Why Celtic could be about to visit the Director of Football question again

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There was plenty of talk about a potential Director of Football coming into Celtic in the summer.

Whether it be the likes of Fergal Harkin, Matteo Tognozzi, or David Webb – the Hoops were certainly heavily linked with a move before the season began.

However, when Ange Postecoglou was appointed as the new manager, there was no follow-up with regards to a DoF coming in. In fact, if truth be told, it was a bit of a red flag having the manager appointed without one already having been in place.

Yet with the closure of the transfer window last week, it’s an issue that could be on the Celtic agenda once more in the near future.

Postecoglou was asked about whether a DoF or Sporting Director would be hired. The manager said the following via Celtic TV as he pushed the timeline back:

“My sole focus at the moment is on getting the right squad together. That doesn’t mean that what you’re talking about isn’t important. It is. It’s a priority. But it’s a priority post-window.

“I’ve got some ideas and I know Dom’s got some ideas on how we restructure things in the football department, so we’ll crack on with that once the window closes.”

Any incoming Director of Football must have role explained to Celtic support

Fans have a fair idea of what a Director of Football’s role entails. They’re the staple of the long-term vision of the football club. The figure that helps headhunt new managers and plays a key role in transfer strategy.

Yet, if Celtic do decide to make a move for one, he won’t have had a say in the above. He won’t have helped appoint Postecoglou and he certainly won’t have helped during the summer window.

That’s why his role must be explained to the Celtic support. Whilst we would all be told that it’s the job of the sporting director to instill a culture to the football club, actually explaining the nuts and bolts of that to supporters would win many over.

What we lacked last season were clarity and accountability. Nobody at Celtic appeared to want to take responsibility for the shambles that was the 2020/21 campaign. Nobody was willing to even confirm what it was they actually did at the football club.

If Celtic go down the DoF route, it’ll be a major move. It’s not an appointment you can make and have him work quietly in the background. Hoops fans would demand to know what role he’s actually playing in the rebuilding of the football club.

In any case, there are no signs as of yet that an appointment is even close to being imminent. But Postecoglou said the subject was a priority last month, and therefore now appears to be the time for it to be back on the Celtic agenda once more.

In other news, Celtic loan striker Leigh Griffiths still holding on to Scotland future