Celtic Sponsors

We have had many great sponsors throughout the years but has there been any that have surprised you. For me finding out today we are supposedly sponsored by Pol Roger (Champagne makers) was a surprise.

 

Hated it when we shared sponsors with deadco. That was the pits, and the thing is, the brands being promoted were * breweries that made a terrible product, or the defunct N:TL.

Also, when the shirt sponsor was Ford People, with the red white and blue front and centre of the shirt. Am sure those that made the decision thought it was a good deal without giving any consideration to how it would go down like lead balloon with the supporters.

 

As a socialist and believer in trade unions I'd like us to stand in solidarity with the workers of Quebec and bring in this sponsor.

 

Sadly NTL are the sponsor on what remains my favourite away/3rd shirt

 

I can understand why sponsors do it though, if they sponsor both teams, then they don't automatically alienate half the city.

The Board should know better. However, because they all drink together before and after the match in their fancy corporate lounges, they probably don't realise just how much the average fan detests the other side.

 

Australian insurance company

 

I like it. I like it a lot

 

Can anyone remember how or why we ended up being sponsored by and manufactured by Umbro?

 

Not sporty enough, this tennis rating site would be more appropriate...

 

Essentially, McCann did not like the CR Smith extention offer that put on the table, that was of the "take it, and not a penny more, or leave it" variety, which was set at the same terms that had been agreed in 1993, which had not been vastly different to the terms negotiated back in the 1980's. To say the least, the 'old board' at the time were not especially renowned as business negotiators.

McCann on the other hand felt that the value of the sponsorship deal that had been brokered by the Old Board, which had carried forward from 1993 til 1997 when it was due to be renegotiated, had been undervalued and it should be worth more, and certainly not be held to ransom. Anyone who was around back then will recall that McCann was a very hard nosed negotiator and there was no shortage of rubbing people the wrong way. Football people were used to doing things the one way and McCann was dragging Celtic, kicking and screaming into the new realities.

So while there was no shortage of bad publicity or being blamed for whatever ills existed, he would not be bullied - not by the SFA, not by player power over contracts, bonuses or even sentimentality etc, so no surprise it was similiar with negotiating sponsorships and business partnerships. With CR Smith offer unacceptable the most valueable business partnership was with the kit manufacturer - Umbro - so they were offered the space instead.

That is as best I can remember from how it was relayed in the press (remember, a press that largely was hostile to McCann, and often demonized over this and other issues, so was necessary to read between the lines and not simply at face value to cipher the truth) and applying some educated deductions. I could stand to be corrected on some aspects but essentially this was my understanding.

 

Thanks a lot pal very detailed assessment thought it had maybe been a last minute thing with no decent offers elsewhere or something.

 

Should be sponsored by this hotel chain.

 

Taz's explanation is probably about as close to the truth as we'll know on that one. Just to add though I remember at the time the media attempting to spin a couple of bullshit reasons for it. One was that we didn't have a proper shirt sponsor so put our kit manufacturer on the front for slightly more money from them. Another similar reason was that Umbro were our only offer. Both were horse * in my opinion.