The Ibrox board are reported to be examining ways to withdraw from the Sydney Super Cup including a ‘legal loophole’.
While other factors are being dressed up the long and short of the competition is that it is all about exporting the Glasgow Derby and exploiting a new revenue source for both clubs.
Supporters on both sides have rallied against the decision but while the Celtic board keep very clear distance from their customers at Ibrox the dominance of fan-media is making its presence known.
Commercial guru James Bisgrove is eyeing up a very nice slice of commission but PR Director David Graham is well aware of the open hostility- and repercussions- of going ahead with the November 20 game scheduled for the Accor Stadium.
Explaining the get-out strategy in the Daily Record, Keith Jackson claims:
With militant fans groups’ locked in talks over how best to force their beleaguered board into a climb down, organisers of the Sydney Super Cup – who launched ticket sales earlier this week – are concerned that Scotland’s champions may be looking for a way out.
Sources in Australia are adamant Rangers will be clobbered with a massive seven figure penalty if they do plunge the four team tournament into disarray.
Several directors faced a barrage of abuse from furious fans at Dens Park before and after their club’s Scottish Cup quarter final win over Dundee in the latest of a series of bad tempered protests.
And with militant fans groups’ locked in talks over how best to force their beleaguered board into a climb down, organisers of the Sydney Super Cup – who launched ticket sales earlier this week – are concerned that Scotland’s champions may be looking for a way out.
Celtic have packaged the winter tour as an emotional homecoming for manager Ange Postecoglou and the Parkhead club remain fully committed to participating regardless of whether or not their city rivals take part.
But – with plenty of time for a replacement to be secured – the Ibrox club may believe there is a legal loophole which can be exploited to allow them to withdraw without being hit in the pocket.
Bringing in a replacement club will allow Celtic to push ahead with their hype for Ange’s Homecoming Tour even if their preferred opponents pull out.
Should Celtic play their city rivals in Australia?
Yes, great opportunity to promote our brand
No, no, no, no, no. A horrific idea
I hadn’t even considered the possibility of a financial penalty for withdrawing. It’s nice to think that the Celtic board have planned this beautifully, arranging the game knowing both sets of fans would be pissed but that the gullibillies would be moreso when they learnt of it being promoted as “Ange’s Homecoming Tour”. The bears rage-rage-rage then “Wur gonnae huv tae pull oot” and that’s another debt to the pile, another nail in the coffin. But of course our board will in fact be dismayed by this development that threatens a revenue stream, as that’s what they’re only really concerned with….
Editor: Celtic board will be despondent if their O** F*** friends pull out. An easy revenue stream killed off which they thought they could palm off under Ange Homecoming Tour.
If they wanted to bring in easy money they should have showed an interest in reaching the group stage of the Champions League rather than being run for the personal benefit of the highest paid CEO in British sport, doubtful if any in Europe were being paid more than our £3m/year O** F*** architect.