http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/celtic-agm-2015-live-instant-6861643 must say they all look very smart, well-groomed even with not a hair out of place. Mind you it is easier to stay presentable when you’re not out in the rain under a bizarre-looking manger There’s chuckles all around as an apology from Dermot Desmond is made to the shareholders for being unable to attend. Peter Lawwell: We’d have won the treble if not for that referee decision at Hampden. Ronny Deila is a developer. A builder and creator of teams. This takes time. Lawwell: Financially we’re strong - no bank debt, third most season ticket holders in UK. More than 40k. Celtic are using a video of their HR manager explaining the implications of the Living Wage being introduced at Celtic Park. Around 150 workers would be affected but no decision has been made yet as to whether they will implement it or not and will make a decision in the New Year. The Celtic Foundation is now coming under the spotlight and being praised for the incredible work it does to help disabled children. Ronny Deila is now talking and expressing how he loves being part of the ‘big family’ at Celtic. Deila saying there has been plenty of highs and lows during his time so far but the Board and fans have been very good to him. Deila is also talking about the importance of the youth academy to the future of the club and how they have to get that right. He wants to play the ‘Celtic Way’, develop players and make sure the club get into the Champions Leagu
Here are the formal resolutions that will be getting voted on.. RESOLUTION 1: Annual report and accounts RESOLUTION 2: Reappointment of Dermot Desmond RESOLUTION 3: Reappointment of Tom Allison RESOLUTION 4: Reappointment of Brian Wilson RESOLUTION 5: Reappointment of Ian Livingston RESOLUTIONS 6 AND 7: Appointment and remuneration of auditors RESOLUTION 8: Authority to allot shares RESOLUTION 9: Disapplication of pre-emption rights RESOLUTION 10: Scottish Living Wage Employer
99.94% in favour of re-electing Dermot Desmond. So Dermot Desmond, Tom Allison and Brian Wilson all ‘re-elected to the board. Next up Ian Livingston. Resoultion 5 - The re-election of Ian Livingston hasn’t gone as easily as the last three as a question is asked from the floor.. Celtic chairman Ian Bankier blasts some of the ‘abuse’ received by Ian Livingston and says “The personal abuse against Ian Livingston is diametrically opposed to ethos of this club Fireworks from the floor there as Bankier infuriates some shareholders by telling them he’s disappointed in voters going against Lord Livingston. I mean, how dare they! A few shout back, telling Bankier they are disappointed in him and that it is a democracy. Resolution 10 is back to the topic of the Living Wage and like the Lord Livingston re-appointment, could take some time. Dave Moxham, co-director of Scottish Living Wage campaign is talking about the progress Celtic have made in past 12 months. The suggestion is that it would cost Celtic £2000 per match to implement the Living Wage to it’s employees. The Celtic board are heavily criticised for withdrawing the bonus scheme from their lowest paid workers and there are calls from the floor for it to be reinstated. Emotions running high over the Living Wage. This is too close to call and will go to a poll, just like the one over the re-election of Livingston. Questions from the floor to follow.
First shareholder calls into question the governance of the club regarding resolution 12. The fans have been cheated and I just wish the board had the fire in the belly you had a while ago when defending Livingston. It’s getting heated again. A shareholder is arguing with Bamkier, who told him to get in line for the microphone. The shareholder demands Bankier withdraws the remark that suggested he was guilty of insulting Livingston. Bankier does so. Back to resolution 12. The shareholder wants to know why the club didn’t put forward res 12, which of course is the granting of a European license a few years ago in the face of owing the tax man. Peter Lawwell: We are liasing with the people who brought up Resolution 12 and they are happy with what we are doing. But on the point of a lack of fire in our belly - everything we do is in the best interests of Celtic. A shareholder on that decision at Hampden last season against Inverness in the Scottish Cup semi-final: it was the worst decision I have ever seen made. But here’s a suggestion for Peter. Stick some money in a brown envelope and I’ll go to Switzerland and get us into the English Premier League. Lawwell jokes back: That seems to work in some quarters! He goes on to make a serious point about children season ticket prices. He wants a clause removed where some games are not included on the books. Lawwell responds: We will reconsider that when - or rather if - it’s a game against (dramatic pause) Rangers. One shareholder wants Derk Boerrigter binned. A unanimous “hear, hear” agreement rises from the floor He goes on to talk about the Bovril being too hot at half time. Granted, it’s not controversial stuff but it’s important to this guy. And he’s got a suggestion re the bovril. Why not pour it a few minutes before serving. Good point. Well made.
Peter Lawwell responds when one shareholder askas about the downsizing of the club.. ‘Downsizing? Our players’ wage bill this season will be the same this season as they were in Seville. We’re paying the same but with inflation our pound is worth less. So we need to be clever and continue to find undervalued players. The ones we have sold to England recently are now earning four to five times more down there. That’s what we’re up against.’ ‘The player you mentioned there (Boerrigter) may have been a failure but we have had many more successes’ On to Deila now who is asked how Celtic can prevent losing out on a third Champions League spot in a row. The manager says: ‘We have to learn from these mistakes. Against Malmo we were excellent at the start but we lost silly goals. ‘Talking about it now, there is a burning in my stomach even now. ‘But the players got experience of Europe and we must do better next time. If you don’t, you won’t be a Celtic player. They must keep improving Hugh Clark representing the requisitioners of Resolution 12 in 2013: ‘I would like to confirm the club is working with us and we are just waiting on the SFA.’ Not sure how much injury-time is being played here but there can’t be long to go now.. A shareholder, a retired art teacher, commends the club on the stadium, the Celtic Way and the signage. But he says there is one thing missing. A sign honouring Fergus McCann. He was the man behind the new Celtic Park and deserves recognition of that Most shareholders have been in support of Deila but this one isn’t. He says: “We were beaten 5-2 on aggregate to a team sixth in the Norwegian League. How are we making progress?” Lawwell: “Our job is not to knee jerk. We were 3-1 down to Killie under Lenny and he then took us to a win over Barca. So God willing Ronny will do the same.”
This one has been brewing for a while. It is claimed that in 2011, despite Rangers owing the Taxman about £6m for the DOS (the wee tax case), the SFA allowed Rangers to play in European competitions. "Despite having that outstanding bill the SFA provided Rangers with a licence to play in the 2011/12 season giving Ally McCoist’s side the opportunity to bring in £15m from the Champions League which would more than pay that bill. Had the SFA applied their own licence rules correctly Rangers would have been denied a licence allowing Celtic to compete in the Champions League qualifiers rather than in the much less lucrative Europa League. Another take would be that if the SFA had applied pressure the £6m bill would have been paid to HMRC rather than allow McCoist to go on the summer signing spree that saw Allan McGregor, Steven Davis and Steven Whittaker with new contracts as well as scouring the world to recruit talents such as Matt McKay, Lee Wallace, Dorin Goian and Juan Ortiz." It's aimed at the SFA.
They want the SFA held to account. I suspect most Celtic fans are uninterested in digs at Rangers but like me, they feel that any action which gets Doncaster and/or Regan the heave-ho, is ok.
The SFA broke their own rules (or should I say rewrote them) to aid Rangers. They would probably have done the same for Celtic. The fact that Rangers are a big club who generate lots of money doesn't justify their actions.
Celtic chairman calls BHEAST fans racist. The BHEAST now want him to resign for telling the truth? SWEEP SWEEP YOU FKING SCUMMY SCUMBUCKETS
