Ange Postecoglou has insisted he is content with the make-up of his backroom and support staff at Celtic after an apparently erroneous report that the club were on the brink of bringing experienced director of football Steve Hitchen to the club.
The Scottish Sun on Sunday reported last week that former Spurs and Liverpool man Hitchen had been in attendance to watch the Bhoys put six past Hibs and that he could be used in a consultant capacity to help bolster the club’s transfer work.
However, by the end of the weekend, it had become clear this wasn’t going to be the case, with Celtic briefing a number of outlets that wires had been crossed.
Asked about the Hitchen link and the potential of a director of football coming to the club, Postecoglou told a press conference today [Celtic YouTube]: “If we’re taking a roll call of everyone who turns up to our games for possible positions in this football club, no.
“We’re kind of working through those areas methodically. We have added to all the areas I believe we needed to add. We’re continually looking at making sure that we’re as well-resourced as we possibly can be.
“We’ve made quite a few additions into areas that I felt were important. We’ll keep working that way. If I feel something needs further bolstering up, an area in our football department or within here at Lennoxtown, we’ll do so. But it’s not going to be gauged by who comes to our games. That’s not us putting a job vacancy out.”
Postecoglou has been consistent on this matter since his arrival last summer. He doesn’t seem particularly interested in a director of football working above him.
The arrival of Mark Lawwell as Head of Scouting and Recruitment also filled a need on the ‘transfer point man’ side of things, albeit not as an overarching director of football that has command of the entire department.
With additions made in the data analysis and sports science departments too, work has indeed been done to fill out the team behind the scenes.
It seems unlikely from today’s answer that there will be any significant additions or senior consultants arriving to work at the club while Postecoglou has the reins.
In other news, Exasperated Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou laughs off media and makes it clear he’s sick of VAR questions.
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