Bhoycie 
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 25: (L-R) Celtic Interim Chairman Brian Wilson, Chief Executive Officer Michael Nicholson and Chief Financial Officer Christopher McKay during a William Hill Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park, on April 25, 2026, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Just who is calling the shots in the football department at Celtic?
I’ll be honest, I don’t know the answer.
It looks like the Manager decision is in the hands of the absentee majority shareholder.
Gone are the days where this used to cause excitement amongst the supporters like the Big Boss was taking control of matters.
It now fills us with the fear.
At least some of us anyway.
The reasons for that are simple, what are the motivations, the goals, the the reasoning behind.
For most, myself included, the trust is totally gone after two letters penned by Dermot Desmond last season.
The character assassination on the departing Brendan Rodgers, having been given the keys to the official website out of nowhere, was embarrassing.
The letter his son enjoyed reading out at the AGM was even worse.
Yet despite all this, he has carte blanche again to preside over deciding who is befitting of the most important role at the Club.
What qualifies Desmond to make such calls?
And are they made with a team or just his judgement alone?
I fear the latter.
There are more calls being made at Celtic regarding the football department than just the manager though.
Today we read from Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph that Celtic had decided goodwill was the way forward for Stephen Welsh’s next career move.
Really? Who commissioned that then?
He has probably just had his best Season to date, albeit not for Celtic but impressive outfit Motherwell.
His stock is probably as high as its ever been.
1 year to go on his current deal, ripped up with a hand shake of good will?
Yang signing a new deal the other week, what if the new Boss doesn’t fancy him?
After all it’s not 12 months since he was offski to Birmingham City till the 11th hour “deefy” from Nicholson.
He will be under contract, likely on much improved terms till 2030.
Take what you’re given if you are the new Boss?
There are also links today to potential new signings.
Without the genius ideas of “Doctor Football” who is casting their eyes on such players for us?
Scouting happens 24/7 essentially, I get all that.
But if Celtic were to make moves to sign a player or 2 without a new manager in place, let alone their consent then wow.
Everything already feels like another Summer of bewilderment is ahead.
It’s high time the football department was ran by football people.
That’s what is needed – an acceptance that the guys you employ to make football decisions are allowed to do so.
Too simple though, right.
We will wait and see if there will be an overhaul of said football department.
One thing is for sure, the structure just now is non existent.
At least from where I am sitting.
Time will tell if we will manage a window with proactive signings that see Celtic start a new season with a stronger squad than the one who finished the last.
Judging by how desperately we needed recruits in January and then seeing what we got though, I am not so sure.
We cannot afford another similar window.
Who can we count on to drive said window?
Well, that question remains impossible to pinpoint as things stand.
Keep Your Eyes on The Board.
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
Eric Knott 
I don`t understand this new craze where a club can`t sign a player in case he doesn`t suit the new boss.
What will happen if, say, the next boss is allowed to sign a team of players and they lose six of their first ten games? Does the whole package get their marching orders because the players will most likely not suit the
next gaffer? When did all this stuff start and who started it all?
How come that Brendan Rodgers had to walk away because he wasn`t allowed to sign his own players and yet
he went to a job in Saudi Arabia, was handed a team that was a failure with the man who signed them and is
now a success under Rodgers who, incidentally. obviously had the job lined up before he and Kennedy jumped ship?
And how is it that despite Rodgers not being allowed to sign his own players, he always got the credit for
signing the successful ones? Lawwell, Nicholson, McKay or the canteen lady got the blame for the failures.
Maybe Desmond wasn`t far off the mark after all when he aired his feelings about Rodgers. Rodgers has had plenty of time now to respond to the accusations and If a multi-millionaire feels that it is better to sign a non-
disclosure for a few extra bob at the expense of staying silent after a character assassination, then he got all
he deserved.
I often wonder how Jock Stein managed to win the European Cup by signing only two players, one who missed the final because of injury, and the rest managed by Jimmy McGrory who never took the pipe out of his mouth
even while eating.
Oh I forgot …. “but things have changed you know”.