With all senior positions at the club up for grabs at the same time, Nick Hammond, Celtic’s Head of Football Operations, failed to get the Director of Football position, so left the club yesterday. We are yet to appoint a Director of Football, but with Hammond’s departure, it is likely a candidate has been identified and at least informally confirmed.
The Head of Football Operation’s principle role is to identify signing prospects for the club. Since Hammond joined in October 2019, Celtic have performed particularly poorly in this respect, as a consequence, his reputation among the support suffered. Unfairly.
As in any operation, it is easy to scapegoat and easier still to blame the guy who is no longer in the building, but Hammond was only in position four months before travel restrictions stopped him travelling internationally to watch players. It is not a period many would want to be judged on.
Furthermore, the poster boy signing mistakes of this season were nothing (or practically nothing) to do with Hammond. He did not suggest Vasilis Barkas as a target or put his name to the goalkeeper. Similarly, the blame for Shane Duffy cannot be laid at his door. It is also easy for the guy no longer in the building to blame others. When Nick sits in his next job interview, he will tell the story of what might have been, had Celtic signed his personal targets.
Given what I know about the merits of Hammond and Lee Congerton, the chief scout who proceeded Hammond at the club and shared most responsibilities, I would take Hammond all summer long.
The revamp of football operations, scouting and player development has been long in the planning, Hammond played his role here well. Getting the right person as Director of Football is critically important, but I do not subscribe to the guru theory of management. Getting strategy right is everything, the names on the doors, less so.
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Don’t like Broony talking about Aberdeen till he’s an Aberdeen player
Focus Broony
Disappointing
DENIABHOY on 1ST APRIL 2021 5:54 PM
Gonzagga on Twitter who all the journos follow as he’s supposed to be close to DD has posted:
“ This is Howe it feels to be Celtic… It’s now no longer if, it’s when… Hugely disappointing season but with an ambitious managerial appointment as well as some tangible recognition to the fans round the corner let’s unite behind the club and try win the Cup for the captain.”
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Some say the account owner is Brett Desmond. DD son.
Blinker, Taylor, Gary Holt, Pie.
WDH- hope you are well, if he is looking for a fire risk assessment, along with the disabled toilet, give me a shout 😁
GTC,
And what is their TV income compared to Celtic? A whole lot more, I would say.
GREENPINATA on 1ST APRIL 2021 5:14 PM
Eddie Howe, Dominic Mckay and others would signify real change.
It’s what most of us wanted.
HH.
heh Gp.
remember plc rules
its rumour central til that formal announcement happens.just like the dmk one and of pl leaving.7am keep your eye on SE.just as Tontine says
hh.
I’d be interested in seeing the breakdown of the different categories of season ticket holder.
I think we might be surprised by the numbers of concessions in the different categories in comparison to full paying adults. Certainly a lot of children, students and over 65s around me. I think that is a good thing, but I remember four people in our group going to the games and me being the only one paying full whack.
David17 – heard that too. On Twitter he says he is a “Golf and Tennis head” yet most of his tweets are about Celtic. Throws in the occasional Sandy Lane one to keep his dad happy 😄
DENIABHOY
Fantastic memories from this day in 1970. It was during the two week Easter break from primary school, as it was for me. TV football coverage was very different back then so no live showing. I clearly remember my dad turning on BBC Radio 2 for the second half commentary (pretty much all you got then) to hear Bryon Butler and Maurice Edelston inform the nation its …….Leeds 0 Celtic 1. We did not listen to the second half (my dad called the shots) but turned the radio back on for the FT score. Delight for him and the rest of the family !!
Remember being allowed to stay up to watch the highlights later that night.
Feynoord 1970 remains my greatest disappointment, young as I was at the time.
Genuine news story
Golf courses are now open in Norn Iron are now open. Two people from no more than two households are allowed to play together.
Nike Friday?
agree re broonie , you are still a Celtic player and getting paid by them so keep it green and white only.
so EH and his coaching team it is them , great news.
Big Judith looking glorious 😎
If it is Eddie Howie, who’s going to be first panty-wetting curmudgeon to opine that such ambition, even as late as October, may well have won us the 10?
I guess that’ll be me then….!
HH jg
Bob bit MacGregor limps towards a contract extension at Newco.
