Celtic’s Board failed Brendan in this window, they need to deliver in the summer

The Celtic Star

·4 February 2025

Celtic’s Board failed Brendan in this window, they need to deliver in the summer

The Celtic Board failed in this window, they failed Brendan Rodgers and they failed the Celtic support. They now need to deliver in the summer…

Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell and Chief Executive Michael Nicholson in the directors box. Celtic v Kilmarnock, Cinch Scottish Premiership, 17 February 2024. Photo Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

The knives are well and truly out for the Celtic hierarchy, and understandably so after yet another failure to deliver on the transfer front.

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Kieran Tierney looking less than pleased yesterday. Photo social media

Kieran Tierney on a pre-contract

It may sound strange that there is such tension in the air after we sealed the transfer of Kieran Tierney on a pre-contract agreement, secured the return of Jota, and a loan deal for an experienced EPL player in Jeffery Schlupp.

Jota rejoices in Celtic return. Photo Kenny Ramsay.

Jeffrey Schlupp of Crystal Palace celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage on April 27, 2024. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

However they sanctioned the sale of Kyogo then failed miserably in their attempts at replacing the Japanese talisman and that has understandably left the majority of Celtic supporters feeling angry and frustrated this morning.

Kyogo signs for Rennes. Photo Rennes FC

Kyogo may have expressed his desire to move on last summer, but allowing him to leave without having a replacement lined up is sheer incompetence, something that our custodians have been guilty of on more than a few occasions.

Matt O’Riley signs for Brighton from Celtic for a fee of £25m. Photo Brighton & Hove Albion FC

Summer spree funded by O’Riley fee

To their credit they did allow Brendan to spend big after the sale of Matt O’Riley last summer, allowing him to bring in Arne Engels for a record £11 million, while Adam Idah was signed for £9.5 million, and £6 million was splashed out on Auston Trusty. Effectively one out paid for the three coming in and didn’t bother the bank balance at any stage.

Some will say we spent a big chunk of the Kyogo fee on Jota, and as good as an addition as he was, he wasn’t a direct replacement for the Japanese striker, and we ultimately failed to fill the gaping hole left by his departure.

Even a loan signing would have been acceptable, but those in charge of our club still failed to achieve that. We should still have more than enough to get over the line in terms of the league title, but that shouldn’t excuse the board’s failings.

Broendby IF v Aarhus GF, Oddset Pokal cup football, Broendby, Denmark Brondby, Denmark. 15th, December 2024. Mathias Kvistgaarden 36 of Broendby IF seen during the Danish Oddset Pokalen cup match between Broendby IF and Aarhus GF at Brondby Stadion in Brondby. Denmark, Brondby Gonzales Photo/Rune Mathiesen

Brendan now has final say in signings after offloading the project signings he inherited

One thing that has changed is that Brendan Rodgers is having the final say on potential signings and perhaps there were one or two signings – like the other Danish striker (cheaper one) who signed for West Brom yesterday for around £3m, ideal territory for Celtic in terms of the price.

The dearer Dane was out-priced by their club again as they are well aware of Celtic solid financial position and knew that Kyogo left before we made our approach. They gambled on Celtic being cash rich and desperate knowing that the Celtic support would be unhappy if Kyogo wasn’t replaced and they had our top target.

Cautious loan for Idah proved costly

Norwich did something similar in the summer. It would have been all so different had Celtic simply paid the £3m for Adam Idah last January, when Norwich would have been delighted to offload their third pick striker for that kind of money. Caution eh? Dear prudence more like.

Daniel Cummings of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Youth League 2024/25 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Lesser Hampden on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The strikers for the rest of this season are therefore Adam Idah, aided by Daizen Maeda, Johnny Kenny who had deadline day interest from Shamrock Rovers and St Mirren, and Daniel Cummings who yesterday signed a pre-contract with West Ham. Celtic turned down a £500k bid for a player few Celtic supporters will want to see wearing the Hoops.

Brendan Rodgers. Motherwell v Celtic, 2nd February 2025. Photo by Vagelis Georgariou

Brendan will work his magic

Brendan will of course work his magic and it will be enough domestically. Whether it’s another double or a treble we’ll have to wait and see. It’s European that the biggest frustration. Feyenoord recently beat Bayern Munch 3-0 in Rotterdam in the Champions League and throughout the campaign the Bundesliga leaders have shown a vulnerability on their European travels. Celtic should have been looking at throwing everything we’ve got at this one, especially with Daizen missing the game at Celtic Park. That and the failure to sign a new striker weakens Celtic’s hand going into the play-off.

Celtic v St Mirren – Peter Lawwell and Michael Nicholson in the stands during the cinch Premiership match at Celtic Park, Wednesday November 1, 2023. Photo Andrew Milligan

The Celtic Board failed to deliver in this window, they need to deliver in the next one, there is simply no excuse. If they don’t then relations between them and the supporters, and indeed the manager will become even more strained. Here’s a reminder of what they told us this time last year…

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