Lisbon Lion, Bertie Auld, who sadly passed away last weekend at the age of 83.\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Other sources indicate that it was a little rowdier than that.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bankier looked a little shaken that he hadn;t been metaphorically carried shoulder high across the room back into the chairmans seat.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wilson was a little more philosophical, in that he gave the impression that he pitied those who didn;t see what a fantastic asset he is for the club.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was asked about his recent Walter Smith obitury in the guardian , where he said Rangers had been demoted as a consequence of administration….<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“That was an error on my part. I apologised for it and corrected it immediately. It was an obiturate I was writing. I\u2019ve been writing them along time In the guardian.<\/em><\/p>\n

“It has nothing to do with my role at Celtic.<\/em><\/p>\n

“The audience I\u2019m particularly concerned about are those who are affected by the loss. I tried to put it in context and in this case I got something wrong. I\u2019m very aware of the reality of the issue you refer to. I apologised before I apologised again and can say no more than that.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Corrected it ?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What he actually did was simply remove the reference, mentioning instead that Smith was<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

However, by this time, the club was caught up in a bewildering series of intrigues and takeovers. Smith was a man of great probity and not even his loyalty to Rangers or to his friend\u00a0Ally McCoist<\/a>, who had taken on the role of manager, could persuade him to stay in an Ibrox environment he did not recognise.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Thats not a correction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

But the real contempt came from Bankier, who once described Celtic fans as racist when they questioned and criticised a former board member, which Bankier decided was anti semitism.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He was asked when the club would have people who care about it running it…..<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I’m not going to win any applause from this room, ”\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

“I understand the disappointment but to condemn the board on wide generalities, one that’s delivered football and financial success over 10 years, is short-circuiting.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Our style is to do business behind closed doors and you might not like that, but it’s the way it works. I know you can’t see it but the progress we’re making and extent we’re competing is good at the moment.<\/em><\/p>\n

“Europe is a different environment than it was 20 years ago.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

” Our style is to do business behind closed doors ”\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If no one can see what you’re doing, they can;t see what you’re doing wrong.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If no one can hear what you’re saying, then they can’t question it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Right there is a statement that betrays the absolute contempt in which this man holds the Celtic supporter and the Celtic shareholder.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

We have to trust a man to act in Celtic’s best interests even though, as we shall see, he won’t define exactly what those interests are.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bankier and Wilson were rejected by the small shareholder, but endorsed by our absentee landlord.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Some may say that was inevitable, and of course it turned out to be that way.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Whilst supporters turned up to what is an outlet for their concerns and passion, the guy who makes the decisions couldn’t be arsed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He didn’t have to.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He might take an interest when income falls, and with it the share price. but until then things will stay the same.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The long running campaign for clarity around the governance of the game in Scotland, which began as Resolution 12 a few years ago has morphed into a campaign to get Celtic to explain their part in the whole 5 way agreement issue that led to a new club pretending to be an old club and promptly setting out accruing a debt level unprecedented in Scottish football if you don;t count the old club.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You didn’t know that, did you ?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

there’s a hell of a lot to be discussed on this issue, one that I’ve neglected for a while largely due to being a lazy fat bastard who sometimes wonders if it’s worth all the hassle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then along comes an AGM and I feel a fire burning in my belly.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Two Rennies later it hasn;t gone away.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What we saw yesterday was a politburo defending their behaviour over an issue that once threatened to destroy the game in Scotland, and take our club with it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What we saw yesterday was a politburo trying desperately to avoid having to answer claims that they’re doing exactly the same fucking thing right now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

When all is said, and believe me, there’s a lot to be said about this that even I was previously unaware of, and all is over, because it’s not over, not over by a long way, then that little bit of fire in me that began at about the same time as the AGM yesterday and is a roaring inferno as i hammer out these words, will have spread quite some distance, and if it does, at least we’ll have the satisfaction of burning down the building before someone else closes it.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Mr Bankier\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Dermot can’t come to the AGM today…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":17290,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/etims.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/3b5ceb3db51bbe77e78802e6dbba6b03.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2J7If-4uR","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17289"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17289"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17289\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17291,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17289\/revisions\/17291"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etims.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}