Fingers crossed the condescending Bankier is next to go
McGregor …..JW
Norrie
I posted earlier about lyrics telling us the fans how, ‘THEY gave us James McGrory and Paul McStay….’
His demeanour towards his customers and fellow shareholders oozes this demeanour.
superciliousCSC
HH jg
mazzy on 1st April 2021 6:38 pm
Feynoord 1970 remains my greatest disappointment, young as I was at the time.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Still feel the pain as if it was yesterday.
GARNGAD TO CROY on 1ST APRIL 2021 6:22 PM
The average cost of a Leicester City Adult season ticket is £500 (range from £365 to £850)
—————————————————————
There’s a catch. You need to watch Leicester City.
jamesgang
hope your good and glad your back up home.
Bankier .here a few years back.1996
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12091344.whisky-boss-becomes-rangers-director-for-1m/
:-)
HH
SIONNAIGH on 1ST APRIL 2021 7:23 PM
Free thundersticks though
To be fair Leicester have always been a decent community club, and have played some decent football over the years. Not that I don’t want them relegated these days :)
AT
It’s so good to be home. Looking out towards the hills around Crianlarich, seeing if I can spot my big amigo striding up the side of a mountain.
Bankier, for me, is the antithesis of Walfrid’s Wishes. And he’s not even very good at his job!
HH jg
DAVID 66 (earlier) – “Happy 55th April”.
Made me smile. Thanks
NORRIEM on 1ST APRIL 2021 7:08 PM
Fingers crossed the condescending Bankier is next to go
That would make my Easter😂
JAMESGANG on 1ST APRIL 2021 7:43 PM
It’s so good to be home. Looking out towards the hills around Crianlarich.
JAMESGANG, was up walking round the windmills circuit above East Kilbride this afternoon when the clouds lifted and the hazy views cleared and I could see Ben More and Stob BInnein all the way north. Gave me itchy feet (and another wind for the rest of the walk). Enjoy yersel, mhan.
Ave Ave
Genuine news story
Golf courses are now open in Norn Iron are now open. Two people from no more than two households are allowed to play together.
—
in struggling to work out how 2 people could come from more than 2 households anyway
🤫
EMERALDBEE \O/ A DOUBLE NINER!! on 1ST APRIL 2021 7:58 PM
God’s country indeed…
HH jg
Can I be the first to say.
Howe Out !!!
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 1ST APRIL 2021 6:28 PM
GTC,
And what is their TV income compared to Celtic? A whole lot more, I would say
========================
Good point
is it £100m as a parachute for EPL
compared to us getting 4m for being champions.
Messre rogers and congerton are operating on a different financial level.look at the pool of players.
HH
WHAT IS THE STARS on 1ST APRIL 2021 8:16 PM
Can I be the first to say.
Howe Out !!!
have ye offered Dmk your toral support yet?
:-)
hh
Lets all
Yes. I would have thought it was an April Fool had it not been the ITV evening news.
Unless one of the players is a bigamist and nips between two hooses.
!!Bada Bing!! thanks .
Will be in touch
Lets all
Yes. I would have thought it was an April Fool had it not been the ITV evening news.
Unless one of the players is a bigamist and nips between two hooses.
—-
😆
i still think someone is trying to take the p*ss somewhere!
Media reporting Howe has met with DD and McKay in London. Glad, if true, that McKay is involved and not PL.
Got this from video celts
A report in The Sun claims that Eddie Howe has held face to face talks with Dermot Desmond and Dom McKay.
Don’t know if this is bull shit, are job interviews considered as essential under covid rules
Is it a coincidence that Dermot Desmond has the same initials as Dick Dastardly and also has a similar moustache?
I’ve never seen Dermot Desmond and Dick Dastardly in the same room. Or cartoon for that matter.
Paul’s post today is a reflection of one of the reasons we are in this mess
Everybody and Everything to blame apart for those in charge
I know it’s abnormal times but it.s the same for everyone
If your manager get’s his tactics wrong
If your chief Scout buy’s a dud
If your Goalie canny make a save
Collectively it’s their fault
Nobody’s infallible[well apart from PAPA] but recognizing and fixing your faults and trying not to repeat them sounds like a strategy to me
MAZY FEYNOORD was one of life’s biggest disappointments and i was only 10
HH