The signing of Stephen Welsh to a new 4-year contract certainly is a great bit of business for both the player and the club as Celtic head into a summer of what is likely to be the most used revolving door since – well the last couple of transfer windows. And with rumours of an exit for Patryk Klimala as Polish Paddy heads for what would appear to be a New York lifestyle – it’s a tough life when you leave Celtic isn’t it? – then it appears the stick or twist decisions on the squad are already being made.
It certainly makes sense to get started, some players we need to protect from preying eyes, such as the ever improving Stephen Welsh whilst others who are struggling to make an impression on the first team, but arrived on the back of a hefty fee, such as the ever willing but never fully impressing Klimala, need to see those funds recouped if a suitor is willing to part with the cash.
Yet there is also another positive to take if deals like this are being both muted and concluded. Someone is making these decisions.
Celtic have a CEO winding down his time and a new guy arriving, the head of football operations has stepped down and we’ve been without a permanent manager since February. So who is playing the Aye-Naw game with the Celtic first team squad?
The wait for what the majority of fans now hope will be Eddie Howe arriving as Celtic manager is one that appears to be testing everyone’s patience, particularly when the coveted managers’ ‘representative’ advised recently that no deal has been concluded despite rumours of a Howe agreeing ‘in principle’ to take on the job, as reported by Scottish Sun.
“However, talks of any deal being close are extremely premature. His plan remains to not return to management until the summer at the earliest.”
“There has been significant interest in Eddie from a number of clubs.”
This is far from a new tactic adopted in the midst of a negotiations endgame when it comes to Celtic. In 2016 the Celtic board released a statement on the 18th May 2016 as rumours swept the pressrooms of Brendan Rodgers being Celtic’s preferred candidate:
“Following some speculation regarding the appointment of a new Celtic manager, the facts are as follows:
“The club has been and will be speaking to a number of candidates and we will take our time to go through this process thoroughly and in the proper manner. There is no ‘preferred’ candidate.
“We will continue this process with the aim of identifying a new manager who we believe will deliver success to the club.
“Clearly we will not be able to provide daily updates on this issue. However, our supporters will be the first to know when a new manager has been appointed.”
Two days later on 20 May Brendan Rodgers was telling 13,000 assembled Celtic supporters:
“I will give everything I have and do all I can to bring our supporters exciting, entertaining and winning football.”
Perhaps it’s worth reminding ourselves of the scenes at Celtic Park that gloriously sunny afternoon in May 2016. Remember all of these photographs were NOT taken on a match day, rather they were taken by Vagelis Georgariou (Geo) at Celtic on the afternoon Brendan Rodgers was appointed. (Amid all the excitement Celtic were so distracted they forgot to block the dastardly Celtic Fan Media photographer getting in).
This could be you Eddie!
Anyway, back to the article, where were we? As deals of such complexity conclude it is understandable that the last few sticking points cause consternation and a game of brinkmanship can break out. As such gentle reminders via the press can go a long way to focusing either side’s attention, but you’d have to think rumours of the whole deal being at risk here are somewhat premature.
Celtic and Howe are in no rush to announce this deal publicly after all, so whilst a delay doesn’t suit the support, Celtic historically don’t appoint managers until late in the day.
Rodgers as shown above was announced on 20 May as Ronny Deila played out the role of his own caretaker.
Martin O’Neill was announced at the start of June, and despite Neil Lennon being offered the role in the Hampden showers, even he took a City break before putting pen to paper. Whilst Howe apparently made a promise to his family that after leaving Bournemouth it wouldn’t be until the next season started that he’d commit to any new deal.
There is also the not insignificant start date of Dominic McKay as Celtic’s new CEO. From a reading the room perspective it would make sense for the new guy to coming bearing Howe shaped gifts in the opening weeks of his new post and at the same time remove any real association on the appointment from the man few any longer wish to be involved in the big decisions at Celtic.
Having Peter Lawwell announce a new manager would annoy the support and undermine McKay as well as denying him an opportunity to bask in a new appointment and the brave new dawn it welcomes in.
And whilst all this goes on Celtic fans get a little antsy, and given the collapse of the season and the job of work we all see that lies ahead, such a reaction is understandable and can easily be excused.
However there is a perfect time to announce a new manager and prior to playing a vital Scottish Cup tie is not that time, it would only distract preparations for such an important game. Yet win or lose once that game is out the way would be the perfect time to announce future plans and send out requests for season book renewals.
And in the meantime as four year contracts are handed out and exits are negotiated for others. Someone is making a decision on the worth or otherwise of Celtic’s first team squad it would appear.
And of supporters are allowed inside stadiums again from 1 June, there could even be a Rodgers style welcoming committee for the former Bournemouth Manager at Celtic Park …
Niall J
I agree that having the cup game out the way and McKay in the door should happen before any announcement. It does seem as if either the club have played this well and have things sorted and just to be announced or there needs to be a major decision made and it’ll take McKay coming in to do so. I’d also like to see the DoF announced asap, as this would be a good starting point for the new CEO. This time around, we need to build and replace at a fast pace; unfortunately I don’t think we can hold off until late May. So I’d fully expect even a start date in principle for a new manager, whoever it ends up being. Ah well, I guess we’ll know more within a couple of weeks HH