With Patryk Klimala leaving Celtic [BBC], we’re down to four first-team strikers.
Odsonne Edouard will almost certainly leave, while Leigh Griffiths and Albian Ajeti have struggled so far this term. Meanwhile, Vakoun Issouf Bayo probably hasn’t done quite enough at Toulouse to suggest he’s Celtic material just yet.
There are problems like this across the park. Arguably, we have three second or third-choice keepers, in usual circumstances. To suggest Scott Bain ‘stands out’ amongst our options is probably on the kind side. At right back, Jonjoe Kenny will return to Everton, leaving Anthony Ralston. There’s a similar issue on the left, with Diego Laxalt and Greg Taylor.
We could go on, but the point here is: with players leaving, how sure can we be that Celtic have a coherent plan in place? While it’s all very well selling players like Patryk Klimala, that’s only useful if recognised replacements are on their way. Currently, we have no head of recruitment, no permanent manager, no Director of Football, a changing CEO and a squad that’s likely to at least halve within months.
While the reflex is to relax, know that things take time and that there are surely people at the club with controls over our spending and incomings, there’s a tapestry of utter uncertainty at our club just now, and that surely has to change.
Who is driving Celtic transfer policy?
The likeliest character to be in charge of transfer policy is Peter Lawwell. He’ll be keen to leave a lasting mark on a number of areas before he retires in the summer.
That’s his right, of course. Like him or not, he’s worked behind the scenes on immensely successful sides, as well more mediocre offerings. He’s the Chief Executive of the club and you have to assume he’s at the wheel. But beyond his job title, one he’ll soon vacate, what’s to suggest he has a long-term strategy in place?
Sure, there were mistakes made over the last 12-18 months that need corrected, and perhaps the signing of a less-than-prolific Polish striker was chief amongst them. However, as we’ve seen with Andrew Gutman and Cameron Harper leaving, Scott Brown announcing his departure, there’s hardly a raft of incoming names, nor someone clearly in charge of bringing them in.
It’s beyond strange, especially for a club our size, to be so draped in mystery from the first-team to the boardroom. Admittedly, it takes time to appoint big figures at the club but to have so many pieces missing or set to leave all at once is enough to give anxiety to even the most collected of Celtic fans.
We need some clarity sooner rather than later. Bizarrely, our share prices are rising despite the ongoing ambiguity. Is a big announcement on the way?
READ MORE: CalMac is already doing the duties of a captain in robust Griffiths defence
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