Michael Stewart believes that Celtic are in need of much more than just a football manager.
On Wednesday morning the club announced that Neil Lennon had resigned but after a season of utter misery at every level one inspired appointment isn’t going to cure all of the club’s problems.
With Peter Lawwell retiring at the end of June incoming CEO Dom McKay is expected to appoint a Director of Football to oversee every playing aspect of the club.
At the club AGM in December Peter Lawwell boasted of spending £35m in the previous 18 months but there is little sign of that investment on the park or in terms of results.
Stewart covered a number of matches for Celtic TV earlier in the season and told the BBC website:
There seems to be a complete disconnect between what the manager is looking for and who is brought in. You cannot have that. You have to be pulling in the same direction, delivering evidence and action, not soundbites and empty rhetoric.
Celtic are reportedly keen to hire a sporting director. As an outline title, someone who focuses on dealing with transfers and recruitment, I don’t think it’s a bad thing, but there has to be a clear line of authority as to whether the manager is working above or beneath the sporting director.
The manager is the guy who will be dealing with the players; he has got to have the veto when it comes to the crunch.
So much needs to be sorted out at Celtic on so many fronts. Long-standing chief executive Peter Lawwell is leaving, with Dominic McKay coming in from Scottish Rugby. McKay has never worked in football; has he ever done a transfer?
Will recruitment specialist and head of football operations Nick Hammond be given a stronger position? There are question marks over whether he should have a position at all if he is behind the signings made these past few years.
John Kennedy has taken over as Interim Manager with no time frame on that appointment and is expected to face the media tomorrow to preview Saturday’s game at home to Aberdeen.
