feb2006

Scottish league leaders Celtic made a pre-tax loss of almost a million pounds in the six months to Dec. 31 hit by their early exit from the Champions League.

Celtic lost 5-4 on aggregate to Artmedia Bratislava in the second qualifying round of Europe's elite club competition last August after trailing 5-0 from the first leg in Slovakia.

The loss of 961,000 pounds ($1.68 million) announced on Tuesday compares to a profit of 1.55 million in the six months to Dec. 31, 2004. The club's operating profit fell from 2.9 million pounds to 74,000.

In a statement accompanying the interim results chairman Brian Quinn said: "...our exit from European competition at the first hurdle...clearly had a big impact on income from ticket sales... and revenues from multimedia and communications..."

Ticket sales fell 3.9 million pounds (21 percent), while revenue from multimedia and communications dropped 5.5 million (49 percent) compared with the same period a year ago.

Total turnover for the six months of just over 33 million pounds was down 5.9 million (15 percent).

Celtic said that despite the overall drop in total revenues, income from merchandising jumped 48 percent to 9.6 million pounds reflecting the move to Nike as the team's kit supplier.

Operating costs fell 4.2 percent to just over 29.5 million pounds mainly due to lower wages and salaries in the football division, which fell by more than three million pounds.

This drop reflected the departure of several highly paid players, including club captain Paul Lambert.

Net debt, which had spiralled to 19.5 million pounds by June 30 last year, dropped to 8.7 million by the end of 2005.

The club raised almost 15 million pounds from a new share issue in December, 10 million of which will be used for their youth academy plus scouting and player development with five million to be spent on slashing debt.

Celtic are 13 points clear of Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premier League and through to the League Cup final against Dunfermline at Hampden Park on March 19.

Celtic's shares, which closed down a 1/2 at 36 pence on Tuesday, have been listed on London's junior market AIM since December when the club moved from a full listing.

Newcastle captain Alan Shearer will celebrate a decade of distinguished service to his home-town club with a testimonial against Scottish giants Celtic in May.

The 35-year-old's Newcastle XI will take on Gordon Strachan's side at St James' Park on May 11 with the proceeds - expected to be in the region of £1million - going to charity.

"I've lived my boyhood dream, I've played in front of the most loyal fans in the world, captained my country, played for the home team I supported as a boy and broken the goalscoring record of an absolute Tyneside legend," said Shearer, who broke Jackie Milburn's club record of 200 goals with a strike against Portsmouth earlier this month.

"Now I have my final opportunity to say farewell to the fans who have supported me so well throughout my career."

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd paid tribute to a player who will go down as a legend in Tyneside history.

"Alan Shearer is a true professional and is the epitome of all that is good about this terrific game.

"His loyalty, commitment and total dedication over the years has provided, and continues to provide, football supporters with superb entertainment."

Celtic chairman Brian Quinn is also a big fan of the former England international.

"Alan's goalscoring record at Newcastle and throughout his career at club and international level is a phenomenal achievement," he said.

"We are sure a number of our supporters will make their way to Newcastle to play their part in football history and pay tribute to a true footballing legend."

Former Celtic star Paul Lambert has stepped down as manager of Livingston after a 1-0 home defeat to Dunfermline left them six points adrift at the bottom of the SPL.

The move will come as a worry to former Shelbourne midfielder Wes Houlahan, who declared that his switch to the club was a move up from the Eircom League despite the fact that Livi now seem set for relegation.

Lambert told a press conference: "As from now, I am no longer Livingston manager.

"My assistant, Norrie McWhirter, and I have given it our best, but it's about time for someone else to come in and see if they get the breaks we didn't.

"The two people who brought me here were terrific to work for and I was grateful of the chance to get into management.

"The players have given it everything they had, but this is a personal decision.

"I will take a break and look forward for the first time in my life to being out of football for a little while."

Lambert was the club's third manager in 18 months, and they now embark on the difficult job of replacing the 37-year-old.

Due to live match coverage on the Setanta Sports channel, Celtic's forthcoming league fixtures against Hibernian, Livingston and also the final match of the season against Kilmarnock have all had a schedule change and have been moved from the Saturday to the Sunday.

The matches that were formerly scheduled to be played on the 11th Match, the 25th March and the 8th of April were all 3pm kick offs, however the matches are now scheduled to the 12th March, 26th March and the 9th April and will all be 2pm kick offs.

The Wales striker, who plays his club football with Celtic in the SPL, won 50 caps for his country and scored 14 goals.

"It is a sad day for me because I have loved playing for my country and representing the Welsh people for a number of years," Hartson told www.stellargroup.co.uk.

Hartson is giving the usual family reasons/club career-focusing-on as the reason for his decision.

John Toshack will now have to plan without the 30-year-old battering ram for the Euro 2008 qualifiers, where Wales will face, amongst others, Steve Staunton's Irish team.

February 01st 2006

Didier Agathe leaves Celtic

CELTIC can confirm that Didier Agathe has left the club by mutual consent.

A spokesperson said: "Didier has been a great servant to Celtic and everyone at the club wishes him all the best for the future."

Agathe joined the club in 2000 from Hibernian, having previously been at Raith Rovers. And over the next five years the La Reunion-born player made 181 appearances for Celtic, scoring 11 goals.

Dion Dublin has spoken of his delight at signing for Celtic and revealed that he aims to earn himself a longer contract by the end of the season. The former Manchester United man joined the Glasgow outfit from Leicester and was initially signed until the end of the season but Dublin feels he can convince manager Gordon Strachan to extend his stay at Parkhead.

Dublin will offer Celtic options up-front and at the back and he believes he can help some of the younger players at the club develop.

"I don't know how long I have got left in my career, though I believe I have another three or four years.

"It is all about stopping the talking now and getting on with it with a few training sessions and see how I feel.

"You just have to look after yourself and your fitness. You have to maintain your training and do the right things and, hopefully, with my experience, I can help some of the kids come along.

"I can help them get over their nervousness when the big games come up.

"I know Alan Thompson from Villa, Paul Telfer from Coventry and Roy Keane from my Manchester United days.

"Hopefully, they will welcome me and make it easier for me because I am quite nervous.

"I may be 36 but I am still quite nervous to come to a place of this size.

"I know the fans are one of the biggest groups in the world. You don't get too much history of Celtic down south.

"But, having seen some games and played in friendlies against Celtic, I am just gobsmacked at the size of the place.

"I am just looking forward to being part of a good squad of players and hopefully I can add to that and help the team to success this season."