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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I dont know that within the PLC company structure, someone who is a future employee, not current could be allowed to interview other future employees, that all sounds a bit iffy and could affect a share price, insider dealing and all that.
also, why didnt SRU just let him go, what they holding on for,
You can fool some of the people all of the time,
and all of the people some of the time,
but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time
johnlecarrecsc
Dominic’s Drive
Jamesgang/emerald bee
Ballageich and back into the mearns and over braes to lochwinnochhas been it for me since this chaos came on.
A few years ago i done those 2 you mention.was a bit solid legged next day so headed out the old a77 on bike to loch goin museum/faem on the eaglesham moors.it was a sunny day.Views everwhere,Galloway hills to south,,the whole ayrshire coast opening out with Paddy’s mile stone sitting like a jewel on the glinting Irish Sea with Ireland itself on the horizon as Arran came into view
Looking east there was Tinto but looking North was amazing. the paps(not judith:)jura,arrochar,more and Stob binien ledi.i was loosin count.cycled back with a promise to get a pic next time i was up.Next time i was there could hardly see the length of my arm with hoar/fof mist on moors.lol still a wet beauty and good being out
Good memory
em bee- there is a walk from eaglesham to Darvel.16 or so miles.the wavers trail over corse hill
HH&ss Celts :-)
A good report on the Celtic vs Leeds semi final here. Some interesting background stuff.
https://thesefootballtimes.co/2019/02/04/the-great-battle-of-britain-when-jock-steins-celtic-met-don-revies-leeds-in-the-1970-european-cup-semi-final/
SHAUNAMURA on 1ST APRIL 2021 8:51 PM
I was only eight but can remember that winning goal float over the goalies head
Saint Stivs – might it be a case that PL said he was staying until end of season so McKay doesn’t yet have a job to go to?
Which reminds me of another earlier writer who was also at one time a spy.
Graham Greene’s ‘The Third Man’ on BBC4 or BBCi player right now.
Celtic Mac
Zithering away here
Delighted at the reports about Eddie Howe so far.
Sincerely hope Celtic don’t lead us up to the top of the hill only to ###########
Well you all know the rest.
HH.
Here’s a suggestion.
Let’s wait and see
Going for the 55
Fairhill Bhoy,
Fed us waiting, fed up with Covid restrictions, fed up with a c@nt of a season, fed up with hun triumphalism, fed up with negativity, fed up with too many accepting seats at the back of the bus, fed up with silence and fed up with impartial authority.
We need good positive news. We need hope, we need purpose, we need to rebuild, we need unity, we need positive change and we need it as soon as possible.
HH and COYBIG.
bournesouprecipe
Whole lotta zithering going on
antonkarascsc
FAIRHILL BHOY on 1ST APRIL 2021 9:19 PM
Here’s a suggestion.
Let’s wait and see
===========================
whit! yi aff yir heid? am wantin to be the first to be disappointed and hand his character to him fb. :-)
Your right.
HH
In the line of duty seek the elusive ‘H’, have we identified not one but two?
New CEO, is not ‘H, we all know he is ‘M’.
New DoF is he the first ‘H’, I believe so.
New Manager is he the second ‘H’, barring anything silly, I believe he will be.
Stock market closed until Tuesday, going to be a long weekend.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
GREENPINATA-apologies. My post wasn’t aimed at you mate.Just the blog in general.Everyone is getting their knickers in a twist over rumours.Let’s see how the cards fall before we go tonto.
I absolutely agree with everything you said nonetheless 😉🤷🏽♂️
Howe will do for me. Immediate start would be brilliant if it happens.
But Celtic being Celtic and this season being what it is I’m still preparing for a massive boot in the balls and Jack Ross getting announced……
While we are enjoying some cautious optimism, does anyone know any of Howe’s trusted go to players who we might realistically expect to see in the hoops? Who is his Scott Sinclair (or indeed his Telfer!!)
AT-it’s only a matter of 2/3 games before we get ‘I told you he was a loser,Bournemouth ffs’🤷🏽♂️
Hi Bhoys
Don’t let it get to you we are CELTIC
UNBOWED,UNBROKEN and UNREPENTANT
KEEP THE FAITH
Seems Howe met Desmond and Lawwell in London, not sure if McKay was there…
THE BATTERED BUNNET on 1ST APRIL 2021 1:40 PM
Don’t know if emdy’s seen it, but Nicola Sturgeon has promised to double the Scottish Child Payment from £20 to £40 for the children of Rangers supporters.
