Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has provided supporters with an insight into the process of scouting and recruiting players at the Scottish champions.
A lot has been said about Rodgers’ happiness, or not, with the Celtic transfer process.
It seemed to be a sticking point for the manager during his first spell at the club, while there’s a perception he wasn’t 100% on board with how things transpired during the summer months this year.
Pundits and fans have speculated about Rodgers’ role in the recruitment process but the Celtic boss was more than happy to discuss how it works and make perfectly clear he takes responsibility for it – despite the presence of Head of Scouting and Recruitment Mark Lawwell.
Brendan Rodgers on Celtic transfers
He said [Scottish Daily Mail, 23/11 print edition]: “Listen, it’s something that’s natural. People will always wonder, especially when we’re a club that doesn’t have a director of football or sporting director. But it’s really no different here to most clubs.
“We identify the profile of the players that we want. The recruitment team then scythe that down to a certain number. Then it comes forward to me to decide on the best ones to bring in. And if none of the three are to the level then we don’t bring them, it’s as simple as that. It’s pretty clear.
“That was one of the things, before I came and then when I came in, I needed clarity around. But I have also said, strategically, that we need quality. And that’s something, hopefully, over the coming years we can improve on.”
Why Mark Lawwell is so important for Rodgers at Celtic
Rodgers also made it perfectly clear he places a lot of value in Lawwell and the rest of the recruitment team at Celtic. For the Bhoys boss, he simply couldn’t do the job alongside the coaching and first-team development he is in charge of.
The Celtic manager continued: “My job is to manage and to coach. With the greatest respect, the modern-day manager does not have the time to be going around, sitting in stadiums looking at loads of games. That’s not the job. So that’s why you are reliant on the recruitment team.
“Yes, of course there are certain players who you know and can bring in. But, in the main, the targets will come from the football club — and then I will choose. It’s only right that I do. I know I’m stood on the sideline but I take the responsibility for the players and the team when it’s out there. There were some who were nearly over the line when I was due to come in. So I trust the process.
“Some of the guys we brought in, I can absolutely see why they were coming in. But going forward it has to also be about quality. And that’s something we’re all aligned with. So it’s all very clear.”
These are pretty informative comments from Rodgers and give us a look into his mindset on transfer issues at the Bhoys. Some have tried to paint Celtic as a divided club right now. One prominent columnist even said he would be shocked if Rodgers was still in charge next season.
Hopefully though, with this continued messaging, everyone will start to understand that the Hoops manager is more than comfortable with how things stand at the Scottish champions.
In other news, Celtic set to launch improved offer for £7.5m-rated striker.
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