A report from the Daily Mail has pinpointed the key responsibilities the new sports director/Director of Football will have at Celtic when he arrives in the summer.
The Mail’s Stephen McGowan reports that the new man’s remit will be to improve the scouting structure, youth development, and set an ethos and identity to the club.
In addition to that, the report outlined Celtic’s long-term goal. The club is said to be attempting to “create a modern, data-led footballing operation”. The Mail claims that’s something that started last year when the club moved to bring in specialist consultants to review their practices in relation to modern football.
The source believes that both technology and data analysis were identified as areas needing major upgrades. If Celtic didn’t move to strengthen those key areas, we would be left behind in Europe.
However, this reads grimly from Head of Football Operations Nick Hammond’s perspective. Especially considering two of his well-known remits are scouting and youth development. The signing of Liam Shaw looks like a prime example of this.
Yet more evidence Nick Hammond will be off; incoming sports director needs full autonomy at Celtic
If anything was yet more evidence that Hammond was for the off, it’s this. We spoke extensively last night about all of the reasons why the Englishman can’t stay in the gig. This report from Stephen McGowan only strengthens that argument.
You simply can’t see any way Hammond stays on if these count as the sporting director’s new responsibilities. It covers too much of Hammond’s remit. It would, in effect, render him useless if he was to stay on. The title of “Head of Football Operations” would also be extremely misleading.
This isn’t something that will upset Celtic fans either. Nick has disappointed immensely since his permanent appointment back in the summer of 2019. Too much money spent on players who haven’t made any real impact.
More promisingly for Hoops supporters however is that the closer we get to the summer, the less it looks like the status quo will remain in place. Celtic look like making some big moves over the next few months as losing 10-in-a-row starts to become more painful.
The recruitment of a sports director has been labelled “critical” by former manager Brendan Rodgers. It’s a role that many big clubs across European football now have. At Celtic, it’s barely been talked about even before this season. Where as, in terms of a long-term strategy, it’s exactly the kind of blueprint that can help negate damage done by sudden managerial departures such as Rodgers’ 2019 exit.
That shows just how vital a role this can be. And, the more we learn about it, the less it looks like Hammond has a place in Glasgow.
In other news, Michael Stewart has given his verdict on Celtic and the managerial position.
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