Simon Jordan rips up Celtic statement mentioning UEFA’s financial ruling and states it’s ‘not true’

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Celtic’s recent statement has got a lot of people talking.

There has been a lot to unpick from Celtic’s lengthy statement, and in truth, it hasn’t put the board in any better light than they were before.

This wasn’t a case of the higher-ups inside Celtic Park taking accountability for their actions, but deflecting blame elsewhere, including mentioning UEFA’s financial ruling and how it has seemingly handcuffed them.

Certain financial restrictions in place, both on the domestic scene and across Europe for football clubs, is an issue and a major talking point in today’s game, but Simon Jordan wanted to make it clear that the champions of Scotland aren’t in that boat.

• READ MORE: Peter Martin left in hysterics after suggestion of what Michael Nicholson might do at Celtic

Simon Jordan says Celtic’s UEFA claim ‘not true’

Speaking on talkSPORT, Jordan took issue with Celtic, suggesting that UEFA’s governing rules is a reason ‘why they can’t do certain things.’

The former Crystal Palace owner mentioned the ‘profit’ Celtic have been making in recent years, and how it doesn’t add up to what the club are saying.

So much to the point that Jordan thinks Celtic are ‘nowhere near’ what is being claimed.

“The challenges that I have with their statement is that they’re making UEFA’s governing rules part of the reasons why they can’t do certain things,” said Jordan.

“Well, Celtic made £35 million profit last season and £11 million profit the previous season, so the £60 million losses that they’re allowed to have under UEFA sanctioning is irrelevant to this conversation.

“So, when they use the fact that they’ve got to run their football club sustainably, which I don’t suggest that they shouldn’t, and when they suggest that there are certain restrictions upon wages and transfer fees because of UEFA’s governance, they’re absolutely right.

“But what’s that got to do with Celtic’s position? Celtic are nowhere near the challenge of UEFA. UEFA allow them to lose 60 million euros every 3 years. Celtic have made 44 million euros in profit over the last two years. That would mean they’re somewhere in the region of 110 million euros worth of difference, if not more.

“So, I’m not entirely sure why they feel the need to wheel that in because it’s not true.”

Celtic’s model ‘the same’ after Brendan Rodgers’ return

It’s Déjà vu for Rodgers at Celtic because he was in this same boat during his first spell; the only difference back then was the fact that he opted to leave and join Leicester City midway through.

It’s fair to say that isn’t going to happen again, although you can’t see Rodgers staying when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

And the next man coming in will face the same issues because ‘it’s the same model’, as Jordan touched upon.

Jim White: “But if they’d knocked Almaty out the other night and were in the Champions League.”

Jordan: “They would have bought some players. And that’s their model. It’s the same model Brendan Rodgers left and came back to.”