It could and probably should have been Dom McKay upon whom all eyes were fixed at today’s AGM. Instead, Michael Nicholson, at present a temporary appointment but fully expected to gain the role permanently, will absorb the glare of scrutiny at this morning’s annual appraisal.
Whilst McKay with his modernising and communication background, honed at Scottish Rugby, was seen as a forward-thinking type with the sort of contacts and credentials to take Celtic kicking and screaming into the modern world of football structures and open up markets hitherto ignored, Nicholson, the club’s in-house lawyer, you’d assume has another set of skills entirely.
Hopefully he’ll be able to explain how these attributes marry with modernising an out-of-date business and footballing model at Celtic today, indeed it would be a step forward just to hear his voice considering the radio silence he has kept so far. But in truth there may well be reasons for that.
There is little doubt CEOs have a lonely job. Not only do they have to deal with the complexities and tensions of running a company and handling an executive team, they have to get used to often intense and personal scrutiny and of course criticism by the media and other stakeholders, and in football the want of communication from the support.
If Michael Nicholson has been using the time to get a handle on things we’ll know today, however if it’s stock answers and little detail we’ll soon know if hopes of Celtic joining football’s brave new world return to hope rather than expectation.
Either way Celtic’s in-house lawyer, if he intends to hang around, is going to need some help, and most CEOs would admit to appreciating having someone close to them who can give them objective and impartial advice and who they can use as a sounding board.
Whilst Nicholson will have many skills, it is unlikely a nuanced understanding of the developing football world is one. He has landed on his feet having a manager of Ange Postecoglou’s already evidenced talents, yet a footballing consigliere in between would not go amiss.
Since Nick Hammond left his role as Head of Football operations there has been nothing to signify if that role vacated will be replaced, or indeed what the new remit of any incumbent would be. This despite a fabled January review and a previous CEO’s promises to surprise and delight.
It is unlikely Michael Nicholson can take on the sort of wide-ranging role Peter Lawwell did, after all even Lawwell appointed Hammond as he was stretched too far. Therefore, when it comes to a footballing structure a Sporting Director or Director of Football may well be something that would assist a new CEO to focus on where his strengths lie and allow someone with a fresh set of eyes and ideas to offer guidance to Nicholson, but also allow some footballing structures to be implemented independent of Ange Postecoglou.
Early indications are Postecoglou knows his onions but to have all the power to modernise an entire football structure, with Ange Postecoglou and a solitary hierarchical line to the CEO makes little sense. If one or both leave their roles after all it would leave little continuity and as we saw with last season, we don’t exactly have form for succinct future planning. As such a someone overseeing the football side of things with a sound two-way communication up to a CEO and alongside a manager would surely be beneficial.
In truth I expect little from today’s AGM, but as always, I live in hope. Guarantees on more improved communication, as we saw with the excellent Fans Media event with the manager being extended to the likes of a CEO and others would be one. That press conference after all surely showed how little the Celtic Board have to fear from fan engagement and much to gain, but I’d also like to see that overdue appointment as a buffer between the Celtic Board, CEO and manager. As such an announcement of a Celtic consigliere between Chief Exec and manager would be a welcome announcement.
Niall J
