As Celtic look to hire a new Director of football operations, one wonders if there will even be a board left at Ibrox soon?

Stories are emerging yesterday and today that Celtic may be about to hire a new Director of football operations.

Paul Tisdale, who calls himself the “football doctor”, is the name in the papers this morning.

If I’m honest, I would have to say I’ve never heard of the guy before now.

Then again, I wouldn’t have had reason to, because there was no Celtic connection up to this point.

Tisdale seems to have vast experience of the lower levels of English football, both as a manager and a player.

He says he’s a consultant now, or a “football doctor”, whichever way you want to look at it.

I don’t really need to go into detail on his career as you can read that in this morning’s Record, or on his Wikipedia page.

What I’m more concerned about is where he’d fit in at Celtic?

Here’s what the article in the Record had to say:

By overseeing the football operations, Tisdale would be responsible for the structures in place that allow Rodgers, his staff and the players to perform and improve. That would include leading on recruitment, although presumably with Rodgers having overall say so given the level of influence he’s enjoyed until now. A link between him and the board might be just what’s needed given recent differences of opinion over the speed and level of transfer business being done.

While all of that sounds great, is someone who has bounced around the lower levels of English football qualified to take on a role of such huge magnitude at a club like Celtic?

Tisdale himself isn’t lacking in confidence in his ability, but as I’ve said, Celtic is a hell of a lot bigger than the likes of Exeter City and MK Dons, which are the kinds of clubs on his CV.

Here’s how he describes what he does:

I work as what I call a football doctor. I go into football clubs and I try to find performance-improvement solutions using data and also my experience as a coach.

I can translate very well from the boardroom to the pitch, and from the pitch to the boardroom, and also deliver CPD (continuous professional development) or coach mentoring. I’m currently into a period where I am doing a bit of a lot of things, waiting for one thing really to take off. (It’s) keeping me busy and I am self employed with my own business and really enjoying it.

I’m doing a bit of a lot of things?

So clearly, he currently does a bit of this, and a bit of that.

With a bit of wheelin’ and dealin’ thrown in for good measure.

I don’t know whether to take this seriously or to think it’s some kind of joke?

I’m struggling to take someone who calls themselves a “football doctor” seriously anyway.

In my view, I don’t think this guy is remotely qualified to take on the role of Director of football operations at a club like Celtic.

But that’s just my opinion, maybe the Celtic board see something in him that I couldn’t possibly see.

Or maybe he’s just one of many people being considered for the role?

I suppose the positive thing to take out of this is the fact that we’re looking to recruit for this role.

It’s something that’s been badly needed for quite some time now.

I just can’t help feeling that once again we’re going for the cheap option, taking into consideration the level of experience Tisdale would bring to the table.

Look, as I’ve said, it’s a positive thing that we’re looking to recruit to strengthen the club in depth.

The same can’t be said for our noisy neighbours, who seem to be haemorrhaging people at boardroom level.

They’ve just had their Director of football operations, Creag Robertson, hand in his notice.

I’m guessing from Barry Ferguson’s latest comments in the Record on the resignation of Robertson, and his “2 point plan for the Ibrox board to follow”, that soon enough, he’ll be on the Ibrox board himself.

He has been seen lately parading around in the brown brogues and the club blazer, shirt and tie, so it’s probably only a matter of time.

It would be a perfect fit for him anyway.

Because right now the Ibrox boardroom needs “Real Raynjurz men” to get things under control.

And Bazza is exactly that, isn’t he?

They could hire Bomber Brown as Director of food operations, to ensure no green jelly gets into Ibrox.

Although the way things are going, there might not even be a board at Ibrox soon.

John “I think the Billy Boys is a great little ditty” Gilligan isn’t exactly stemming the flow of rats departing the sinking ship, is he?

And listening to Gilligan’s eloquent lisping lilt, you begin to wonder why?

Here’s what Bazza had to say about the mass exodus out of Ibrox:

Pressed by host Paul Cooney over a potential “pattern” of exits from senior positions at Ibrox, Ferguson played down any need for panic as he laid out the plan: “Listen, I just think it’s one of those things in football. I think R*****s need to get a CEO in as soon as possible.

I think John Gilligan has been clear he is not just going to bring anybody in, they are going to have to go through a clear process. That is what they are doing. I think in the next number of weeks you will see a CEO through the door and after that it will be the chairman.

Ah well, nothing to see here, it’s just one of those things in football.

And there’s lots of those things in football, you know?

Gilligan has been clear he is not just going to bring anybody in?

I think it’s more a case of nobody is interested in working at a club that is a complete shambles and in freefall.

And listening to Gilligan wouldn’t exactly fill you with confidence either, would it?

The old saying, “beggars can’t be choosers”, comes to mind.

But not to worry, Bazza’s on the case with his 2 point plan, so all is in hand.

All Gilligan needs to do is convince someone to become club CEO, quickly followed by convincing someone to be Chairman.

That’s worked out well so far, hasn’t it?

I often wonder if Gilligan is aware of the history of his name?

For a man who loves the Billy Boys so much, what his name originates from must be anathema to him.

Gilligan is an Irish boy’s name meaning “boy” or “lad,” derived from the Irish word giolla.

So the Ibrox side have a Seán Mac Giollagáin leading their club at the moment.

The old unseen Fenian hand and all that.

I have to say, that gives me tickles in my belly.

As does the fantastic direction Gilligan’s club is headed in.

Ah well, while we’re worrying about something as trivial as a football doctor, Ibrox worries about it’s very existence and future.

But never fear, with men like Gilligan and Bazza leading the way, all should be rosy in the Ibrox garden again soon.

Or not….