Its make your mind up time Celtic fans
You have a chance to define the next 20 or 30 years of where our club is heading, and where it is going to be, your time to make your mind up is now, not in 6 months time or next year but NOW.
You have 3 choices, the status quo, walk, or rebel.
When we were winning all those titles and cups over the past 9 years most Celtic fans quite naturally didn’t bother about what was going on off the field, only during a total shambles of a season like at present will some take any notice of any of that stuff, but during that time some of our fellow fans after many sleepless nights have walked away from their club, which as we know is one of the hardest decisions we could ever make because of what this club means to us and how it affects us on a daily basis.
Why would anyone walk away from that level of success, it must have been something morally unacceptable to them to make them give up on their club. What reasons could there have been to cause this, we will list just a couple, firstly Scottish football has been a rigged game since 2012 (we know before this as well) as evidence has been presented to prove this to our CEO, but because of the best interest of the PLC this has been ignored, instead our CEO has aided and abetted the reappearance of a brand that thrives on hatred and bigotry, he gave a casual nod of acceptance to all the crimes on the other side of the river, from tax dodging, to racism, to cheating, and the biggest crime of all, acknowledging that the liquidation in 2012 didn’t happen. Secondly but by no means the only other reason, our CEO acceptance of Referee’s not applying the rules of the game when it suits them without any repercussions.
You have a choice; accept it, walk, or rebel.
We have been told that since 2003/04 we have had one of the best CEO’s in the world, let’s look at just a couple of factors over that period shall we, in his first full year in 2005 he was paid £299,000, the clubs share price was £48.50, and the reported revenue was on average £64.03 million, using the bank of England inflation calculator the equivalent in today’s terms are as follows, the CEO’s pay would be £483,450, reported revenue would be £103.5 million, but if we look at today’s results the CEO’s pay is £1.1 million (+£616,550) and the reported revenue is £70.2 million (-£33.3million) and the share price is £95.
If we look at the only time the CEO was not in sole charge of everything at the club, we have to look at the hiring by someone else of Brendan Rodgers in 2016, In the 2 seasons before we had a CEO project as manager in Ronnie Deila, the CEO pay was just short of £1million, the reported revenue was on average £51.5 million and the share price was never above £79.50.
In the next 2 full seasons under Brendan Rodgers the CEO wage went up to £1.1million, the reported revenue averaged £96.1 million and the share price peaked at £166.50 and was one of the most successful periods in the club’s modern history. Remember the CEO was not in full charge during this period, has he actually cost us money when he has been in control.
In 2019 the CEO pay was over £3.5 million, inclusive of a performance incentive plan bonus of £2.3million, so he must have done something right, the reported revenue was down to £70.2 million and the share price was on a downwards spiral to today’s £95.
In total our CEO has earned £15.8million in his time at our club and has a personal issue of £356,000 worth of shares in our club, but interestingly he failed to keep a updated Shareholders register which is a legal requirement, and when you compare this to the fans investing £750 million since the club became a PLC and having £0 worth of shares in return, it does make you think what the CEO and board really thinks about the fans annual investment.
You have a choice; accept it, walk, or rebel
We are all Celtic fans so there is no right or wrong choice, but you are free to make a choice.
If recent events have made you lose trust in the custodians, made you disillusioned and made you feel disconnected or even entitled then choosing the Status Quo probably won’t be for you but your absence will not help the club either.
We at Celts for Change 2021 are not special supporters, our views are no more valid than anyone else’s but we believe there are many thousands who feel like we do, we have an action plan already in place to follow. Your only weapon is to withdraw your financial support, withhold season ticket renewal, and boycott all commercial and marketing operations at the club and share this as far and wide as you can during the present pandemic.
Celtic cyberspace has to get together and use all the expert skills that they have in many walks of life, to help define the future of the club. We need all the supporters, supporter clubs, Green brigade, and blogs to come under one umbrella whatever that is for the next 6 months, this will have to be the first and the most important task.
With a bit of vision we can all look forward to and demand some of the following.
We get a share issue for our £40million season ticket investment each year, which can then be held by the Celtic Trust the fans union, which in time will lead to us having a voice on the board to help shape the direction of our club which was part of Fergus McCann’s original vision. This way there will never be a disconnection between the two again.
Where a Director of Football runs that department, and the board and CEO maximise revenue to invest in the football department.
There can no longer be allowed to be any dictatorships to form at the club, and for the club to be a football club over a business, where we also hire the best available professionals in all departments.
