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The Herald Scotland
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Dermot Desmond: Absentee landlord or Celtic mastermind?
Since 2016/17, Celtic have lifted 83 per cent of the trophies available in Scotland. Rangers and St Johnstone are the only other teams to have won anything at all. Yet, in the minds of supporters, Desmond is an absentee landlord, semi-detached from the day-to-day functions of the club. A man who pokes his head in to the Hampden showers long enough to pick a new manager before slamming the door behind him and going off to play a round of golf. Most of this stuff is overblown. On a list of 28,000 shareholders, only one yields any real influence in the running of Celtic. In return for his 34 per cent stake, Desmond has 100 per cent of the say. If anything, he involves himself in things he shouldn't. Rodgers spoke recently of holding discussions with the major shareholder over a new contract for player of the year Daizen Maeda. As a rule, non-executive directors don't insert themselves in the nitty gritty of contract discussions concerning key employees. Yet, from budgets to player trading matters and remuneration, very little of any importance happens without Mister Big's say-so. When Rodgers speaks of dealing with the club on matters of significance, he rarely name checks chief executive Michael Nicholson or financial director Chris McKay or chairman Peter Lawwell. On the issues that matter, he deals with Desmond. When supporters underplay his level of influence, you can hardly blame them. Thirty years have passed and sometimes it still feels as if no one outside his inner circle really knows him at all. The Companies House website reveals that his middle name is 'Fachna' and lists a correspondence address in Gibraltar, while Ronny Deila once revealed that he keeps a harp, a piano and Irish murals in the front room of his London residence. Describing Celtic as an emotional, rather than a financial, investment, he has been known to wine and dine Lisbon Lions at supporters' functions but shows little interest in burnishing his man-of-the-people credentials. Beyond the odd morsel for Sky Sports News from the 18th hole of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, journalists are regarded with withering contempt and he sees no benefit in exposing himself to questions on Resolution 12 or the nick of the public toilets in the south stand. His face is more likely to be seen on a fans' protest banner than it is at the Annual General Meeting in Glasgow. In a rare interview for the lavish, leather-bound Celtic Opus, the 75-year-old outlined his distaste for the unpredictable whims of the general public. 'We lose a big match and I'm the greatest bollox on the earth. It's all my fault, all the directors' fault. But when we win, it is down to the manager and the team, not the directors. We are beneficiaries of abuse, we are never beneficiaries of praise.' There was no acclaim at all in May 1995 when Desmond invested in a nervous, neurotic basket case of a club which hadn't won a league title in seven years. Any trophy at all, for that matter, since 1989. Read more: Whether it's 49ers-era Rangers or not, Celtic need a title challenge Why the very nature of Rangers v Celtic means derby day will never be tedious While Pierre van Hooijdonk rose to head the only goal of an edgy 1-0 win over Airdrie in the Scottish Cup final, a period of flux continued until the day Desmond – now running the show – began to assert himself by marching Martin O'Neill into a London board meeting and introducing him as the next manager. He was equally decisive in the decision to hire Rodgers twice and, since the Northern Irishman's unexpected return in the summer of 2023, Celtic have overhauled the Rangers trophy tally of 118, reaching their target of 119 when they won the Premier Sports Cup in December. The latest title triumph at Tannadice made it 120 and you'd get long odds on Aberdeen preventing another one on May 24. In the first 107 years of their existence, Celtic won 35 league titles. In the last 30 years alone they have won 20, adding 13 Scottish Cups and the same number of League Cups. It might be coincidence that the swag haul coincides with a period of boardroom continuity overseen by the major shareholder. Then again, maybe not. While smaller shareholders fret over Celtic's non-executive directors hanging around far longer than the UK Corporate Governance code recommends, the trophies tell you that there might be something to be said for boardroom stability. While owners and managers come and go through a revolving door at Rangers, Celtic have been under the control of one careful owner since 1999. 'What we do is make a club people can be proud of,' said Desmond in his Opus interview. 'We want Celtic to be a showpiece for how football clubs should be run, without having money thrown at it.' Last year, the champions threw more money at new players than usual. They shattered their transfer record to spend £9 million on Adam Idah. They did it again when they lavished £11m on Arne Engels. Defender Auston Trusty was lured north from Sheffield United for £6m. While Idah's goal tally of 19 is respectable, he struggles to convince. Engels looks a player, but remains a work in progress. Trusty recently lost his place in the team to Liam Scales, the man he was bought to replace. For the club kingpin, this conjures up a dilemma. He can either release the sums Rodgers craves to go for broke in Europe this summer or go back to signing low risk players in the £2.5m to £3m bracket and hoard tens of millions of pounds in the bank for the new main stand no one ever builds. This tug o'war between the spending ambitions of slightly frustrated managers and a board of directors fans regard as cautious, conservative, out-of-touch Tories has been a feature of recent years. When 10-in-a-row disappeared, a stubborn determination to stand by Neil Lennon ended with supporters lobbing stuff around the car park. They still feel ignored and overlooked whenever a tifo is banned or the club send goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo out to address the subject of Ibrox missiles instead of tackling the issue in a blistering boardroom statement. And yet, through it all, the uneasy truce is maintained by a quid pro quo. It took Celtic 80 years of existence to make it to 47 trophies. Beat Aberdeen at Hampden and they will have won that many in the three decades since Desmond pitched up with a Bank of Ireland chequebook in one hand and a calculator in the other. Keep the trophies rolling in and people will turn a blind eye to the rest.
