Congratulations must go to Daily Record for being the first media outlet to dust down the tried and tested ‘war chest’ description for Celtic’s transfer budget this season, impressive stuff.
Martin O’Neill was the former Celtic manager being quoted today, as he admitted to being both impressed by Ange Postecoglou’s track record when budgeting with his annual war chest sized budget last season, and being certain – even if the signings of Jota and Carter-Vickers are confirmed – more funds will be making their way to Postecoglou as the Celtic boss prepares for a crack at Champions’ League football.
“Ange will get the ammunition and he has proven himself. He brought in some players that I’m sure some people, especially in Europe, maybe hadn’t heard of.
But they did fantastically well for him and it gives him a platform to build from and a bit of power in terms of bringing in others.”
The Record also has a column from O’Neill’s big summer signing from his first season in charge, and Chris Sutton, who was £6m well spent from O’Neill’s sizeable war chest in his debut season, believes Celtic need to get Ange Postecoglou nailed down on a long rem contract.
“You saw it with Rodgers. When he completed the invincible Treble in his first season, Peter Lawwell tied him down on a four year deal. We all know what happened about 18 months later but at least Celtic landed about £9m in compensation.
“That’s what we are talking about here. I can’t claim to know how Postecoglou thinks but he doesn’t come across to me as someone who is particularly money motivated. He seems totally relaxed about contract stuff and he rightly pointed out that management is a precarious business.
“These guys are three bad results away from the sack at times, and he knows that as well. I don’t get the feeling he’ll be banging down any doors to demand more dosh as any time he has moved on from jobs it’s been about ambition rather than his bank account.
“He’s chased trophies and prestige over pay cheques and he seems to have found a home in Scotland. At the moment his ambitions can be fulfilled at Celtic, with the challenge of competing for silverware, as well as the proposition of the Champions League.
“Postecoglou sounds content in his surroundings but that doesn’t mean others won’t take notice. Clubs are already starting to take notice. All of a sudden his success at Celtic has been added to his achievements with clubs and country and it’s looking a serious body of work.
In this day and age, managers come and go in the blink of an eye – but that means more opportunities come up. Celtic need to be ready and a long term deal at least would mean it would cost a pretty packet if the worse case scenario unfolds.”
To be fair to Sutton there are plenty of fans, myself included, who would feel a lot more secure if Ange Postecoglou was on a long-term team. But the safety net of millions in compensation isn’t the only reason, instead it would show the Celtic board are backing their man and it would be an indication from Postecoglou on his side that he’s here for the long term.
Yet you, me and Chris Sutton haven’t managed Celtic so what do we know about it, but one man who has is Martin O’Neill and he’s altogether more relaxed about the whole affair.
Martin O’Neill.🍀🏆 pic.twitter.com/qYH35o1zn1
— Declan Blair (@DeclanBlair1967) June 3, 2022
“Things like contracts take care of themselves. I don’t imagine for a minute Ange will be worried about it. He doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave the club. The fans have taken to him brilliantly.
“I was at the Motherwell game on the last day of the season and it was a glorious day. It took me back.”
Well O’Neill knows what priorities managers have, and being at a successful club with access to Champions League football – and yes, a war chest to fund a squad rebuild – is possibly more important than a piece of paper that offer a five-year deal rather than a one-year rolling contract.
On this one I’ll bow to O’Neill’s superior knowledge, but that’s not to say I’d still not prefer to see the Celtic manager signed up on a 5-year golden handcuffs contract – there you go Daily Record, I beat you to one cliché at least!
SANDMAN”S SEASON REVIEW FOR ANGE POSTECOGLOU…
Read Sandman’s season review below….
READ THIS…Don’t miss Sandman’s Graphically Explicit Review of Season 2021/22 here’s Ralston’s Review as another example…
Niall J
