Celtic Trust urges share issue for season ticket holders

The Celtic Trust has made a proposal to the board of the football club that it offers season ticket holders the option of receiving shares in the club instead of cash in respect of refunds due on season tickets for this season.

Before the start of the season, the club told supporters it was their ‘firm intention to give additional value to season ticket holders for this and coming seasons’.

The cheapest season ticket costs £510 and fans have only received a match steaming service worth around £90 for the season.

Some hospitality season ticket holders have already been offered a cash refund option whilst ordinary season ticket holders have yet to hear from the club.

With ongoing uncertainly over when crowds will be allowed back into stadia and a new manager and a team rebuild on the horizon it is crucial to retain money in the club and to promote the help sale of season tickets for the forthcoming season.

The club has received about £25 million from supporters for season ticket purchases. The proposal from The Celtic Trust

  • preserves the cash position during unprecedented and difficult times for professional football,
  • creates a positive dynamic for the sale of season tickets in season 2021/22 and
  • offers a younger generation of supporters an opportunity to own a stake in their club.

Outlining the proposal, Trust Chair,
David Low (pictured) explained: “Due to Covid, it’s a very difficult time for the whole sport and as Celtic fans we’ve had a very disappointing season. We want to help retain cash within the club and encourage season ticket sales for next season. We want to start next season in as strong a position as possible and our proposal helps achieve that objective.”

 

Previous proposals from The Celtic Trust recently adopted by Celtic include:

  • an extensive FAQs page on the club website to help supporters and Supporters’ Clubs become re-connected with their shareholdings in the club,
  • helping to enable shareholders claim all unclaimed dividends accrued since 1997, and
  • assisting shareholders with replacement share certificates if the original certificates have been lost.

More information can be found on the updated FAQs on the Investor Relations section of the Celtic PLC website.

17 thoughts on “Celtic Trust urges share issue for season ticket holders

  • 9th March 2021 at 11:33 am
    Permalink

    Good idea.
    I’d actually like to see us turning this disaster into a real positive. Provide a vision for Celtic becoming a consistent tier two European club – just outside the elite global clubs.
    Why not bring forward proposals to finish the stadium with a new south stand, paid for by the fans, either through a share issue, debenture tickets or multi-season tickets.
    70,000 capacity with 50,000 across the city would be a tangible competitive advantage.
    Build it and they will come…provided we make the vision clear and recruit wisely.

    Reply
    • 10th March 2021 at 10:22 am
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      Agreed mate. Considering the critical importance of match-day revenue, I’ve never understood why increasing the stadium capacity has never been central to the redevelopment plans.
      If the season-ticket waiting list is as long a the club claims then the demand is there; even if the ground wasn’t full all of the time the point is it would be full often enough to generate significant extra income.
      I remember people laughing at Fergus’ plans for a 60,000 seater – nobody thought we’d fill it. Like you say, build it and they’ll come.

      Reply
  • 9th March 2021 at 12:21 pm
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    Sounds like a fair proposal but few things to consider.

    How easy is it to do?
    Would fans then require a sharedealing account that would require potential fees?

    Cheers

    Reply
    • 9th March 2021 at 3:36 pm
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      No, it would be like the original share issue. You would have an account with Computershare from which you can manage your shares but there is no fee for that.

      Reply
      • 9th March 2021 at 8:05 pm
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        Ah I see makes sense both as a way of compensating fans and for the trust to buy back people who need cash. Win/win with the club not forking out cash either

        Can’t see the board going for it though sadly.

        Reply
  • 9th March 2021 at 4:01 pm
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    Hi.

    As someone who sits in hospitality all we have been offered is that element but the seat we have to pay is still 40% above the most expensive standard season ticket price.

    Just so everyone is aware.

    Reply
  • 9th March 2021 at 5:51 pm
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    It is a good idea but how would this work in practice? Would existing shareholders (ahead of season ticket holders) not have pre-emption rights to any new shares?

    Reply
    • 16th March 2021 at 4:30 pm
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      No because the 2020 Celtic PLC AGM voted, as it does each year, to disapply preemption rights.

      Reply
  • 9th March 2021 at 9:18 pm
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    Could this pose a problem when holding a AGM ? with the amount of people wanting to attend ?

    Reply
    • 16th March 2021 at 4:31 pm
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      That is a problem which we have all seen this year can be resolved with technology.

      Reply
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  • 11th March 2021 at 4:30 pm
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    Would disabled fans with cheaper season tickets be included ? Never applied for a refund last season that I was entitled too as I wanted to keep it in the club in case things turned like they did. every penny counts.

    Reply
    • 16th March 2021 at 4:31 pm
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      That would all need to be discussed but clearly any proposal would have to be fair.

      Reply
  • 15th March 2021 at 7:13 am
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    so I am a none season ticket holder,had 3 a few year back for me and my two sons,seriously considering getting one if possible next season,I would also like to invest £20 a month in the celtic Trust,what does that get me being a none season ticket holder,bit reluctant as its a bit confusing

    Reply
    • 16th March 2021 at 4:32 pm
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      We have replied to you by email Brian.

      Reply
  • 7th October 2021 at 4:13 pm
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    A bit of topic but how do I get hold of my share certificate?

    Reply

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