Timeline on Celtic’s delayed Interim Accounts
Soccer Football - Scottish Premiership - Kilmarnock v Celtic - Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scotland, Britain - April 16, 2023 Celtic non-executive Chairman Peter Lawwell in the stands before the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
With the exception of the Lockdown season Celtic have always published their Interim Accounts in the first fortnight of February.
Routinely, with the exception of the 20/21 season, a hefty surplus/profit has been recorded alongside the qualifier that there is very little in the way of income in the second part of the season while running costs, mainly wages remain steady.
In nine of the previous 10 seasons the Interim Report has been able to record that the team is currently in top place with either a Champions League group place or qualifying spot on offer for winning the SPFL Premiership title.
Silence from the club is nothing new, outside of their AGM requirements there are no on the record comments from the CEO or Chairman, leaving the football manager to answer to a multitude of issues at his pre-match media conferences.
Maybe Celtic should put £50 notes in their bank account.
Balance Sheet Pete is taking his sweet time counting the £1 notes for the interim report.
81,478,023
81,478,024
81,478,025Speed it up. Pete. Get your kid in there to help. pic.twitter.com/0ReoKMOYsQ
— GrandOLTeam (@JBLuvsCeltic) February 20, 2024
When Celtic announced their Official Report for the year to 30 June 2023 they were able to record an incredible bank balance of £72m.
Those accounts were announced just after Rodgers faced the media to preview the Champions League opener away to Feyenoord.
Against the weakest Pot 1 seeds the managers was soon reflecting on red cards for two of the summer projects and salvaging something from keeping the scoreline to 2-0.
The only issue around the accounts are whether they will show a 31 December balance above or below £100m. Either way it will highlight a club that has no investment plans as the current first team squad demonstrates.
Rather than up the unofficial cap on signings imposed since the return of Peter Lawwell as Chairman the club prefers to buy up more £2-3m projects with two of the summer recruits already dismissed by Rodgers with Gus Lagerbielke denied a January move to stay behind as fifth choice central defender.
Friday evening seems the likely timing for the announcement of the Interim Results, knowing the reaction of fans there won’t be anything on social media that will be offer customers the chance to offer feedback at the wealth in the bank while watching poverty performances handing the title across the city.