Ange Postecoglou’s healthy relationship with the Celtic board is driving the progress of the club and long may it continue.
For years, supporters have been unsatisfied with the apparent disconnect of transfer incomings and the plans of installed managers. It even became an issue towards the end of Brendan Rodgers’ reign.
Former CEO Peter Lawwell was considered, rightly or wrongly, to have far too much influence on which players were and weren’t signed.
Postecoglou though, to his credit, appears to have convinced key people he is the man to pull the strings on transfer incomings. The arrival of players such as Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi certainly back that theory up.
The manager isn’t shy to admit he does have some form of control but is also keen to stress it’s a give and take relationship. Mostly it’s about convincing those around him.
As quoted by The Scottish Mail on Sunday [16/01 print edition, page 158], he said: “Look, I don’t think it’s total control, I don’t think that’s right. I don’t pay the players, it’s not coming out of my pocket.
“But there’s no doubt I take responsibility and the club is supporting my vision for what I want the team to be. From day one, I have said it was about people believing in me. They’ve got to be convinced by me. That’s what I need to keep reinforcing.
“If that changes, then, rightly so, the club will have every right to pull the reins in on what I do. But up until this point, they understand what I’m trying to create and have been very supportive of it.”
It seems that Postecoglou is managing to be the kind of unifying leader we’ve needed at Celtic for ages. As I noted earlier, even Rodgers ended up being alienated from transfer dealings. Neil Lennon seemed to do what he was told in all aspects.
If Ange and Michael Nicholson can continue marching forward in locked step with each other then ultimately it’s only the team and, eventually, supporters who will benefit.
Regardless of how this season turns out in terms of eventual trophy wins, I’m already excited about season two under Postecoglou. The future is looking very healthy.
In other news, Giorgos Giakoumakis turned up at Lennoxtown during winter holiday to be ready for Celtic.
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