Where the CEO, board and DOF are not in post for 18 years or in the case of today’s board, where 4 out of 5 have been there for more than 9 years, the new board should be able to question everything and show some vision, while always remembering and following, when they can the ethos of Brother Wilfred.
With all this in place it gives the fans a vision to buy into, as seen by the response to the Rodgers years. The revenue will increase, the share price will increase, which will lead on to some of the projects that have been shelved during the downsizing to be realised, the Hotel, the indoor training centre at Barrowfield, the shopping centre, and a 80,000 seated Celtic Park to name but a few. These will in turn sustain the club for our Children and Grandchildren and many generations to come.
We will open a message page on our website for all fans to contribute to with their ideas on how to rally the fans, so that their voice can be heard as one, there has to be some sort of organised movement to take this forward instead of many smaller groups doing different things, but with the same aim.
Celts for Change 2021
www.celtsforchange2021.com
Celts for change 2021.
Thanks for today’s article.
With regard to the comments on the CEO I am in total agreement. His vision for the shape of the club is certainly not aligned to that of the vast majority of the support, who want to watch attractive football on the biggest stage.
That though, is not the major reason I’m glad to see him go. His involvement in other areas such as Res 12 and the 5WA, which has been discussed at length is why many including me will applaud his departure.
However, that departure almost certainly wont eliminate the initial problem I referred to. Will the appointment of Dominic McKay change anything? Only if he has been given a new set of objectives by Dermot Desmond which are not simply aligned to the bank balance and share price.
So as I say, no argument from me on the CE, but whether his removal makes any difference is very debatable. I think we are as one on our views on that part.
To the potential actions that can be taken.
You say
“We get a share issue for our £40million season ticket investment each year”
How exactly do you see that working?
Everyone buys a season ticket, £40m goes to the Celtic PLC and in return some shares are issued to the Celtic trust?
Where do those shares come from? Dermot Desmond? If they don’t come from Dermot Desmond or Nick Train, then they have the same impact at any AGM or EGM as they have now? No discernible impact. Since those two hold 52% of the total shares, and can continue to call the shots as they do now?
There are not enough shares available on the open market , and even if everyone other than DD and Nick Train gave up their shares tomorrow, there still wouldn’t be enough. Even to get to a 25% share holding in Celtic would cost over £30m. How long would it take to accumulate that money? For me the logistics of this don’t add up but perhaps I’m missing something.
Here’s a bigger concern I have. You say that we should withhold our season ticket money and cease from purchasing merchandise. Have you spoken to the Celtic Trust? It’s only a week since David Low stated publicly the Celtic Trust will NOT get involved in any season ticket boycotts. So the very group you want to be at the core of this do not share any appetite for this methodology.
The green brigade are encouraging supporters to join the Celtic Trust, so by default, they’re at odds with this too?
I agree with you that the biggest, in fact the ONLY weapon we have is to withhold our money. The CT disagree and do not wish us to do so.
Are the CT willing to sit down with you? Have you spoken with them? The Green brigade?
For me, it may be prudent to initiate talks with the Association of Irish Celtic Supporters Clubs. They, have already spoken out, and they seem to represent the thoughts of the majority of Celtic supporters.
I’m not looking to be negative here, but albeit the board do not share my / our vision, I’m not interested in jumping into bed with the Celtic Trust based on what I’ve heard so far. I’m sure I’m not alone in that
I have already done my protest by canceling CTV I will not have to watch the Celtic players line up in a line of honour to clap the new financially doped league champions onto the Park
Scunnered
By the way I looked in the penalty box it was empty ,Packys Oot true story
Celts for Change 2021
Whilst I agree with the emotional plea in the leader and the dereliction of duty by a craven Board there is one fundamental aspect to your appeal I do not quite follow.
Are you suggesting the monies committed by supporters via season book/ walk ups is investment? £750m worth.
I do not see it that way. It is the accumulated cost of year on year expenditure by faithful supporters purchasing the view from a seat to watch a product on the park.
That is the cold corporate reality.
It is not investment , in the same way that visiting the cinema twice a month is not investment.
You wouldn’t expect large cinema operators to provide shares in their company every time you pay to watch a movie.
Twisty
I also have no wish to appear negative but share the reservations made in your final paragraph.
Too much ( understandable) emotion not enough financial pragmatism about creating change.
CFC, it is investment in so far as an element of it is reinvestable. Agreed, there are huge costs involved in running the stadium but part of all monies goes towards paying salaries, running costs, transfer fees, shareholder dividends etc etc.
