The January transfer window continues apace at Parkhead.
Dear reader, this is how it should ALWAYS have been at the club with the biggest football budget on Planet Fitba.
Reports that the Australian international is on Celtic’s radar means only one thing:
Affordable players are being approached on the say-so of the manager.
So the guy in the dugout is in charge of all football maters.
Gasp!
This is what happens when the CEO does not believe that they are the most brilliant football brain in the building.
Ange decides that he wants a player, and Michael Nicholson does the paperwork.
Yes, it is THAT simple.
Across the city, it remains a scrutiny free zone.
Only gushing puff pieces are allowed.
As regular readers will be aware, at the time of the RIFC AGM, I reported that Sevco’s director of fantasy had been told to generate funds in this transfer window.
Essentially his brief was to sell players and plug any gaps in the squad with loan deals.
Mr Gerrard did NOT like the sound of that at all.
So far, that is the observable truth of the matter.
The sale of Nathan Patterson to Everton was not the Stenography Corps’ finest hour.
Planet Fitba has a new euphemism:
“record undisclosed fee”.
Of course, the Stenography Corps obediently swallowed what has offered to them about the putative fee from Goodison Park.
Ten years on, after trying to tell the hacks in Glasgow that the original Rangers were heading for the financial rocks, I can only smile.
The truth will finally be known when the Merseyside outfit publishes its accounts at the end of this year.
Let’s just say I would not be shocked if it transpired that the initial fee was in the region of £5m-£6m.
Yesterday I learned that the author of the £16m figure was implicated in the infamous “translategate” when Alfredo Morelos was…err…misquoted about an alleged racist incident in a Glasgow Derby match.
Still, it was job done on young Patterson, and the klan were happy fascists.
There is no doubt that the new management team at Ibrox has steadied the ship, and some of those who, according to Conor Goldson, lacked hunger have been put on a diet.
Off the field, Ashley and King are still in play.
The former will want the legal proceedings concluded this year, and the ex-chairman still has some shares to shift.
If more of his shareholding ends up with his proxies in Club 1872, then that could be a distinction without a difference for the chaps in the Blue Room.
His statement that he had his loan re-paid in October and NOT in May is something that any functioning Fourth Estate would be all over.
Of course, on Planet Fitba, the usual succulent rules apply.
All Celtic can do in this transfer window is to behave like a club with more money than anyone else in the league.
Well, that’s what they’re doing.
Looks like R McG is heading elsewhere.
We need a reality check. They just sold a squad player for millions yes the exact amount is unclear but it’s millions. It has not diminished their first team and they are six points ahead.If they win the league they get 30m CL money minimum. That and selling some more assets should see them financially better placed. It is us who have to spend, us who have to catch up. And us who haven’t beaten them in over two years. We must win in Feb or the league is over. They remain very strong on the pitch and have a Board that backs them. We are the ones that need to improve massively.
The upfront payment for Patterson covers less than 2 months losses.
You’re correct that it doesn’t diminish them in the short term, provided Tavpen remains fit, but it will long term as the latter is past his prime and is declining, which will accelerate, as well as his admitted problem of not being able to handle pressure.
The £30m+ would, of course, be useful to them but that is less then their yearly shortfall and that’s without the money owed to Ashley (and other suppliers), King etc, so it won’t stop them taking on more and more water.
You’re also correct about the reality of our position, 6 points behind, which we haven’t improved on in the past 2/3 months when supposedly we’ve played well and they’ve struggled.
Although a win in Feb would be most welcome, not just to cut the gap but also to get the monkey of our back of not beating them for 2 years, I don’t think its imperative, as long as we don’t lose.
We need to keep winning against the other teams and stop coughing up silly points ala Dundee United, Livingston and St Mirren, as the recent evidence (8 and 9IAR) is that they’ll crack if we keep them under sustained pressure.
I really wouldn’t bet against them winning the league. However £30m, which they incidentally won’t see any of until around this time next year, will be like putting a sticking plaster on an amputation.
Stenhousemuir ladies abused at game against Sevco ladies & not a word about it in Scotland ? Kanata alleged abuse all over the MSM for months or whenever they need to pull it out again Shocking
“Feelin’ good is good enough for me…”
Well Said Phil,
Can’t help but feel that there is something special happening at our club at the moment ….
Some contrast on this time last year..
Bring them on !!!
HH
Any Scottish football supporter would be expecting The Rangers to splash the cash on several new signings in January…
if only to ‘celebrate’ the club’s, ahem, 150th year…?!
You’d think they’re a cash strapped club, and spinning stories in the SMSM to cover the truth.
A bit like January 2012. 🙂
Hey Phil,
Happy New Year.
I trust that this finds you all Hail Hail ‘n’ Hearty!
They couldn’t even get their story straight. I saw £10million / £11.5million / £12million and £16million. Take your pick!
Thanks for being there and all the best for 2022
Cheers,
Joe-Bhoy ’67
Would Kings loan repayment not have gone against the rules of the double dip state aid they got?
No. A loan is a commercial agreement irrespective of who provides it. I believe the state loans prevented things like dividends being paid out. As Celtic pay out dividends on preference shares this is likely why they didn’t procure a state loan.
I think we didn’t avail ourselves of the loan was because there were conditions regarding excessive Executive pay.