The Courier
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
When to find cheapest rounds at Tayside and Fife's top golf courses
The demand to play a round of golf at Scotland's courses continues to grow. And here in Tayside and Fife, we are blessed with some of the best in the world – including Open Championship hosts St Andrews and Carnoustie, and Gleneagles, where Ryder and Solheim cups have been played out. In order to meet that demand, St Andrews Links Trust is offering Scottish residents the chance to play several of its most famous courses – including the Old Course – at a near-90% discount. Off the back of that announcement, we've taken a look at where you can find the cheapest rounds at the region's top courses as the summer season kicks in. All the courses here are among the top 50 best courses in Scotland and are listed in order of their ranking. The prices are for adults, with most of the courses offering cheaper rates for juniors. The world's most famous course normally costs £340 to play. However, St Andrews Links Trust's initiative – The Drive – will give 44 golfers the chance to play the Old Course for just on May 21. Players must enter a ballot for the chance to participate. Playing the course that hosted the 2018 Open Championship does not come particularly cheap. A round here during the high season – May to October – . There is also a deal to play all three Carnoustie courses on consecutive days for £420. A standard 18-hole round at the Fife course, one of the hosts of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship each autumn, will set you back £448 during high season – which runs from May 1 until November 9. There is a cheaper rate available to PGA or Bigga members, however, who can play for . As with many of the top courses, winter is the best time to get a cheap round at the famous Perthshire resort. From July to September, one round on each course costs £330, with a full-day ticket costing £500. In October, the cost of a round on both courses drops to , with a full-day ticket reduced to £295 The cost drops again to in November and in December. Gleneagles also offers discounts for visitors staying at the resort. A recent addition to Scotland's golf offering, a round at Dumbarnie will cost visitors £335 between May and October. However, Fife residents can play during the high season for while Scottish residents are charged , if booked within 21 days of play. In peak season, a round costs £145 during the week and £160 at weekends. However, during the low season from the end of October to the end of March, there is a dramatic fall in prices with a weekday round costing , rising to £75 at the weekend. Although cheaper than the town's Championship course, Panmure still costs £190 for a round between May and September – rising to £195 for 2026. However, playing in October this year costs less at £160. The cheapest prices are available to UK golf club members, who can play for in May to September or in October. Winter prices have not been confirmed on the club's website. Set on a rugged clifftop with spectacular views over the town, playing the Castle Course normally costs £180 during high season or £125 during shoulder season (October 20-November 2). However, this course is also part of the Drive initiative – meaning there will be rounds available for just on September 9, 17, 21 and 26, and October 13. However, the theme and criteria for these cheaper rounds are yet to be confirmed. As with many of the region's courses, UK-based golfers can get cheaper rounds at Lundin. Rounds normally cost £165 before 1.30pm and £140 after that time. However, this drops to and respectively for UK residents. October rounds are priced at £135 before 1.30pm and £115 after 1.30pm. A round on the Rosemount course in Blairgowrie costs £155, with a day ticket also allowing visitors to play a round on the Lansdowne course for £230. Costs drop in October to £100 and £150 respectively. From November to March, however, the cost is just per round. Through the Drive initiative, the Jubilee Course is available to play for just per round. However, as with other courses taking part, there are limited tee times on four dates in September and October. Details on how to enter are still to be confirmed. The normal green fee on this course is £150. Prices at the Angus course, considered the fifth oldest in the world, range from £100 to £200 in peak season. However, an SGU card-holder can play from £85. The costs drop during April to £80-£110. The cheapest time to play is November to March, when rounds cost between and . Peak-time rounds at this popular north-east Fife course cost £110, rising to £200 for a two-ball, £270 for three and £325 for a group of four. However, prices drop to per round out of season, with evening tee-offs costing just
Press and Journal
28-04-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Aberdeenshire firm at centre of takeover uncertainty has record breaking £82m year
