Celtic plc AGMIN the 125th year of the Club´s existence, Celtic plc held their Annual General Meeting at Celtic Park today and a positive, upbeat message prevailed throughout the proceedings.
Holding fort in his first AGM as Chairman was Ian Bankier and he described his first year in the job as ´incident-packed´.
And despite a host of challenging events, he said the last 12 months had also been a period of ´progression´, with a ´stable foundation´ going forward as the club staged an incredible fight back to claim the SPL title, before qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stages.
"Incident-packed is the best way to describe the first year," he said. "Day one was the day we went to Kilmarnock and were 3-0 down at half-time. We were quite significantly off the pace in the SPL and had just tumbled out of Europe. Things were looking quite difficult.
"We clawed that back, got back into Europe and had quite a good run. Then we had the complete disassembly of Rangers. That brought a whole set of new and interesting challenges for the business.
"We had to work out what our response would be, where to respond and if to respond. Little did I know that we would end season as title champions, and that in month of August, I would be unfurling flag with childhood hero, Sean Fallon."
On the club´s financial results for the last financial year, the Chairman added:
"Results reflect strategy. To remind ourselves, the income we got last year was very similar to the year before, slightly down. Our operating expenses were slightly up but the difference was we didn’t make same profit from player trading in the last financial year that we did in the year before.
"The reason for that was we made a conscious decision in January not to dispose of players but to keep a strong squad with a view to get the maximum out of the Scottish season and a view of going into Europe. And that decision has been vindicated.
"The strategy we adopt is to maximise what we can do on the park within constraints of conservative and prudent management. And we do that by investing in youth, judicious trading of mature players and scouting for good talent across the world.
"You can´t look at it in isolation of one financial year. This is five-year rolling plan. Results we look at are perfectly in tune and in order with the strategy we´re employing.
"The straight and narrow for us is to maximise the advantages we have from Europe this year, spend our money well and keep that strategy on the rails."
And he was also keen to pay tribute to the contribution of the supporters to the club´s success at home and abroad over recent times.
"The supporters have just been magnificent this year," said the Chairman. "The key thing is that you have been in sync with the support. If you lose their hearts and minds you are in trouble.
"Peter, in particular, puts in a lot of effort into staying in touch with fans, understanding where they are coming from, making sure they understand what we are striving to achieve.
"They have conducted themselves with dignity, with no little humour. They have been noisy, colourful. They have been great."
Celtic Chief Executive, Peter Lawwell, told members that club had made positive strides forward on and off the park in the past year.
"Last year was one of progression for club," he said. "Although we made a loss, we enhanced the financial stability of the club and our debt levels are extremely manageable. We increased, significantly, the value of the squad and we have a stable foundation going forward.
"Winning the league was biggest high and great credit to Neil, Johan, Gary and the lads for bringing the title home.
"That has given us the key to the Champion League this year. Against Barcelona you saw what it meant to the club – an unmatchable atmosphere, unbelievable performance."
This fitted into a long-term strategy initiated by the board around five or six years ago which saw increasing funds focused on the long-term.
"We built Lennoxtown which is a first-class facility," said the Chief Executive. "We invested in recruitment, scouting, processes, technology, people, academy, sports science and performance analysis.
"The objective was to create Champions League players. We realised we couldn’t go and buy them because of the hyper inflation in transfer fees and wages, and it meant we had to do something different. We have a bit to go but think strategy is showing green shoots of success."
The Chief Executive spoke on a number of subjects including the club´s ongoing commitment to charity, and he also said why the Club voted against the Rangers Newco SPL application, explaining that it was ´fundamental to us that the integrity of the game was upheld´, despite the financial consequences.
And he also reflected on the stunning UEFA Champions League victory over Barcelona and the importance of the Club participating in the competition.
"It´s where we want to be and where a club like Celtic should be," added the Chief Executive. "It was a magnificent night. In my view, it was one of the best if not the best achievement here at Celtic Park in the Champions League, so credit to Neil and the lads.
"It was a fantastic night, particularly after the 125th anniversary celebrations the previous night, and the supporters were magnificent. The Barcelona directors actually commented they had seen nothing like it."
And he also revealed there had been very early discussions at European level of the possibility of regional leagues, before praising the work of Neil Lennon and his backroom staff.
"Neil and the management team, are doing an excellent job," said the Chief Executive. "Neil has progressed magnificently and ably supported by Gary and Johan, and he now has Danny McGrain there as well.
"We as a club are progressing, the team is progressing, and we are looking forward to hopefully an exciting future."
There were 11 resolutions put forward at the meeting, nine by the board and two by members. And among those carried were the reappointment of Brian Duffy, Iain Livingston, Dermot Desmond and Tom Allison as company directors. The ordinary resolutions requested by members, regarding the club´s shirt sponsor and the possibility of having a supporters representative on the board went to a poll.
John Keane was appointed Honorary Chairman of the Celtic and Football Athletic Company to rich applause.
A lively, informative and constructive Q & A session followed the main business as members asked questions on a range of topics including seating arrangements in Champions League game, reports of victimisation of supporters, pricing of U12s´ season tickets, along with the manager and board´s thoughts on the rest of the season.
Afterwards, the Chairman thanked everyone for their attendance and support and brought a positive meeting to a close.
von Lubo » So 4. Mär 2012, 18:29 
senden die 
böse Mails an den Spiegel, UEFA usw. 
Unser Verein ist gar nicht so böse, wir werden nur von allen Seiten nicht gemocht, alles und jeder ist gegen uns. 
Ach ihr armen Jammerlappen, jedem so, wie er es sich verdient. 
