The Hoops legend and Record Sport columnist has had his say on the club’s wordy defence of their transfer dealings
Celtic’s claim that UEFA are holding them back from splashing the cash has been dispelled by fans in the wake of their 1000-word long transfer address.
On Saturday night, the club released a lengthy statement in defence of their transfer dealings this summer after meeting with fan groups who had voiced their concerns about the lack of spending on the recruitment front.
Boss Brendan Rodgers admitted his squad went into last month’s crucial Champions League play-off clash with Kairat Almaty undercooked, with the Premiership champions losing out to the Kazakh side on penalties after a goalless draw at Celtic Park where fans burst into chants of ‘sack the board’.
Supporters were left frustrated by the club’s failure to spend big on attacking options, with Celtic having to scramble to sign Kelechi Iheanacho on a free transfer after selling Adam Idah to Swansea City for £7million on deadline day.
The Hoops insist that their huge cash reserves generated from their performances in the Champions League in recent years are ‘irrelevant’ when it comes to investing in the squad because of the restrictions placed on them by Europe’s governing body in football.
But furious punters are not buying those comments and have directed more anger towards chief executive Michael Nicholson and non-executive chairman Peter Lawwell.
And fans have also made reference to a report published by football business expert and popular social media user Swiss Ramble last year that contradicts Celtic’s claims that they simply spend within their means.
An extract from the report reads: “They are also fine with the new squad cost control ratio, which compares squad costs (player wages, player amortisation and agent fees) with total revenue (including profit from player sales). Based on 2023/24, I estimate Celtic’s ratio as 43%, which is well below UEFA’s ultimate 70% target.
“As part of the transition to the new rules, the test for the 2024/25 sporting season only covered the two seasons up to 2023/24. Celtic were profitable over that period, so they had no problems with UEFA’s PSR rules, even before making allowable deductions.”
Meanwhile, Parkhead legend and Record Sport columnist Chris Sutton reckons club chiefs are ‘misguided’ if they believe their statement has adequately addressed the burning concerns put forward by disgruntles supporters.
He wrote on X: “I’m not sure the club statement was a good idea… anyone reading that back and thinking it would appease any Celtic fan is misguided…”
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