Aberdeenshire-headquartered catering firm Entier has had a record breaking year with turnover hitting £82.5 million. It comes as the takeover of the Westhill business by Aramark is in jeopardy after Britain's competition watchdog stepped in to investigate. Entier, founded by chef Peter Bruce in 2008, reached a turnover of £82.5m in its accounts for the year ending September 30, 2024. This compares to sales of £76.8m in 2023. The company made pre-tax profits of £2.8m in the same financial period, up from £2m the year before. Mr Bruce has been described as 'another successful year' for the group. Despite the uncertainty over its future ownership, Entier continues to operate as is and has achieved the record levels. Some of this has been attributed to a rise in work within the marine and renewables sector. Mr Bruce said: 'The business experienced growth despite challenging market conditions created by UK political policy and uncertainty. 'A significant contract with a client in the North Sea oil and gas production sector was not renewed following a retender process in the year, but this was more than compensated for by growth in the marine and renewables sector. 'Entier remains committed to supporting local communities and businesses by sourcing local produce.' Entier employs nearly 700 people across offices in the UK, as well as Australia, Trinidad, Canada, Norway Singapore and Saudi Arabia. Earlier this year it announced it was being bought by food services giant Aramark, which had a turnover of £14 billion in 2024, for an undisclosed sum. However, earlier this month the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an initial enforcement order on both the Aramark group and Entier. This order prevents the companies from integrating or transferring ownership until further review. The CMA is investigating whether the merger could lead to a 'substantial lessening of competition' in the sector. In 2016 the business added luxury catering with the acquisition of Perthshire Wild Thyme, which came with exclusive rights to catering events at Glamis Castle in Angus, Carlowie Castle near Edinburgh and the Glenturret Distillery in Crieff. It's also catered for events such as the Ryder Cup and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Mr Bruce said: 'The Wild Thyme business returned to growth, with several new clients and venues secured. 'The pipeline of events remains strong with over £364,000 of confirmed events for 2024/25'. The latest accounts have revealed staff numbers have fallen from 697 in 2023 to 689 in 2024. Despite the drop in headcount the wage bill rose from £38.5 in 2023 to £40.8m last year. Entier continues to support its principal charity partner Friends of Anchor and other charities including Macmillan Cancer Support.
Khaleej Times
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Dubai-based Nicolas Colsaerts overcomes slow start to lead Hero Indian Open
Dubai resident Nicolas Colsaerts made a strong start at the Hero Indian Open, recovering from a slow beginning to overcome a 'tough' course and share the lead after the first round with Marcus Armitage and Marcus Kinhult. The three-time DP World Tour winner, and Ambassador for the Brain & Performance Centre, a DP World Company, set the pace early on Thursday with a round of 68 despite bogeying two of his first three holes at DLF Golf and Country Club in Delhi. The 42-year-old Belgian, who earned his 2025 DP World Tour card with a second-place finish at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last season, is aiming to jumpstart his campaign in India this week. Colsaerts notched his first birdie of the day at the fourth hole, followed by another at the sixth. Despite a bogey at the seventh, he rallied with back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth, turning at one under par. He kept his momentum going with birdies at the tenth, fourteenth, and the par-five fifteenth, navigating the back nine without a single dropped shot to finish at four under par. Colsaerts set the early target on a challenging course, one of the toughest on the DP World Tour. Challenging course "It went great today," said Colsaerts after his round. "It's a difficult golf course, and anyone shooting under par today will be extremely happy. The rough is high, the greens are firmer, and it feels a bit like a mini-US Open. It's a tough course, but I really like the layout—especially the 18th and the visually striking 16th par-three." Looking ahead, Colsaerts added, "I want to stay patient. Pars are good, and if you make a few birdies, it's great. Everyone will make bogeys, but I'll aim to keep the ball in play and stay in contention." Kinhult impressed in his first round with early birdies at the first, second, and fourth holes. After a bogey at the seventh, he bounced back with a birdie at the par-five eighth and turned at three under par. The 2019 Betfred British Masters winner kept his scorecard clean on the way in, adding a birdie at the fifteenth to tie for the lead. Armitage, riding the momentum of a strong start to the 2025 Race to Dubai, including a fifth-place finish at last week's Porsche Singapore Classic, was pleased with his performance on day one of the Hero Indian Open—the second event of the Asian Swing. Thomas grinds Dubai-born Rayhan Thomas, a 25-year-old Dubai Golden Visa Awardee and member of the PGA Tour's Korn Ferry Tour, posted a level-par 72 to tie for 30th place. With just four shots separating him from the leaders, Thomas reflected, "Today was a bit of a grind. I didn't hit the ball well, but I put and chipped well to keep myself in a reasonable position. This course is one of the toughest in the world, so I'm proud of my positive mindset." Thomas, who had family members watching from the gallery, added, "Let's hope I can play better and score lower in the second round." Other notable players with Dubai and UAE connections included Aaron Cockerill (Canada), representing The Els Club, Dubai, as well as Dubai residents Julien Guerrier (France), Johannes Verman (US), Shiv Kapur (India), and Ewen Ferguson (Scotland), who all shot level-par 72. First Round Scores N. Colsaerts (BEL) 68 M. Kinhult (SWE) 68 M. Armitage (ENG) 68 J. Luiten (NED) 69 U. Coussard (FRA) 69 A. Sandhu (IND) 69 M. Jordan (ENG) 69 T. Clements (ENG) 69 R. Fisher (ENG) 69
