The decision not to start Boli Bolingoli and Christopher Jullien looks like dominating the aftermath of Celtic’s Champions League exit to Cluj.
With just over two weeks to go until the transfer window closes Celtic’s transfer business will be watched very closely with every comment dissected.
The transfer windows of 2018 only managed to uncover Scott Bain who has evolved from a third choice goalkeeper into a first pick. Apart from converting Odsonne Edouard onto a permanent deal the signings from last summer have already left the club.
Recruitment is a year round process with Neil Lennon only confirmed as Celtic manager at the end of May signing plans were already well underway before the Irishman’s status was upgraded from caretaker to permanent.
Lee Congerton’s work had already been shelved before he headed for Leicester with out of work Nick Hammond brought in for a summer shift to assist with transfer activity.
This summer more than any other Celtic needed to be bold in the transfer market- particularly in defence where Mikael Lustig, Dedryck Boyata and Kieran Tierney needed replaced.
On Tuesday night against Cluj the best that could be said about the defence was that it was makeshift with Alan Stubbs questioning who is calling the shots with recruitment.
“It raises questions about was, or is, Neil working closely with head of recruitment Nick Hammond?” the former Celtic defender asked in The Sun. “If Bolingoli has been brought in, then how much input has Neil had into that?
“As a manager you need to be working very closely to make sure the players that are coming in have your blessing and you are very comfortable. Because if it hasn’t been Neil’s signing, is that one of the reasons he’s not got 100-per-cent faith in playing them in potentially Celtic’s biggest game of the season?”
Lennon will face the media tomorrow to preview Saturday’s match with Dunfermline but it’ll be his comments on transfer activity that will be listened to most closely for hints about the roles being played by Peter Lawwell and Hammond.
A year ago at St Mirren after some disastrous signings Stubbs was sacked by St Mirren after four SPFL matches.
