The Daily Record has reported that there is a stand-off between Celtic and Rangers over tickets for the March 25 derby at Ibrox.
For over a year the Record was happy to promote the idea that Whyte was a billionaire about to front load Ally McCoist’s transfer warchest but over the last three weeks their attitude to Whyte has turned 180 degrees with a steady stream of news coming from the ‘Whyte-Out’ camp.
According to the report Celtic aren’t willing to pay Rangers in advance for the 7,300 Ibrox tickets. Already this year Dundee United, Dunfermline and Inverness Caley Thistle have seen their ticket money used towards paying Rangers wage bill.
With administrators Duff and Phelps continuing to honour Rangers season tickets there are only around 10,000 tickets for sale on a game by game basis. The bulk of those for the derby clash goes to Celtic fans and will provide the debt-ridden club with a £300,000 boost.
Rangers face Hearts on Saturday with tickets on sale at £28 and £15 for concessions which raises considerably less than the visit of Celtic and 7,300 fans paying £42 a time.
Celtic were made aware of Rangers difficulties towards the end of last year and insisted in being paid in advance for the December 28 fixture at Celtic Park.
Following that deal it was agreed by both clubs to continue that arrangement but fears for Rangers future have grown with Whyte warning yesterday on Sky Sports of more pain to follow.
Very few businesses would pay up front for goods three weeks in advance to a company in administration with Celtic concerned about taking money from fans for a fixture which may not take place.
With Duff and Phelps still to announce any money saving moves, other than the departures of Gordon Smith and Ali Russell, Rangers troubled finances have barely altered since Whyte put them into administration.
Unless the SFA or SPL step in to act as a go-between for the two clubs the fixture could be put in doubt with Strathclyde Police also certain to have an input.
Rangers could decide to ban Celtic fans and sell the tickets to home supporters only as they did in 1994 under previous owner David Murray.
Should they decide to go down that route Celtic would be almost certain to ban Rangers fans from the final derby match of the season when the Ibrox side visit Celtic after the split.
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Quite right. Why would Celtic risk paying up front for tickets for a match that could be post-poned due to the inability of their opponents to stage the match. Celtic should only pay for the tickets once Rangers have a certificate from the police that they have paid the 50,000 to enable the game to go on.
Why should Celtic pay earlier to enable rangers to pay bils? Go to hell should be the response. Once the game is definitely going ahead then no problem, take the tickets give them the cash. Rumours are beginning to circulate that Rangers cannot operate beyond Wednesday, the end of the month. The expense of operating from day to day is beyond them. Why would any business give them the benefit of the doubt? They have already cheated half the league out of cash, Celtic should not become another injured party.
Bhoycott Greyskul!! Then there will be no Evil eyes in Paradise 🙂
The question for D&P is can they sell 10,000 x £42 to their own support?
If so, then I can see Celtic fans being excluded, we would then need to sell almost 20,000 x £42 to have a full house and generate the same revenue income for a meaningless game- I think that will be a struggle.
Are D&P not legally liable for any new creditors whilst Rangers are in Administration, i.e. if we pay up front and Rangers go pop before the game then D&P owe us?
While it would be a shame for our players to have to go there without our physical support I think Celtic are right to be concerned.
Perhaps a fair outcome is for Rangers to sell to their own fans and we could have a beam back at CP.
However, Authorities may have a problem in policing two large events in the same city at the same time.
Show me the money!!!
Rangers fans suggesting Celtic are not allocated any tickets and they sell them all to Gers supporters. I would love if they did that, then Lennon and the bhoys could just not bother turning up.
Give the paupers the 3 points and have a huge Jelly & Ice-Cream party at Celtic Park. A couple of songs by Rod Stewart, stand up by Billy Connoly and Kevin Bridges! The Rangers support can stand looking at their predominantly youth team walking around all confused whilst we do the conga!!
No pay for the piper till he has played his tune. Mmm! Should it be flutist? Using a similar allegory, they would be wise (is that possible at ‘The Big Hoose’) to remember what the Pied Piper (no, not Fat Sally) did when not paid for ridding Hamlin of rats (the similarities are astonishing).
‘Minty Park’ too could see all the kiddie raggers lured away, leaving The Big Hoose with no present OR future players. Be wary though, the rats could return to resurrect the ‘shame’.
tactical ploy by the orc leadership. simple they dont want a party at the away end of snake mountain.and they dont want the world to see the sewer dwellers that follow them play up .so they create a diversion to force a stand off knowing the outcome.we should if it comes to open paradise and have a party/reception for the team postmatch.HH
Why would Celtic do anything other than not pay until after the game considering they might not even exist by the time the game comes around?
If they did ban Celtic fans from the game, I’d still prefer Celtic to give them tickets (paid for upfront) for the last game at parkhead and not stoop to their level.
It is against SPL rules for the home club not to give an allocation of tickets to their opponents. The rule was changed in 1994 when minty barred our fans from his “Big Hoose”, in my (and many other) case he failed.
I’d give them SFA!
Let them die!
Strathclyde’s finest will not allow a smaller allocation for Celtic than we normally get.(7,300)
They do not want to segregate the Broomloan stand. We either get it all,or nothing.