I find that one of dear Philippe’s most endearing qualities is his penchant for speaking off-message on camera.
Before the match against Sevco’s low calorie cousins, he gave an interview to the folks at Sky.
At the end of this piece, he states that:
Everyone also knows now we had to cut wages by between 25 and 30 per cent, compared with the past.
Even the most succulent suspects in the local media have stated that defeat to Queen’s Park was a sacking offence.
Yet, he’s still in the dignified dugout.
Why?
Well, it is either all part of the Blue Room’s grand plan or something more prosaic.
So, what does Occam’s razor gang tell us?
As I have constantly reported here, the baffled Belgian is still in situ because the Sevco High Command cannot afford the cost of dispensing with his hilarious services.
Rather tellingly, this is an explanation that the Stenography Corps cannot explore.
The featured image is a reminder that Sevco’s manager is under contract until 2028.
In fairness, it is the sort of deal to fall in love with…
That they are currently stuck with him is all part of an overall post-Gerrard austerity drive.
Once again, the local media cannot go with this narrative, as it would highlight the financial disparity between Celtic and Sevco.
Gerrard’s triumph in the Covid season was achieved with a squad that the club established in 2012 could not afford.
After George Square was trashed by the Ibrox klanbase, Stevie G wanted to upgrade the quality of the players he had at his disposal.
Despite his exhortations to the brethren in the Blue Room to fix the roof during good weather, he didn’t know about the dry rot in the foundations.
As I reported at the time, just before the 2021 Accounts were published (05/11/2021), there was a dignified conclave at which Stevie G was told the financial facts of life.
It was made clear to him that the next transfer window would see the start of serious downsizing.
Then, in an entirely unconnected development, Mr Gerrard left the employ of Sevco on November 11th.
Lest we forget…
It is clear that Clement has got the memo.
Cut the wage bill to make the business sustainable and remain on the right side of UEFA’s FSR ordinances.
The austerity drive that Philippe referred to means that a sustainable club playing their home matches at Ibrox is the objective.
It also means that the team in Norwegian Blue are simply the second best.
That doesn’t sit well with a culture of nativist supremacism, which defines the Ibrox klanbase.
Meanwhile, across the city, the club formed by immigrants is getting ready for the real 55.
That will be quite a day in the place they call Paradise.
Does the Empire Trophy or the Exhibition Cup count in our Trophy haul ?
Celtic B Team generated more in transfers than full co sevco. That’s quite the demarcation.
Philippe is not a bad coach, Ronnie Delia standard without the charm. If he managed St Johnstone or Ross County no one would raise an eyebrow. The Rangers players are the same put them
In St Johnstone or Motherwell and they would do ok. The problem at that club is the Board’s dishonesty and the supporters total lack of reality about where second Rangers is. If they faced up to the reality of liquidation they could understand being in a different league from Celtic. Of Scotland’s smaller clubs they are the biggest that’s all. They need to compare them selves with Hearts or Aberdeen not the only big club in Scotland Celtic.
Remember that we gave the original Rangers 16 years of a start as well.
The Scottish league did not start until season 1890/91
Obviously the severance dough would be paid to big Pip in installments Phil , as they don’t have the wherewithal to do the honest deed ? That they cannot even make the portions of payments on a regular fashion , kinda tells volumes about their dire predicament ? You won’t get them discussing this topic of conversation on BBC Sportsound or Sportscene ..will you ? Or Sky …nearly forget that lot …the old SS !