Martin O'Neill has revealed that Celtic are working on a stronger recruitment system going forward.
In an interview with The National, the Hoops manager said:
"I am sure that the new manager coming in, and Celtic should be on the search now, should be looking and have his own scouting system up and running.
There will be a more robust look at how we approach the transfer market. Sometimes it does go to the last minute, but it’s about having things in place and up and running, not like last year.
I don’t know [who will replace Paul Tisdale], but I assume that some sort of structure will come in that takes all of that into consideration."
O'Neill also spoke about signing players on permanent deals, as well as bringing in players from lower leagues:
"If we are signing someone permanently, then you absolutely need to factor it in. We are looking at our own policy ahead of the summer, and what we can do better, and you need to take that into consideration.
If you are signing someone from a much lower league, you need to think, "Can you handle this and do it quickly?" But if you are signing someone who has played often in the Bundesliga, they should be able to handle it.
If there is going to be some communication, debate, whatever, I am really hopeful that something positive can come out of it. We have a lot of big games coming up, and that would be nice. It is really important that there is some sort of togetherness again."
O'Neill is unlikely to continue in his role as head coach at the club, with a new manager set to come in the summer. Currently, Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez is leading the race for the Celtic dugout, but that could all change with a few more months to go until a final decision will be made.
Celtic fans will be delighted
Hoops fans will be over the moon hearing O'Neill say this. After some disastrous transfer windows, like the summer window at the start of the season that saw Celtic bring in players like Shin Yamada, Hayato Inamura, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, Celtic will want to move to a better system.
Recruitment has long been an issue at the club, but things thankfully seem to be on the up. If the Hoops hierarchy are genuinely taking a look at how things work at Parkhead, that is a promising sign for the future.
Whoever takes over from O'Neill is going to have a strong squad, plenty of players with options to buy, and, by the sounds of it, a better recruitment system. They are set up for success, and that's something that will be music to the ears of Hoops fans after this three-manager campaign.