FORMER Celtic striker Scott McDonald points the finger at former manager Brendan Rodgers for the chaos in the club’s scouting network.
The ex-Australian international goalscorer claims the Irishman dismantled John Park’s tried and trusted system that brought in the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Ki Sung-Yeung.
However, Rodgers installed Lee Congerton as recruitment chief and the flow of top prospects from the continent hit the rocks.
McDonald, who was part of a Hoops side costing just £12million that managed to beat reigning European champions AC Milan on the way to the Champions League last 16 in 2007, gave his forthright views to the Daily Record.
He said: “The recruitment has been frustrating for the club and support and that’s obviously where the breakdown came with Brendan Rodgers.
“It’s been a real struggle to get it back to the way it was when he first came in.
“It’s not always as easy when it’s big transfer fees and big wages. Celtic can’t cope with Championship teams in England.
“But Congerton has gone and there’s a new man in, but they still need new faces before the end of the window because they do have competition this season.
“Celtic still hold the aces as far as I’m concerned, but he (Lennon) still needs a couple of quality players.”
Reflecting on the Champions League exit against the Romanians of Cluj, McDonald added: “I would say I was shocked and a little bit surprised. After getting a positive result in Romania you fancied Celtic to finish the job in the second leg in Scotland.
“There’s a lot of upset people. Some are blaming Neil Lennon, others Peter Lawwell – it’s a culmination of everything.
“Everyone it talking about Celtic’s finances, and rightly so to a degree, but we have to be realistic about what Celtic can and can’t recruit.
“They could have done with more bodies in the door, but it’s not just about the money it’s about how you spend it.
“It’s okay having money for transfer fees, but it’s the salary budget that really bites you in the market today.”
Lennon has spent almost £12million on new players this summer bringing in Christopher Jullien, £7million from Toulouse, Boli Bolingoli, £3million from Rapid Vienna, Hatem Abd Elhamed, £1.2million from Hapoel Be’er Sheva, and Luca Connell, £350,000 from Bolton.
Only Israeli right-nack Elhamed featured in Tuesday night’s flop.
The Hoops gaffer is now scouring the market for new arrivals before the September 2 deadline.
