CELTIC need to take urgent action NOW to make decisions on key personnel for the new season.
And the Parkhead powerbrokers must make the managerial position their absolute priority.
That’s the verdict of former Hoops goal hero Chris Sutton who is concerned his old club may be left dragging their heels with other teams already adding to their squad as they prepare for the next campaign.
The champions survived the carnage of Wilfried Nancy’s 33 days in charge when they shed TWELVE points during the hapless Frenchman’s six losses in his eight games in charge.
Brendan Rodgers dramatically resigned in late October following back-to-back league defeats against Dundee at Dens Park and Hearts at Tynecastle.
In the midst of the upheaval, 74-year-old Martin O’Neill twice answered the distress flares to somehow guide the club to an extraordinary league and Cup double.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? A head-scratching moment for Martin O’Neill after Celtic had completed the double with the 3-1 win over Dunfermline at Hampden.
Now the supporters are waiting to see if the Irishman could step up from his interim position.
Looking at the current situation, Sutton said: “Celtic have so much work to do over this summer.
“Managerial position, potential other key appointments, huge recruitment needs with a mass turnover of players in the offing.
“So the question for me is: Why on earth are we still waiting? Individuals should already be in place. What’s the plan?
“Modern football moves fast and, let’s be honest, the club has known about the current situation they are facing for months.
“I’m pretty surprised nothing is in place. Or nothing that we know about.
“Martin and his coaching staff did a quite remarkable job to win a double in the final part of the campaign, but that was despite the workings of those above.
“It was one calamity after another through the last campaign and they got away with it due to an inspirational boss.
“Martin, his assistants and the players got Celtic out of a hole and that can’t just be forgotten or buried under tickertape.
“The manager appointment is the No.1 priority, a matter of urgency.”
WAVING HELLO – OR GOODBYE? Daizen Meada acknowledges the Celtic fans at Hampden.
Sutton, speaking in the Daily Record, continued: “If the plan is not for Martin to be at the helm, then surely Celtic were working in the background for at least the last couple of months to get someone teed up.
“That’s what would you expect to have been happening.
“You cannot seriously be telling me that the club are waiting for Martin to decide and then beginning the process of looking for a manager? Can you?
“Celtic need to speed up. For a start, who is signing the players? Who is making decisions on who stays and who goes?
“The director of football, head of football operations, whatever you want to call it, Paul Tisdale is long gone, what’s happening with the job he vacated? Clubs are already making moves. Rangers have signed Lawrence Shankland.
“Deals are being made behind the scenes and Celtic are losing ground already.
“Celtic made a monumental mess of the last two transfer windows.
“It was clear through the opening months glaring gaps in the squad needed to be addressed in the January window.
“Fans were told that it would be fixed, yet the acquisitions were, basically, poor and did nothing to help through the run-in.”
SEEING DOUBLE…Arne Engels celebrates scoring Celtic’s second goal in the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final win over Dunfermline – could it be his last strike for Celtic?
The one-time England international striker added: “I can count at least 10 of the current squad who are not going to be there from the end of last season and some of them are key men.
“We all know that Daizen Maeda is going to be leaving, Arne Engels and Alistair Johnston are going to attract interest, Reo Hatate will likely go.
“Kyogo Furuhashi hasn’t been replaced in 18 months. Now Maeda is going out of the door and we still don’t see any clear evidence of a Celtic plan.
“I would imagine Martin must have had something to do with the re-signing of several of the boys who got deals towards the end of the season.
“Those made sense. These were players who you would want to keep in the main, the likes of Liam Scales and Yang Hyun-jun have earned the deals.
“James Forrest is important and the others will no doubt have parts to play.
“But the major decisions have yet to made and that astounds me.”
IT’S THE BOOK DEAL OF THE YEAR! You can now own a copy of ‘Celtic 50 Flags Plus One’ AND ‘Celtic Treble Treble’ for only £9.95 plus postage. Two stunning Celtic publications and you can save a massive £20! Order now! Just click the image for details and your books will be on their way. Happy reading!