…………………………………………………
:)
Wouldn’t put it past the wee Dreggin’ Dragon!
Whatever happens, and particularly if a DoF is hired (which I’m 100% for), there needs to be more transparency at the club.
A real DoF has less to do with signing players than he does in organising the strategy, coaching, science and performance staff, being the hub and the glue between all the footballing departments (only 1 of which is transfers and scouting).
Transfers at most modern clubs are managed by committee, but ultimately 1st team signings should be signed off by the manager. They might not be his first choice (that’s just the nature of it – Man City lost out on VVD because the deal wasn’t right for them) but they should still be a player the manager wants.
The buck has to stop at someone so there’s not the “he wasn’t who the manager wanted” excuse.
DoF might be integral, he might be involved heavily in signing players at a younger age group, or even for creating a shortlist. But if the manager doesn’t make the final call then there’s no ownership.
Bada
think back to Scott Brown,BR etc
All done in ‘a house with maids’.privately.
discreetly and professionally.
The structure interests me.dof etc,the £support to rebuild.hard to avoid tho as SE dont open to 7am tues.
HH
The proof of the SNP’s stupidity
1.5 million fewer Scots ‘would have been vaccinated under SNP demand to join EU scheme’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/04/01/15-million-fewer-scots-would-have-vaccinated-snp-demand-join/?WT.mc_id=tmgliveapp_androidshare_Aw5WDkxRNpp9
TONYROME on 1ST APRIL 2021 9:44 PM
Hi Bhoys
Don’t let it get to you we are CELTIC
UNBOWED,UNBROKEN and UNREPENTANT
KEEP THE FAITH
=========================
True Tony.i guess we are throwing our pennies in 👇
https://youtu.be/LLSAGnHNqGc
HH 🖒
Some trivia to lighten the mood, but pertinent nevertheless.
We all know we have a massive rebuilding job, in every department.
A wee word to our ingenious song makers. Focus on the team, Players are fickle.
We have lost far too many motivational songs because of players leaving.
You know it makes sense and we just can’t get enough.
HH.
Howe is as good as we’ll get imo. His progressive style and philosophy fits the bill. If he does the business he follows the Rodgers path down south to a top 10 team. 2 or 3 good years as god as it will get. Once the green machine gets into gear it wont be stopped.
Well meetings in the big smoke of London if true can only mean one thing hopefully they prove to be as successful as the last time.
We live in hope.
Another name emerging as a possible ‘H’ is Richard Hughes:
https://www.afcb.co.uk/news/first-team/special-feature-richard-hughes-on-recruitment/
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
https://youtu.be/F0Wr0tRckJo
Greenpinata on 1st April 2021 10:12 pm
Some trivia to lighten the mood, but pertinent nevertheless.
We all know we have a massive rebuilding job, in every department.
A wee word to our ingenious song makers. Focus on the team, Players are fickle.
We have lost far too many motivational songs because of players leaving.
You know it makes sense and we just can’t get enough.
HH.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Thank you – spot on – we should be supporting the team. I am an optimist at heart. We will win the Cup and next year put slippy G and Sevco in their place.
HH
BTW JHB why do you never use the name Sevco?
Delighted if moves are afoot……………..
This talk of London interviews would seem odd. I doubt we’d have special dispensations to travel………..
I’m sure If caught the Dreggin’ Dragon would likely veto any move for a new manager and put all appropriate bans in place for the forseseable!
AN TEARMAN @9.02
Big D thanks for the tip about the Weavers Trail, always looking for new routes. Had a quick look, but will investigate further ramorra.
Hope things are good with you.
Ava Ave
The Third Man
A bona fide masterpiece
Directed by Carol Reed, always liked her work.
For fans of Graham Greene there’s a newer version of Brighton Rock also on BBC4 now
Funny thing is I always preferred Blackpool Rock
evergreencsc
If EH comes it should be noted by all the moanin minnies on here it’s highly unlikely he’ll be bringing his Bournemouth back room team with him as they all stayed on after he left including his assistant manager who he fell out with. He actually got Eddies job but was eventually given the sugar lump and is now with Sheffield United.
So all this talk about Peter Grant and Mark Burchill might be more than talk.
I think the pointer may have worked with him before?