HAMMOND, CONGERTON AND THE NEED FOR A DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL
Nicky Hammond must have had some input into these transfers I’d assume but the first team players at least look not to have been influenced by him. If not then hopefully he is working on a structure regarding scouting from youth level right through to the first team. Something we appeared to have mothballed for a substantial period of time.
Off the field we’ve been a shambles in terms of scouting, structure and forward planning. Questions need asked as to why it took so long to get rid of Congerton. Why we waited for a payoff for him, then got in a summer job post with no job title. Why we had so few scouts, UK based or internationally and why most of our permanent transfers were Lenny’s scouts or already known under the previous regime.
That was our biggest error, we gambled the Champions League and lost. We’ve all seen this movie before and we can all hope we don’t see it again, but unless the pressure remains on Peter Lawwell I worry we will.
Celtic need a Director of Football. Peter Lawwell has already promised that post, he needs to deliver it on a permanent basis with the CEO’s influence curtailed.
If it’s Nicky Hammond so be it, if it’s someone else I hope we are interviewing now. It needs to have a title, a responsibility, be a buffer between Manager and Chief Executive and have genuine autonomy.
It needs to be budgeted and within a defined working structure from youth signings to first team players. It needs to have a list of coaches, analysts and dare I say managers all on file, all fully examined and with strengths and weaknesses recorded and ready to go when change is required.
Perhaps we need to think of January as our main transfer window and the few weeks up to the qualifiers as a time to tweak, not the other way about. If we do qualify perhaps we can look at 1 or 2 loan players to aid a Champions league push once the English window closes. Hopefully that will all be considered and debated if and when we address the off field structure.
NEIL LENNON DESERVES GREAT CREDIT
Neil Lennon deserves great credit so far. There have been a lot of changes and there have been gaping holes in his squad that were only really filled by close of play last night. We have great positives to take forward. The team is playing some wonderful football. We changed the style of play and we are still getting results. Domestically we have performed as well as could be expected and in Europe despite the Champions league mistakes at home to Cluj we do at least have European football to look forward to albeit not at the top table.
It really does make you wonder what if?
What if we give Neil Lennon that settled structure to support him? A cohesive working framework off the field that he can rely on? Where could Neil Lennon take this team? Are we being somewhat blinkered in terms of domestic football, could we reach beyond that?
With the right backing and organisation at a playing level to match the off field excellence we show in sponsorship and merchandising etc, how far could Neil Lennon take this team?
He’s taken us to the last 16 of the Champions League before. He had that backing then in John Park. Park is still without employment. Let’s ask that question of him or someone of that ilk.
Give Celtic a Director of Football, Mr Lawwell and Neil Lennon will deliver.
Niall J
ALSO ON THE CELTIC STAR TODAY…
‘Spooked us from the beginning,’ Rangers fans grudging admiration for how Celtic Kicked-off Beautiful Sunday…see HERE.
‘Appenin’ Bitton – Nir’s long overdue appreciation and why he deserves a new deal…see HERE.
Celtic’s Eventual Summer Transfer Window Reviewed – Board, Management, Players and Fans…see HERE.
