GORDON STRACHAN has warned Celtic against panic buying in an effort to revive their bid for a tenth successive title.
Neil Lennon has admitted he will be looking to reinforce his squad in the second half of a campaign that is threatening to come off the rails.
The Hoops have already been knocked out of the Champions League, the Europa League and the Betfred League Cup in a traumatic season while they are playing catch-up in the Premiership, 19 points adrift although they possess thre games in hand.
Under-pressure Lennon has seen his defensive problems pile up at an alarming rate and a new centre-back is a priority with the latest injury setback to Christopher Jullien and the unconvincing form of on-loan Shane Duffy.
Former gaffer Strachan, speaking to Football Pass, said: “Celtic, should they panic buy and spend a lot of money to cut this gap? I don’t think so.
“They should be looking at what is going to happen in six months time and a year’s time and buying players for that.
“What system are we going to use? Who are we going to use? What manager are we going to use? Do we stick with Neil? There is a bigger thing going on.
“I don’t think it [recruitment]is that important now, to be honest with you.”
Strachan, who won a hat-trick of championships after taking over from Martin O’Neill in 2005, continued: “At big clubs, everyone is analysed and more so in the last 10 years. People have this perception that at Celtic they say: ‘That’s your players, Neil, get on with it.’ It doesn’t work that way.
“Recruitment come to you and say: ‘We have four players, who do you want?’. And I know at Celtic the final decision will be down to the coaching staff who picks the player. So many people have a say who brings them in.
“Ultimately, the manager and coaching staff decide who they want to work with.”
Reflecting on his old club’s 1-0 loss at Ibrox, Strachan added: “It is not so much systems as such, but players winning games, individual brilliance or mistakes like the game on Saturday when the ball came off of Callum McGregor’s shoulder and Nir Bitton was sent off.
“It wasn’t anything fantastic that Rangers did, but mistakes that players made. So recruitment has to be right.”