The figures can be challenged but anyone who contributes in any way, no matter how small an amount, helps to maintain the structure at Celtic.
Twisty…great comment again.
McCaff
But my point stands.
No other business, and we are a business, provides shares in return for payment of a service/product.
McCaff
When I used to ask my son to choose a CD to listen to, he would ask for the Kangaroo album by the Trash band.
This of course was Happy Pocket by Trashcan Sinatras. He was 3 or 4 at the time. His other favourite album of mine at that age was OK Computer by Radiohead. Knew from an early age that he had identical taste in music as me. He still does.
CFC
Totally agree with you. Too many folk think that buying a season ticket is making an investment in the club. I have never seen it like that. Shareholders are the investors in my mind.
I remember discussing with my Marxist father, the Fergus McCann share issue. He did not like that idea one bit. His thoughts were that shares were what Tories and their supporters traded in, and Celtic would end up with a load of Tories running the club. He got that right.
Garry, yer faither was right. Being a Marxist he would have been well schooled on bourgeoisie economics.
CFC, I agree that it is a business and there is no prerequisite for Celtic to issue shares for STs,. But there is a distinct difference between a football club as a business and many other types of business. Football is an emotional business, first and foremost, and that is the thrust of Celts For Change points, I think.
I recently bought some shares in Celtic but I can assure you I am not a Tory. I bought them so that I can vote at a Celtic AGM either by myself or by proxy. And to add my name to resolutioners lists if requested. I would also be able to attend AGMs when attendance is once again allowed.
Noel
Another thing he campaigned against was the sale of Council Housing promoted by the Wicked witch Thatcher. He got that right too.
His principles cost him a fortune. He could have bought his council house in Knightswood for about 15 grand. Similar houses in Knightswood now sell for 150 grand.
He went to his grave with a clear conscience. ✊
Garry, the sale of Council Houses was a great thing for a lot of people, allowing them a dream come true which would have been otherwise unattainable and unaffordable. The wider issue was the Councils stopped replacing the sold off stock, relying instead on unscrupulous private landlords screwing people and the circle has now fully turned with ownership now a pipedream for many as the cost of rental soars!
Fair play to your old man for sticking to his principles, though!!
JTT53
We now know that your moniker really stands for Jim The Tory 53. 😜😂😂
Only jesting pal. 😁
Garry, most of my social circle are of the same stripe as your faither, ideologically, morally and politically, incorrigible. People of principle.
Garry LOL 🙂
Noel
There are still many Red Clydesiders like him around. I know many here in Clydebank, and along the road where you are in Scotstoun. We haven’t gone away anywhere ✊
McCaff
Do you remember the name of the Recording Studio that Trashcan Sinatras built in Kilmarnock?
I thought it was a genius name.
Shabby Road Studio Kilmarnock. 😁
Colin Murie and Alan Jones released an excellent book in 2006 titled Right to Buy that shatters that bastard (Thatcher) bollocks regarding RTB.
Garry, as you know I live on the Clyde and its sad to see how it’s been decimated. The ghosts of the Clydesiders haunt the place.
Moving on, what was the ref thinking about with regards to Roofe’s tackle? That was a shocker.
Great article and good luck with your campaign. I am one of those who has walked although I still have a lingering interest in the team I followed since the mid-sixties. The last match I went to was against Ross County at Celtic Park in August 2015. At that point, I was conflicted by the post-2012 events in Scottish Football and the club’s failure to challenge the continuity myth and wider corruption in Scottish Football as evidenced by Res12. I decided I would withhold my green pound in the hope that things would change for the better. Sadly, they haven’t and if anything, they have got worse. Over the intervening period, I have gradually got used to not having my life dictated by something that really in the great scheme of things just isn’t that important to me as it once was. I have loads of other things to do other than watching over-paid footballers and get frustrated when they can’t do what they are paid to do either because they can’t be arsed or they just as not as good as the hype. So I walked and will keep walking as it was my thing to do. Others will make their decisions but for me, walking was and still is good. One thing that hasn’t changed tough. I still and always will hate the huns in whatever manifestation they appear.
I remember speaking to an old red hot Labour supporter who was totally against Right To Buy. He did mention in the passing that over the 40 years he had been paying rent he had probably paid the cost of the house 3 times over!
I’ve just saw Roofe’s tackle, its awful. At least Slippy’s getting that refereeing ‘consistency’ he’s been shouting about of late.
