Celtic Supporters Limited have claimed Celtic are too cautious with their cash position and must do more to explain how they plan to use the money sitting inside the club.
Speaking exclusively to CeltsAreHere, Brian McLaughlin, one of the authors of the Celtic Paradox paper, said Celtic’s financial strength should not be used as a reason to stand still.
The club have built a strong balance sheet and continue to dominate Scottish football, but CSL believe the bigger question is what comes next. For supporters, that means a clear plan for Celtic Park, European progress, player investment and long-term growth.
Celtic have been praised for operating sustainably, especially in a football world where so many clubs lose control of spending. But McLaughlin believes the board have too often done enough to stay ahead domestically rather than pushing the club forward in Europe.
He said: “My personal opinion is the club is too cautious.
“In football, I think you put the foot down at the right time. You accelerate when you should accelerate and I think this board has historically not done that.
“This board has historically saw that we were far ahead enough of our nearest competitors in the domestic landscape and then just stalled and just coasted at that point until our domestic competitors catch us up.
“I think it’s fair to say most fans want the club benchmarked in Europe because the domestic picture is the domestic picture. We know our dominance here.
“The bit that really worries and irks us is that we’re not doing anything strategically to improve the European picture where we should be benchmarking ourselves.
“My personal opinion is the club should be putting its foot down more and not necessarily looking over its shoulder all the time to see what the domestic landscape looks like.
“They’re storing cash and fundamentally I think that’s where the club’s really let itself down.
“I do understand sustainable football clubs. We need to tip our hat to some of the sensible approach that we’ve had as a club.
“But equally so, that doesn’t mean running with such a high cash buffer knowing that there’s extra amount of money coming in next year and the next year and the next years.”
McLaughlin also pointed to Celtic Park as one of the areas where supporters need more clarity from the club.
Fans know Celtic Park can still produce nights that few stadiums in Europe can match. The problem is that much of that comes from the support, not the facilities around them.
He added: “When we talk about Celtic Park being one of the best stadiums in the world I don’t think we actually mean the stadium, I think we mean the environment that the fans create within that stadium.
“The stadium is beyond outdated.
“There has to be a strategic plan as to how we raise ourselves up a wee bit.
“The environments of Celtic Park have to be strategically improved and that means across the board.
“That doesn’t just mean lump another tier on top of the South Stand. That means everything from what’s the fan experience like from the minute you walk towards Celtic Park.
“If you don’t present a plan then the average punter like you and I has to just assume there is no one.”
That is the point CSL are trying to land. Celtic are not being accused of financial weakness. They are being challenged because they are financially strong and still do not have a clear public plan for how that strength will be used.
The club’s caution has protected Celtic from the chaos seen elsewhere in football. Nobody serious wants the club thrown into reckless spending or debt for the sake of it.
But there is a difference between being careful and standing still. Celtic’s cash position, stadium needs and European ambitions all raise the same question.
If the club has a long-term plan, supporters deserve to see it.
we will always live in hope we will do well in champions league yes get to the knockout stages for co officeint for those hack that keep saying the Rangers keep spl teams in europe but our and the board main purpose is to win league not second to win as a Celtic supporter thats be all and end all and how the hell gazza troubles that these anurchists that have found a place that gets them in medai not cause they are plentiful they are a small group that hang around the curve hoping there flag is notice Celtic supporters raised cards to protest against aid not been allowed to get to people of lebonen which hamas hijack and as usual the people with the gun takes all after that was known theres been a small group think they have can make there self be heard next season they about 20 30 will find out Celtic supporters who thought they were just young kids now relise anurchist have change that they will be treated as a mob now they wont be welcome if they cause and stop good players or managers coming to (Celtic FC 1888 a CLUB FOR ALL)thats our moto and they are trying to change that Celtic that means share holders board and the main body of supporters 99% to let people know the have a lot to let the world know we lost abda we have to stop this these small group caractising our club they got Scottish media making them the voice and thought of our Club and the people how have supporter them generation after generation and showing it cause its hurting Celtic now through signings the sack the board protest and gazza protest are completely diferent protests one is Celtic season book holders worrying whats happening at there club transfer policies that or that group have nothing to do with each other the gazza is anurchist useing Celtic FC for the Scottish media to hurts when players cant play for our club that has to be clarified they are protesting against difirent causes
Remember another chairman once stating if they spen a fiver we will spend a tenner so look at the mess they are in and be thankful
Think Jack is also correct this is a group who do not have Celtics interests at heart and are trying to politicalize the Celtic support we all have our own political beliefs that’s what the ballot box is for keep politics out of football maybe it’s time the silent majority amongst the support start to show their disdain against these groups who hide behind a football banner and not just in our club