The big focus is on the first phase of return to training at Celtic. Players who have not been involved in international matches are due to return on Friday. That’s now only a couple of days away. Already, there are worrying signs about who will actually be involved.
Expectations were high that Celtic might get their act together and have a couple of new signings involved from the off. As yet, that’s not the case. Maybe the recruitment team is focused on players at the World Cup.
There was also hope that we might have seen new deals announced for Kelechi Iheanacho and/or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Or maybe a move for Marcelo Saracchi or Julian Araujo after their successful loan spells. Instead of wondering about players though, Celtic fans now can’t even be sure yet who will turn up for that initial training.
Celtic return to training overshadowed by coaching staff questions
Martin O’Neill has been confirmed as the new manager. As yet, we’re still all waiting to hear what’s happening to his coaching team. Rumours of difficulties in agreeing terms with Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham have been rife.
One definite has been confirmed. Gavin Strachan won’t be there. He’s just been confirmed as part of James Morrison’s back-room team at West Brom. That’s not a huge surprise, and the gap isn’t unexpected. It just looks poor on Celtic’s behalf that it exists and potentially could be much wider.
The whole coaching team should have been established by now. All in place, plans prepared for Friday and beyond, ready to launch another hectic season. Maybe behind the scenes, the picture and plans are better than they seem publicly.
But then again, Celtic fans won’t be surprised if they aren’t. They won’t be shocked by what seems to be a lack of action and preparation from the executives. Nor if stories of penny pinching on new deals turn out to be correct.
It’s bad enough that it seems to be the case for the coaching staff. It’s suspected it also applies to new signings, too. Early indications of Celtic being slow to make contact for new players, or of submitting low bids, are spreading. It’s not too late to recover in either position, and I hope for positive news soon, but it’s not encouraging so far.
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