Noel
At one point, Clydebank had a population of 40,000, and between the Shipyards and Singers, employment for 50,000 folk.
Today, there are around 5000 jobs in Clydebank and dropping. The town was decimated during the era of the Wicked Witch Thatcher.
She did more damage to this community, than the Lufftwaffa did during the Clydebank Blitz.
Garry, i’ve worked with young adults from the area who were demented at the lack of opportunity, shite mate.
Is McMonagle’s opened? Like a wee fish tea in there.
Garry…I wasn’t aware of Shabby Road Studios!! 🤣🤣🤣
Noel..the BBC in full deflect mode last night regarding Roofe’s tackle. You’d be forgiven for thinking they hand an ulterior motive in defending anything “Hun”! The fact that Roofe was booked just might lead to the Compliance Officer judging that it has already been seen and dealt with so No Further Action req’d.
Alternatively of course, the cynic in me might suggest the Compliance Officer will use Roofe AND Brown’s Swinging Elbow against Tshbola of Killie to show how fair the retro Disciplinary System is!
Noel…did you say McMonagle? Repost from yesterday…😁
Noel
Yes, McMonagles Chippy Boat is still open and doing good trade. The best Chippy in Clydebank and surrounding area by a country mile.
Good local Tim family, the McMonagles. 👍
McCaff,
they can dress it up anyway they want, its an absolute shocker. Expressing cynicism, why would you be doing that? Lol
McCaff
That scene was recorded in my wee scheme in Dalmuir. Where the McMonagle family come from. Surely no coincidence by the Burnistoun team.
McCaff,
that clips hilarious.
Garry,
cheers, wasn’t sure if it was open for business.
Yeah Noel, I saw a clip of the challenge last night, slowed it down to just about the point of impact!! How Davidson escaped a really bad injury is very fortuitous. The funny thing is Callum Davidson was quite philosophical about it – he should have been demanding action, his player had to go off and will possibly miss a Cup Tie because of it!
Garry…haha taking the mick out of McMonagle!! 🥴
Garry and McCaff
I agree with the nature of football as an emotional investment. And the language used in describing such is fine.
If pressure groups advocating change aren’t precise In their use of language then the message can be misdirected and compromised by those with the greatest vested interests.
What is being advocated is shares dilution – not a notion DD , NT et al will willingly subscribe to.
Billionaire philanthropists do exist – just not at CFC.
Noel
The McMonagles Chippy Boat is open for takeaway and home delivery only.
The sit in restaurant facility is closed, due to Covid19.
CFC…I couldn’t agree more! I previously suggested as much re the wording of the Celts For Change petition.
McCaff
Would take a brave man to take the piss out of the McMonagle clan here in Dalmuir.
A braver or dafter man than me. 😁
Funnily enough, Mick McMonagle travels on our supporters bus The Dalmuir Emerald CSC.
Garry..is there a braver or dafter man? 🤣🤣🤣
Sleaford Mods on my turntable for doing a bit of housework. Have a good day lads and remember we’re all just Austerity Dogs. Lol
CFC
Agree 100%. Bang on the money.
Pun intended. 😊
McCaff
I set you up for an easy tap in there. 👍😁
McCaff
The Shabby Road Studio has shut down, but helped Kilmarnock band Biffy Clyro get going.
Probably the biggest band in Scotland today.
Good choice, Noel> Enjoy your day!
Garry…tap ins my speciality!!
Callum Davidson is another worth the watching, after those comments….
Bada
I have wanted to see that dirty hun bassa Murray Davidson get a leg breaker for while.
Karma dictated that it was a hun player who gave him it.
Well done Roofe. 😊
Garry- if you could have picked a player……
Bada
My preference would possibly be for Roofe to do Morelos like that in training.
GARRY
Oh,nice one…
I said last night that I wasn’t too bothered about Davidson getting nailed,he’s given it to us plenty enough. But it really pisses me off that the players who are getting kicked all over the place,their team mates,their managers-none of them say a bloody word about it!
WTF is going on? Even MSM are commenting,but there’s an Omerta silence within the game?
Although they are heading out of sight , the malign influence of the LRA( ref Paul Larkin) is as great this season as ever before.
Worth a good 9/10 points? Would love to see someone compile this seasons “ honest mistakes” in their favour.
Bad as we have been , they are bang average in my view.
The overall quality of the league is very poor.
CFC
Apart from Celtic matches, I don’t watch the SPL.
My preference is Bundesliga or EPL games.
It is almost a different sport in Scotland.