LASK vs Celtic, Linz 25 August 2026 – UEFA Champions League, play-off, the disappointment of Luke McCowan, Reo Hatate and Kasper Hogh. GEPA pictures/Manuel Binder/ IMAGO
There’s no denying that the devastating loss to LASK has represented a huge blow to our footballing and financial aspirations.
The SMSM are also having a field day as you’d expect, with the sole focus of their attention being the potential £40 million bounty the club have missed out on due to the loss.
Mika Baur of Celtic reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 Play off round second leg match between LASK and Celtic at on August 25, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images)
Admittedly, it’s a huge blow to miss out on such a massive sum, as that sort of cash could well be the difference in the club signing one or two quality players, but at the end of the day, you can’t lose what you didn’t possess in the first place!
Being denied the Champions League riches has led to numerous rags commenting on our financial status, with some hinting that we have taken something of a hit when it comes to cash in the bank reserves.
18th January 2026; Rugby Park, Kilmarnock, Scottish Cup Football, Auchinleck Talbot versus Celtic; Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson speaks to interim chairman Brian Wilson. Photo Vagelis Georgariou.
The Celtic board are incompetent, there’s no denying that fact. They don’t possess the necessary skills to communicate with the supporters. They can’t identify targets, negotiate then conclude a deal, and their overall lack of ambition is holding the club back from moving forward. However if there’s one thing they can do competently, then that is balancing the books whilst making a tidy profit in the process.
Arne Engels of West Ham United is challenged by Conor Coventry of Charlton Athletic during the Sky Bet Championship 2026/27 match between West Ham United and Charlton Athletic at London Stadium on August 22, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by James Fearn/Getty Images)
So far this summer we’ve splashed out circa of £32 million on new recruits, but that spree has been more than covered by the sales of Daizen Maeda, Arne Engels, Maik Nawrocki, Luis Palma, and Hayto Inamura which has brought in a massive £40 million, so when it comes to net spending, we are very much in the black.
Daizen Maeda of Ipswich Town reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Ipswich Town and Sunderland at Portman Road on August 22, 2026. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
With Reo Hatate also expected to leave, that will be another £5-£6 million added to the coffers, so that will be enough to cover another three or four much needed new additions.
We’re also guaranteed Europe League money. And whilst it dwarfs in comparison to the Champions League earnings, along with the £3 million ‘parachute’ payment from UEFA for falling at the playoff stage, we will make a minimum of £10 million when TV revenue, and ticket sales come into play, with more to be made through performance and progression in the competition.
UEFA Europa League Football. Photo Geo
We also have the biggest number of season ticket holders in the country, whilst our sponsorship deals are more lucrative than any of our domestic rivals can boast, so we’re hardly in financial dire straits as some of the club’s cherished media partners would have you believe.
Europa League Tickets SalesCameron Carter-Vickers of Celtic and Luke McCowan of Celtic. LASK v Celtic, UEFA Champions League, Play Off Round, Second Leg, Football, Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria – 25 Aug 2026Linz Raiffeisen Arena: Photo Michael Zemanek/Shutterstock
The ticket sales total is down to you, me and every other Celtic supporter. Do you want to pay to see the club in the Europa League after blowing a 4-0 aggregate lead in Linz having to bring on Luke McCowan, Dane Murray and Anthony Ralston because the squad wasn’t properly assembled by the Celtic Board who did less signings than any other Scottish club ahead of that shocking playoff.
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