Yahoo News The mind boggling Celtic sums that have Hotline detecting Rangers panic amid escalating Aberdeen fear
The Champions League returns for Celtic as they get ready to bank mega millions from Europe's top table - but it is the numbers elsewhere that are catching the eye.
Money has been on the minds this week in Scotland with the Hoops boasting a massive £77million in their latest accounts. The Scottish champions are in a good place off the park and on it things are just as good after a perfect start. That has promoted one caller to question how the likes of Rangers or Aberdeen will ever come close. Gordon Ashley, Ayr: "The financial power of Celtic is now so mind boggling. It’s hard to see how Aberdeen or Rangers can ever bridge the gap. £77m in the bank not even including the £8m profit we’ve made on transfers this season and we could easily make £70m in total from this years reformed Champions League. Not to mention a squad bursting with young talent. What a fantastic time to be a Celtic fan."
It's not only at Celtic where the money is talking. Brighton owner Tony Bloom is in talks with Hearts about introducing his sports analysis company Starlizard for player recruitment. The chatter surrounds a £10million package and while Jim Duffy suggested he should look towards Rangers, he's been handed different advice from the hotline. Frank Jackson emailed: "Seen a headline that Tony Bloom is being urged to put his dosh into Rangers instead of HEARTS. Bit of advice for him.. Stick with the JAMBOS. Best in the CAPITAL."
Neil Renton, Leith: "It’s funny how Hearts fans have suddenly changed their tune. They were criticising Hibs fans for the £6 million investment from Bournemouth owner Bill Foley. Now that Brighton are thinking of putting cash into the Gorgie outfit Jambos are getting all excited. Proof if it’s needed that Hibs lead and Hearts follow."
Sticking with the capital, and one Hibs fan has put the boot into Craig Levein after his St Johnstone sacking. He famously quipped about 'natural order' during his time in the Hearts dugout and his words have come back to haunt him as part of a taunt. Rab Mack, Edinburgh added: "Well done to my beloved Hibernian it seems natural order has been restored. Craig Levein is back on the dole."
The decision to give Levein the boot has brought a number of questions to the table from one caller. He has suggested the success of Jimmy Thelin in the early part of his Aberdeen career could be a reason, or is it simply down to Saints overachieving in the past.
Andy Logan, Livingston said: "Who would be a manager in the SPFL? St Johnstone are the latest to sack a manager, probably based on over-achieving a few years back, or could it be based on what the new foreign Aberdeen manager has achieved? So will copy that model? With finances supposedly stretched constantly changing managers must be a drain with compensation to pay. Fair play to Dundee Utd and Livingston who stuck by theirs after relegation."
Celtic may well be preparing for Slovan Bratislava tonight, but one Hoops fan couldn't resist a dig at the domestic schedulers. He's questioned whether Celtic have joined a Sunday League. But it is not what you think in terms of results and form and actually down to playing the majority of their games on that day of the week. Four of their five league outings and one Premier Sports Cup game to date have fallen on the final day of the week.
Jimmy Strangers, Tranent: "Fans would like to know the answer to this question. 'Have Celtic joined a Sunday league?' They have so far, since the season started they've played near enough all their games on a Sunday."
