Celtic’s January transfer window has been very much played by ear.
In the absence of a permanent manager, head of recruitment or any kind of ‘sporting director’ (or head of football operations), Martin O’Neill isn’t working in ideal conditions.
Paul Tisdale had seemingly been the main man behind Celtic’s strategy, but he was dismissed alongside Wilfried Nancy (the man whose appointment he orchestrated) in January.
As a result, Celtic have gone into a season-defining January transfer window on the back foot… to say the least.
The most hectic part of the window is yet to come – and at the centre of it will lie Celtic’s makeshift recruitment department.
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Celtic and Shaun Maloney’s recruitment department
O’Neill has openly said that he has ‘discarded’ some targets, as you’d expect any manager to have the power to do.
But in the absence of a head of recruitment, who is doing the scouting? Who is organising it?
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According to The Herald’s Stephen McGowan, assistant manager Shaun Maloney is one of three men leading Celtic’s ‘hastily assembled scouting recruitment task force’.
Alongside him are Mark Cooper and James Bell-Walker.
Scottish scout Cooper will be a familiar name to some Celtic fans, for his many years based in South America working with various clubs.
Bell-Walker, on the other hand, recently joined Celtic’s recruitment department after nearly a decade at Chelsea. His exact role at Parkhead isn’t yet known, but it is said to be a senior role.
He worked as Chelsea’s Senior International Scout, so could be replacing former Head of Scouting Jay Lefevre, who left Celtic for Swansea.
Maloney has now operated as a Player Pathways Manager, Assistant Manager and Senior Recruitment Figure this season. He’s certainly earning his wage.
But the crucial part is yet to come, with less than a week remaining before deadline day.
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Martin O’Neill on Celtic transfer prospects
Asked after Celtic’s 2-2 draw with Hearts, O’Neill was discussing the business still to be done for the rest of the club’s transfer window.
He was asked if he could see three or four more players coming in before the end of deadline day, and his answer wasn’t too encouraging.
He said: “I don’t know about your numbers, but definitely we would need some people in.”
Quality over quantity? Either will do at this point.
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