Champions League exit denies Celtic access to massive pay day

There’s no denying that the devastating loss to LASK has represented a huge blow to our footballing and financial aspirations.

The SMSM are also having a field day as you’d expect, with the sole focus of their attention being the potential £40 million bounty the club have missed out on due to the loss.

Admittedly, it’s a huge blow to miss out on such a massive sum, as that sort of cash could well be the difference in the club signing one or two quality players, but at the end of the day, you can’t lose what you didn’t possess in the first place!

Being denied the Champions League riches has led to numerous rags commenting on our financial status, with some hinting that we have taken something of a hit when it comes to cash in the bank reserves.

The Celtic board are incompetent, there’s no denying that fact. They don’t possess the necessary skills to communicate with the supporters. They can’t identify targets, negotiate then conclude a deal, and their overall lack of ambition is holding the club back from moving forward. However if there’s one thing they can do competently, then that is balancing the books whilst making a tidy profit in the process.

So far this summer we’ve splashed out circa of £32 million on new recruits, but that spree has been more than covered by the sales of Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels, Maik Nawrocki, Luis Palma, and Hayto Inamura which has brought in a massive £40 million, so when it comes to net spending, we are very much in the black.

With Reo Hatate also expected to leave, that will be another £5-£6 million added to the coffers, so that will be enough to cover another three or four much needed new additions.

We’re also guaranteed Europe League money. And whilst it dwarfs in comparison to the Champions League earnings, along with the £3 million ‘parachute’ payment from UEFA for falling at the playoff stage, we will make a minimum of £10 million when TV revenue, and ticket sales come into play, with more to be made through performance and progression in the competition.

We also have the biggest number of season ticket holders in the country, whilst our sponsorship deals are more lucrative than any of our domestic rivals can boast, so we’re hardly in financial dire straits as some of the club’s cherished media partners would have you believe.

Europa League Tickets Sales

The ticket sales total is down to you, me and every other Celtic supporter. Do you want to pay to see the club in the Europa League after blowing a 4-0 aggregate lead in Linz having to bring on Luke McCowan, Dane Murray and Anthony Ralston because the squad wasn’t properly assembled by the Celtic Board who did less signings than any other Scottish club ahead of that shocking playoff.