Ange Postecoglou and Dom McKay. Photo: Jeff Holmes
But another part may have been the absence of Dom McKay and a loss of strategic focus. The club still had Ange, but not the same structure behind him. And that’s a key detail — McKay’s early departure may have created a vacuum in leadership and recruitment alignment that never quite healed.
There’s a school of thought that may or may not be accurate that Ange’s departure to Spurs bruised egos at boardroom level — perhaps even that of major shareholder Dermot Desmond. After all, Celtic had handed Postecoglou a European platform that even he may have believed would never come his way. His decision to jump to the Premier League after just two seasons, at the peak of success, may have felt like disloyalty to those at the top.
Peter Lawwell, Chairman of Celtic, Dermot Desmond, Non-Executive Director of Celtic, and Michael Nicholson, CEO of Celtic, are seen in attendance prior to the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on March 16, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
If that’s true, it may explain the club’s sudden break from everything Ange was associated with. No further signings from Japan. No ongoing relationship with CAA Base. No visible attempt to maintain the smart, connected model that had brought such instant success.
Instead, Celtic reverted to type. Insular recruitment, unclear planning, and a sharp dip in the quality and value of signings.
Paul Tisdale manager of Milton Keynes Dons during the Sky Bet League One match between Milton Keynes Dons and AFC Wimbledon at Stadium mk on September 07, 2019 (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)
But with the appointment of Paul Tisdale to replace Mark Lawwell and the signings of Japanese prospects Hayato Inamura and Shin Yamada this summer there are tentative signs that Celtic may be inching back toward some of the principles that once brought them success.
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Celtic needed signings as a few players were transfered and contacts ran down then Rodgers has built up his team yes khun scored a lot of goals but that was before January his form dropped dramatically after bayern game Taylor left Tierney is a big improvement Taylor never hit the bye line and his crossing was not good our forwards well benefit with Tierney hitting the byline his crossing to scales against Newcastle up against Enlish international his crossing was perfect i hope idah heading improves and the two new Japanese its early but promising Trusty had a good pre season with some of our B team showing great promise got rid of a few players that weren’t up to Rodgers liking kyoko moved on he wasn’t the same in his new rule so I dont see us weaker except for Jota who was getting match fit when serious injury will keep him out till next year we will sign new players and remember we have the swede who looks a player Im excited on new season
Celtic’s decision to take a different path is down to one man,,,,,,,,,,Lawwell, the man who cost us 10 in a row, and now it seems he’s determined that we don’t it in the future. This is the same man who told us that “it’s only the fans that hate one another, that the Celtic board and their board were the best of friends, LOL. Makes me think of the old joke,,,,,,,,,” When does a Catholic become a fenian bastard ?, When he leaves the room”. Maybe peters never heard that one.