For the avoidance of doubt, the people referenced in the title are not the imaginary creatures dreamed up in the Daily Radar.
For the avoidance of doubt, real billionaires want strong high performing brands.
When General Ashley is deploying his corporate forces for a hostile takeover, he has usually spotted a brand that has potential but is underperforming.
Once more, he is dealing with future events.
Big Mike is in the anticipation business.
The billionaire at Celtic is similarly concerned about what WILL happen.
In 1995, Mr Desmond bought the London City airport for £23.5 million.
At the time the Square Mile was full of stories that the folk who had sold it to him were convinced that they had got the better of the deal.
In 2006 he sold it for a reported £750m.
That is someone who does the future very well, and he expects the same foresight from his CEOs.
Those who deal in hindsight cans seriously damage the business.
This tweet tonight probably is a reasonable barometer of where the Celtic brand is at the moment.
The Dubai Debacle damaged the Celtic brand and this is at Mr Lawwell’s door.
My information is that he narrowly missed the Desmond axe in the summer of 2016.
Then for over two years, the poor dear had to endure the ignominy of not being the highest-paid non-playing person at Celtic.
It also coincided with the most significant period of d9omestic cd9minance since the Jock Stein years.
When the man who had been born into Celtic suddenly found out that he had been adopted.
With Rodgers gone Mr Lawwell could then resume his position as the unofficial director of football.
That’s how he got here now.
Now, I cannot believe that Mr Desmond is comfortable with his current CEO being the public face of the season ticket renewal for season 2021/2022.
I think he will want someone very different indeed.
A disappointing season continues to..disappoint from a Celtic perspective. It would also seem that the board are not minded to listen to fan discontent and at least signal an intention to change the managerial team. How to force change? Well, fans used to vote with their feet; in lockdown, perhaps boycott is the only available response.
It would be ironic indeed if it took a fan boycott to force Celtic’s hand. But that a change has to be forced by concerted action would appear now to be beyond debate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boycott#:~:text=The%20word%20boycott%20entered%20the,Irish%20Land%20League%20in%201880.
Lennon, Lawwell and Hammond have failed big time the transfer business over the past couple of years has been a disaster starting with the McGinn debacle and culminating with the signing of a Greek goalkeeper who does not look to be even competent or happy to be at the club. This after failing to acquire Forster either permanently or on loan. Then we fail to resign Craig Gordon and let his contract run out then David Marshall becomes available but we decide to pass on that signing leading to playing 3 different keepers in the first half of the season. We then sign a striker to supplement the 3 we already have but the Manager decides to play one man up front from the start of the season leaving 3 strikers either in the stand or on the bench. For the 1st half of the season we have 2 midfielders on the bench who never get a look in until desperation sets in and we realise that we have 2 good players in Soro and Turnbull. What can I say about the defending? Disastrous is the only word I can use and the people who must take responsibility are the Manager and coaching staff, as for the Dubai trip don’t let me start.
.
As a guy in his 70’s the decision making takes me back to the late 50’s and early 60’s younger people would probably add in the early 90’s. At the moment I don’t blame Dermot Desmond as I’m sure he has left the day to day running of the club to the CEO but he now has to step in, changes need to be made rationally but as quickly as possible, the support have had enough.
I well remember Desmond’s comments about Celtic fans and I’m more reassured about the chance of future positive change at the club by the knowledge that Celtic is a financial investment for him.
Thank you again Phil. I fully agree.
I believe that there was always going to be massive changes at our club after this season. Even if NL delivered the 10 I still believe that next season would have been a year of reconstruction and, for me, I believe that would have definitely included the managers position.
It transpires that we weren’t to get the 10 and right now that hurts. So much!!
Pain is the touchstone for growth!!
When Rogic’s penalty flew high at Hampden and we lost to Championship Sevco DD made the changes which we grew from there. BR was then brought in. Obviously every league and competitive cup has been won since however we have still been in a gradual decline the last couple of years, coupled with Sevco steadily improving.
We’ve had a season thus far where if anything could wrong, it has!!
We have to unite!! DD will give us a manager that our club and support deserve. NL’s legacy has been tarnished and, for me, that is sad.
He is Celtic through and through however this year has just not worked.
I want a manager who will make Ryan Christie reconsider his future and want to stay. We’ve McGregor, Turnbull and Soro. If Christie is definitely not wanting to sign a new contract then so be it. He can join the exodus in the summer. We played that mob off the park for 65 minutes at their midden till the M.I.B Madden breathlessly reduces us to 10. I trust DD WILL make the correct appointment.
This will not go down well with all but I believe Celtic could do far worse than appoint Roy Keane with Damien Duff as his number 2.
We all must keep the Faith!!
Hail Hail and God bless
Thanks Phil
Lawrie Bhoy 🍀
To maintain high ST sales after such a [potentially] disappointing and frustrating season, you would expect that PL and NL would have to exit stage left.
Replacing PL should be relatively straightforward: replacing NL is the tough one.
We need another Brendan type to breeze in and sort it out, along with his own backroom staff. Someone to get us all excited again.
But that will cost big money and a decent transfer budget.
Would that happen, and during the impact of a pandemic?
Would CFC gravitate to the cheap option?
With the departure of his placeman would DD decide to sell his shares?
We have been screaming out for change since the CL and EL exits: the threat of a collapse in ST sales will now guarantee change at CFC… but just several months [years?] too late. 🙁