Until recently it appeared the worst kept secret in Scottish football that Fergal Harkin – am I the only one who’s head sings ‘A good heart these days is hard to find’ whenever his name is mentioned? – was going to be Celtic’s Director of Football. Then things seemed to go a little quiet on that front. Had there been a change of direction?
Head of Football Operations, Nick Hammond, has resigned from his position at the Club to pursue new opportunities.
All the best for the future, Nick 🍀
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) March 31, 2021
This week we then had the news that Nick Hammond had resigned his role as Celtic’s silent Head of Football Operations and Fergal was back to the top of the charts when it came to the DOF chatter.
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Now it appears with rumours gathering pace of Eddie Howe being appointed as Celtic’s next boss that other hats have been thrown into the ring. Some names such as David Webb we’ve known of and heard from before, whilst others like Richard Hughes seem new to the conversation, but both with obvious and direct links to Eddie Howe having worked alongside the former Bournemouth manager during his time on the South coast.
The concerning thing with those connections is just that, they have worked with Eddie Howe before. On one hand you’d say that would help get things up and running, someone who already knows the kind of player the new manager likes and one who could fit hand in glove with Howe should he be successful and get the gig. It may indicate a willingness from the club to let Howe build things entirely independently and there are merits to that argument of course. However, the role of Director of football, or whatever title it is given, needs some separation. There will come a time when both parties would go consciously uncouple and the Director of Football role is the one you’d expect to remain, and with it offer a genuine level of continuity.
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As such a historical working relationship with Eddie Howe should perhaps be a secondary consideration rather than a primary focus. Long term Celtic perhaps need to choose a candidate on his own merits rather than one who may decide to jump ship when the manager goes, either out of loyalty, or like many of Brendan Rodgers backroom team the lure of the lucre on offer in wealthier leagues.
I won’t pretend to know a lot about Fergal Harkin, but 11 years with the Manchester City group will have cultivated a great deal of contacts. I’ve heard it mentioned with such an upheaval on and off the field that someone with in depth knowledge of who’s hot and who is not in the Man City under 23’s group may be advantageous when it comes to a few loan deals being required to supplement the purchase of players, at a time when the finances may not stretch to the levels required straight off the bat, and it probably would.
But more importantly there is a bigger picture. Harkin’s contacts will extend beyond the knowledge of City, they will extend across every youth player and scout in England – important when the Brexit changes come around and we’re shopping in a market where our competitors are infinitely wealthier. And of course, in this transfer window approaching it is likely to be the last chance Celtic have of taking advantage of certain European markets before the new points system kicks in. Will Hughes or Webb have nurtured the level of continental contacts required to target European targets in the last chance saloon?
If Eddie Howe does get the job wants his own people in post, then I’m all for it. Choosing your own assistants and coaches around you was something denied to Neil Lennon and it undoubtedly had a negative impact. It diluted his authority and made it clear from the outset that the real power did not lie with the manager.
However, if that influence was to extend to the role of Director of Football, and if that was a condition of employment, I’d have my reservations.
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As supporters we’ve spent a long time asking for strategic thinking and long-term plans, to manoeuvre off that road now, even to placate a potential new manager would be a worrying development and a trap I hope Celtic don’t fall into, however good the candidate may be. If Richard Hughes or David Webb are good enough in their own right, if they offer more to Celtic over the next five years and more than Fergal Harkin, then let’s get it done, but that should be the only consideration.
A good manager these days is hard to find, Celtic’s nigh on world record breaking search is evidence of that, but a structure and a strategy headed by a Director of Football, and one independent of anyone who sits in the manager’s seat over the next few seasons, is vital. Celtic can’t afford to put all that in place to simply seal the deal for the next manager, such a move would have worrying undertones.
Niall J
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