These moves could signal a long-overdue return to undervalued markets like Japan. However, it’s important to ask whether this is a true strategic revival — or just a token gesture.
Daizen Maeda and teammate Reo Hatate are pictured with the Scottish Premiership trophy after the season’s final match against St. Mirren, on May 17, 2025. Photo IMAGO (The Celtic Star)
The players signed are younger or far less proven than the likes of Kyogo or Hatate, or Maeda were upon arrival, and there’s no clear indication that the club has re-engaged with trusted networks like CAA Base. If anything, these appear, currently at least, to be isolated efforts rather than a systemic shift.
Tisdale’s influence might offer more substance. Known for his modern thinking and development-focused background, he presents a contrast to Lawwell’s often narrower approach. If he’s given the space and influence to reshape scouting infrastructure — especially beyond the UK — Celtic might finally start rebuilding what they’ve lost. But again, without communication, transparency or broader alignment from the boardroom down, it’s difficult to say whether this is a strategic pivot or another short-lived course correction.
Because what made the original model work wasn’t just the market, it was the method. Strategic leadership. Global contacts. Trust-based relationships. Those haven’t yet, it seems, been reassembled.
Celtic had something rare. A working football model that balanced ambition with sustainability. In just 18 months, the club won five domestic trophies. Rebuilt its squad. Made in the region of £90 million in player sales. Unearthed players like Kyogo, Jota, Hatate, O’Riley, and Carter-Vickers — who all either delivered on the pitch or in the market or both.
And it all stemmed from three things. Dom McKay’s strategic vision. Ange Postecoglou’s leadership and network. A collaborative relationship with Frank Trimboli and CAA Base.
If Celtic want to regain that edge — to recruit smarter, compete better in Europe, and extract more value from their playing assets — then it’s time to ask serious questions. Not just about scouting departments and analytics, but about why those key relationships were severed, and whether pride got in the way of progress.
Because the truth is, we had the formula. We just chose to stop using it.
In hindsight, Dom McKay’s abrupt and “mutually agreed” departure after only a few weeks as CEO feels less like a personnel reshuffle and more like a pivotal fork in the road for Celtic. His vision — one of modernisation, transparency, and aligning Celtic with progressive football clubs across Europe — now stands in sharp contrast to the more opaque and conservative regime that followed.
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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.