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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VOGUEPUNTER on 2ND APRIL 2021 9:11 AM
Aye..Big Jimmy get on here,I haven’t groaned at one of your jokes for yonks :O)
………………
FAO Wishaw Tim and DAVID66 also…
So its a bad joke that you want ?
Never mind COWBOYS…Will we soon be known as HOWEBHOYS ?
I cant do the Link but theres a great old song that play very often by a Guy called ” HEINZ”…its called ” JUST LIKE EDDIE”…and its a tribute song to the late and great ” EDDIE COCHRAN””….
Its Pure FAB…so its is.
HH
GEEBEE1978 on 2ND APRIL 2021 11:58 AM
POR CIERTO on 2ND APRIL 2021 11:55 AM
“Scott Brown said he left due to the uncertainty regarding the new manager. If only he’d waited a couple of weeks before making his decision.”
Yes, though I think Aberdeen forced his hand and the “No Manager” excuse worked for both of them, por cierto
But have you seen an independence rally?
You get the flags and the faux-Jacobite fancy dress to add to the “retreat into the past” Nostalgia.
I much prefer the Independence rallies T, last one I attended I walked beside the James Connolly society with a lovely flag, a great day out my kind of people great diversity and inclusion, flags from all around the world, LOL yes some costumes are way over the top, but treated as fun
As opposed to English right-wing tory marches now exhibiting fascism, violence and god forbid you to be of a different color as they go by
Anyway I see we may be resuming rivalry of a 5 a side pitch soon T, you can exact revenge then
Enjoy your Easter weekend
I have often wondered about the introduction of Scottish Teams to the English leagues, especially now when it would be extremely beneficial to those in Government who would like to hold onto the Union, seems to me it would be a masterstroke, to make it happen, por cierto.
Thanks Geebee
I had forgotten about Wanyama.
I am very proud of my club and its historic achievements but I speak to supporters of other clubs and I hear how they describe us and place us in a diminished position.
Some of that is just arrogance from small clubs in the Big Economy Leagues but the record books are not arrogant. We have one EC win (54 years old) and two lost finals (51 years old and 18 years old respectively).
We have done better than Anderlecht but not as well as PSV or Feyenoord
Ernie 11:59
Fair point although I think that argument involves a bit of an assumption that The Huns are out the financial mire.
I had my wee Day oot this morning up and down by Taxis to the Vets to get RockyBhoys Medication.
I stopped off in the Toon to get a couple of things…it was murder Policeman trying to do the 10 minute walk back to ma hoose !
Having spent Months inside the hoose, my back and legs have really packed in.
FAO DAVID66….I met a neighbour of mine this morning and she works and drinks in my local with my mate who is her Hubby…she told me that it will NOT Open on April 26th ( No Beer Garden as such), although they can put 3 or 4 tables out on the Pavement, it is NOT worthwhile as IF it were to rain ( Unusual The Calton ?)…
the punters with their Drinks can NOT come into the Pub etc etc ?
HH
LIONROARS67 on 2ND APRIL 2021 12:10 PM
‘ I walked beside the James Connolly society with a lovely flag, ‘
###
Did James Connolly ever do, say or write anything that suggested he was in favour of Scottish independence?
Ernie 11:59 and Por Cierto 12:16
On the political note, it’s interesting to note, in the face of everything that’s happened since, the date and subject of the most read P67 blog
See bottom of front page of site.
Lionroars
“I much prefer the Independence rallies T, last one I attended I walked beside the James Connolly society with a lovely flag, a great day out my kind of people great diversity and inclusion, flags from all around the world, LOL yes some costumes are way over the top, but treated as fun”
I am glad to hear it B.
Is it safe now for Jeanette Findlay to tweet “Tiocfaidh ar la” in Scottish Nationalist circles yet?
I hope we get an outdoor pitch warm up for the 5’s before we go indoors. I seem to have developed as many bellies as Paul Gascoine’s pal during lockdown.
FAO Big Jimmy
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVIiQ8iNvKc
Setting free the bears for Res.12 & Oscar Knox on 2nd April 2021 11:40AM
When Teemu Pukki was scoring a few goals in Norwich’s first Premier League campaign after the Championship promotion season he topped the scoring chart, 2019 I think, Scott put some warm words of praise in the press.
I read those comments as an apology to Teemu for the time he experienced with Celtic. I’d call it as the time when the goon squad were operating at Lennoxtown. Brendan Rodgers seemed to mark his card and Scott responded.
Mixing Politics with football here
I see Jordan Jones is outed as a vaccine sceptic.
Whoda thunk it?
GEEBEE1978 on 2ND APRIL 2021 12:05 PM
Maybe Howe has looked at Rodgers career and sees Celtic as more of a vaulting horse than a stepping stone.
Did James Connolly ever do, say or write anything that suggested he was in favour of Scottish independence?
Take that up with the James Connolly Society, I’m sure they will indulge you with that debate, obviously chatting with them on that subject they absolutely believe 100% that Connolly was for an Independent Scotland, as far as I’m concerned a society who have James Connolly at their heart and study his lifes work means I will take their word for it, terrific lads
James Connolly Society – Let Us Risehttps://jamesconnollysociety.com
The 2013 James Connolly Commemoration held on June 8th at Connolly’s birthplace in Edinburgh. Organised by The James Connolly Society Scotland and the …
Knock yersell oot
New article up
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
SQUIRE DANAHER on 2ND APRIL 2021 12:23 PM
FAO Big Jimmy
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVIiQ8iNvKc
………
Cheers mate…Ive always loved that song and I play it at home and on my local pub Jukebox.
HH
Is it safe now for Jeanette Findlay to tweet “Tiocfaidh ar la” in Scottish Nationalist circles yet?
Well not being a member and never have been a member of the SNP, I can’t answer that question on behalf of the SNP or to the veracity of your claim
However, on the day of the Independence rally, I referenced earlier, a happy day was suddenly changed as a group of irate angry crazy mob made up of British state supporters complete with Union Jacks, Rangers tops, etc, were giving it laldy with God save the queen and rule Brittania, now being beside the James Connoly society banner this, of course, had the British state supporters going berserk as they sang their anthems, we had great fun with returning “Tiocfaidh ar la” and some other unrepeatable stuff due to blog rules, no complaints, no objections from those around, indeed much praise and support, T apart from the James Connolly society, there were Irish nationals living in Scotland on that rally with their national flag, I spoke to them, I also spoke with English nationals who had the st Georges cross flag with them.
I have personally worked beside Labour party members who were also OO members, I suspect at a meeting of their local CLP and if they were in attendance you shouted: “Tiocfaidh ar la” they would not be best pleased, to say the least
I hope we get an outdoor pitch warm up for the 5’s before we go indoors. I seem to have developed as many bellies as Paul Gascoine’s pal during lockdown.
I think they will be much hilarity when we eventually ask rusty limbs to control a football and then run
LIONROARS67 on 2ND APRIL 2021 12:33 PM
I only ask because so far as I’m aware he didn’t.
And if he had I think it would be better known, given that it would have been very much against the current of then contemporary Marxist thinking.
And, call be a stickler for detail, but the fact that some people who have a nice flag assume/imagine/fantasise that he did isn’t evidence , never mind proof, of anything.
SQUIRE DANAHER:
Sorry, SQUIRE, dunderheid here, but, I can’t see what you mean, for the benefit of me :)) please explain, thanks, por cierto.
Test
SFTB
“Aye, and Douglas Ross is already a fud. What more can we add?”
I don’t normally make remarks about people’s physical aspects, but I must say every time I see Red Card Red Card Ross I just think ‘rat face!’. Appologies to rats all over Scotland.