Kevin McKenna’s Herald piece on Celtic’s use of the Furlough scheme certainly got fans interacting across social media on another football free weekend.
The author’s Celtic credentials don’t need repeated, in the Scottish media there are few that have the honesty to own up to the club that they are most interested in.
Politics tends to be his big interest with the demise of the Labour party across the UK a subject that McKenna specialises in which runs in parallel with the Independence debate in Scotland.
Football clubs probably weren’t the first consideration for the UK Government when they introduced the Furlough scheme, as substantial tax payers Celtic are as entitled to make use of the payments as any business forced to lay off workers due to the onset of the pandemic. Or maybe not.
McKenna’s opinion piece cuts to a central debate about Celtic that will never be answered. PLC or Charity? The club likes to wear both hats at the same time which sits uneasily with some fans. The incredible salary of the Chief Excutive does compromise the claim of chairman Ian Bankier that Charity is in the club DNA.
Undoubtedly the club does a lot of work for charities, it also likes to obtain maximum PR from every act and donation.
Before Lock Down came into play £175,000 was donated to various charities which was well received and quickly put to use. The money didn’t come directly from Celtic, it came from the Celtic Foundation which raises money from various initiatives throughout the year that are backed by fans.
Supporters are passionate about the Foundation and the charity origins of the club before big businesses stepped in recognising a money spinner.
It seems that reaction to McKenna’s piece is around 30% positive. There are very few topics that unite the Celtic support, Furlough is just one more that shows the passion that fans have for every area of the club, some might say their club.
The exploitation by Celtic and other affluent football clubs of the Government’s coronavirus bailout scheme is depressing: my column in The Herald https://t.co/d7qIOaNeUX
— Kevin McKenna (@kmckenna63) April 4, 2020
Kevin you do realise what celtic are doing.. Its the same what my council is doing and what I am stamping it’s to save the staffs jobs the staff get a form from Goverment and celtic stamp it so the staff can still earn and work in like a supermarket etc the now ??????this is normal
— Kelly (@kellybaby3) April 4, 2020
It’s not about doing what they can legally get away with or what everyone else is doing. It’s about marketing themselves as more than a club and positioning themselves as being different from the rest. Turns out we’re just another business run by Tories. ?
— Kevin McCallum (@oldpesky) April 4, 2020
“The exploitation by Celtic”? Get a grip! Celtic board have a duty of care to look after the club. Who knows when football will be back, could be a year’s time for all we know. Players/exec wages will be cut by end of month. Celtic need to do what they can to keep the lights on
— Michael McCahill (@MickMcCahill) April 4, 2020
“The exploitation by Celtic”? Get a grip! Celtic board have a duty of care to look after the club. Who knows when football will be back, could be a year’s time for all we know. Players/exec wages will be cut by end of month. Celtic need to do what they can to keep the lights on
— Michael McCahill (@MickMcCahill) April 4, 2020
Responses from tic fans seem to be 70% in favour of what Celtic are proposing ???
— PatD (@patd1967) April 4, 2020
The furlough system is there to use.When you pay your taxes you benefit by using the scheme.Look at Virgin,Philip Green etc to have a dig at,these bstrt billionaires are asking for handouts-why? Because they didn’t pay enough fkn taxes…go ask the govan mob their plan!!
— mick HH ? (@mickally67) April 4, 2020
It doesn’t cost anything to read.
I’m a shareholder , I don’t support this.
— stephen r (@cardiffbhoy) April 4, 2020
This is an excellent article. A business with c.£60m in cash reserves, but money is ring fenced, obviously not to pay wages to all staff, and no player taking the pain. The furloughed scheme is intended for businesses who would struggle, that doesn’t apply to @CelticFC. Goodwork
— Malcolm Heggie (@malcheggie) April 4, 2020
They are no exploiting it. They are eligible. As tax payers. Feel free to walk away as a fan of Celtic any time
— Martin McLaughlan (@Greaghnagore) April 4, 2020