MK Dons manager Paul Tisdale during the first half of the Sky Bet League One match between MK Dons and Tranmere Rovers at Stadium MK, Milton Keynes on Saturday 2nd November 2019. (Photo by John Cripps/ MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Across the Celtic support and on social media the post-mortem is underway into a horrific summer transfer window.
For many fans it is up there with 2018 and 2023 in terms of wastage, for those inside the club it is a time of celebrations and bonuses as they count up the surplus of around £20m.
This time it should have been different, a proper strategy and plan was expected. Last October, on the back on consultancy work Paul Tisdale was appointed as Head of Football Operations, bringing joined up thinking, linking every aspect of the club, co-ordination thinking at last.
Supporters largely welcomed the decision, Tisdale seemed a football fanatic with fresh ideas, good contacts and a real work ethic.
The January transfer window provided no sign of innovation. Jota returned from Rennes, Jeff Schlupp, a long term target was signed on loan from Crystal Palace with Kieran Tierney signing a pre-contract deal, returning six years after departing from Arsenal.
Back in October 2024 in a statement to the Celtic website Nicholson outlined Tisdale’s role at Celtic:
We are delighted to appoint Paul as Head of Football Operations, and we are sure he will bring a new dimension to our work.
Talent identification and talent development, from our Academy through to our first team, is of fundamental importance to the club’s strategy, and Paul has tremendous expertise in these areas.
We are certain that he will bring great experience, energy and innovation to what we do, working alongside Brendan, our football manager, Chris McCart Head of Academy and our excellent wider football staff, to bring further development and success to the club.
How happy are you with Celtic's summer 2025 transfer business?
Wonderful- great business completed
Horrific- changes must now be made
Most fans have given their verdict on transfer activity, thousands have withdrawn from the Home Cup Ticket Scheme, the club is afraid to go near social media knowing the hostile reactions provoked.
There are no signs of development at Celtic, only retraction.
Tisdale absolutely isn’t responsible for the transfer failings, that is down to a CEO who puts generating a transfer surplus above the needs of the team.
Having previously been high profile on social media the Football Doctor has been as quiet as Nicholson since taking up his Celtic salary.
Brendan Rodgers has yet to comment on the closure of the transfer window bar the standard endorsement of the Kelechi Iheanacho signing.
Typically Celtic won’t say a word on the transfer window shambles but Tisdale looks a very convenient fall guy for a club that refuses to adapt with the times.
Tisdale is the best dressed ghost at Parkhead.
Tisdale is there as a lightning rod to save the board being hit. Scandalous club, no morals.
If the Celtic board are worried to show face NOW, Just wait until our 6 point advantage over Sevco disappears, We have a bad run in Europa League and the January window follows on with the same abysmal result as this one – They won’t give BR £££££’s to spend as he is running down his contract.
The fans will vote with their feet and some will NEVER return
The BOARD are entirely to blame, no point trying to assign blame to others – Every Supporter knows who should carry the can – Not the players, Management, Backroom Staff. Recruitment team can only recommend the players, Manager gives his approval then the Board SHOULD finalise the contractual side of things
BR in his current 3 x years has shown a PROFIT on transfers of well over £ 40m + achieving huge profits in Europe and bringing constant success to the club.
What achievements have Nicholson – Desmond – McKay etc brought to the club ??
Stadium needs a big improvement, Youth Development (!) , Barrowfield ???
The Current Custodians of the club and their subordinates are a complete embarrassment
Won’t be at matches.
Not buying merch.
Not paying subs.
This will only change when the suits, particularly PL & MN are gone.
Getting on for 55yrs a supporter, and yes I’ve seen tough times, but I’ve never seen self harm / managed decline like this.
Do we really have suits upstairs who would rather hurt the club to prove a point and get rid of someone they don’t want?
Celtic should be so far out if site that we could field a second eleven that would win the league, such is our financial advantage.
The question is, why are we not?
You put any fan in PL & MN’s position and season upon season it would be “ right, what do we need to keep out boot on their necks”?
What do we need to keep ourselves way out in front?
But PL & MN seem to think the opposite, “ what can we do to weaken the squad”?
There’s only two possible answers to that.
1. They genuinely would see the club falter to get BR out and their man in.
2. There is a genuine objective to keep the “OF” brand close enough to keep it interesting for outside parties.
Any one of these two reasons is treason as far as I’m concerned.
Get these charlatans out of the club we all love.
“… the surplus of around £20m.”
Job done – from PL/MN’s perspective.
One of their most important KPI’s to secure their bonus?
========
OK, the window has just closed but you’d expect there would be a number of
staff who are disappointed / angry at the way the club is being run,
[and not talking about Tisdale specifically here.]
As far as I am aware, nobody has resigned in disgust / protest at the way the club is run?
Could still happen in the next few months?
Or, does everyone just keep their head down at the club?
I think people forget that targets were identified by Tisdale’s people including forecasted prices, and signed off by Brendan Rodgers. It was Nicholson who either didn’t deliver with low ball insulting offers or wasn’t allowed to deliver by his masters. That’s the way it works
Sack the f****** board.
Buy nothing from them.
Editor: Most fans outside the declining reach of Korea Quick News know that Nicholson is to blame, it comes with his job title and salary.
Seriously ? Do Celtic actually have a scouting/recruitment department ? Ange brought with him some recommendations and some worked out. Brendan isn’t a scout and is dependant on some acumen in this sphere, most of which (players) are side-lined or loaned out. I could think of a dozen Scots currently thriving in Europe, surely Celtic was in prime position to note these talents early. We’re even losing our own. The whole shebang seems to be orientated around investment and profit, as befits a ‘stepping-stone’ club, including managers.
Isn’t Nicolson just following orders? I think the problem stems from the top. How can Nicolson who’s on £800K expect a pass mark on the shambles of a window. The absentee landlord is the major problem, would he allow one of his other businesses to be run this way?
Editor: Your thoughts on the boardroom snake that goes running to the Sun?