There are so many takeaways to focus on from the Scottish Sun’s report on Eddie Howe to Celtic last night.
The idea that he may start in June as opposed to immediately? Check. The fact he wants to bring in his own Director of Football? Check. The news that new Chief Executive Dominic McKay is to be announced today? Check.
There were a host of things to take from it. But perhaps the most promising one for Celtic in the long-term was that the Hoops are reportedly set to rip up their plans in order to accommodate Howe.
Howe is said to want Richard Hughes in as his DoF. A name not mentioned or reported as being a candidate for the role before Howe to Celtic got serious. Indeed, the Sun state that Celtic have had to rip up their plans after they had been looking for their own candidate.
This is extremely promising. It’s a sign that Howe will have full autonomy at Celtic – something that the likes of Neil Lennon didn’t have. Something that originally put Roy Keane off the job in 2014.
Celtic have shown that they can give their managers full control over the footballing department when they decide to. Brendan Rodgers was allowed to bring in all of his backroom team. He also identified his own Head of Recruitment too in Lee Congerton.
Eddie Howe looks like bringing in his own team to Celtic
But, in the past, they’ve looked to interject when they’ve felt they had the room to do so. Ronny Deila’s backroom staff were picked for him. John Collins and John Kennedy made up his number two and number three. Keane stated in the past thisis something that had been lined up for him too [BBC].
Lennon, meanwhile, apparently wanted some specific faces in the door during his spell at the club also. But that appeared to be rebuffed too for whatever reason [Glasgow Times].
The Celtic board has intervened far too often in the past on playing matters. Deciding a manager’s backroom staff just isn’t on. That already doesn’t look like something Howe will have to concern about.
And if he’s picking his own Director of Football, that’s another promising step. That shows to us all that he really will have full control over the football operations alongside his handpicked DoF candidate.
The Celtic board appear to know just how angry supporters are over how the Lennon debacle was handed. Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell have been the subject of real fan ire all season. This has come from failing to listen or at times even acknowledge the anger of the club’s support.
It appears that they wouldn’t dream of intervening on Howe’s staff in the footballing department. Whether that’s because they know fans would again turn their anger towards them or because it’s just a necessity in order to get Howe in the door, we’ll never truly know.
But whatever the reason, Howe’s ability to pick his own team is already a promising sign.
In other news, take a look at our piece on the latest Howe to Celtic report.
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