Celtic’s backroom staff situation has taken another turn, with a fresh report claiming Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham have been offered reduced terms as talks continue over their futures.
Martin O’Neill has signed on for another season at Parkhead, but there is still no full clarity over the coaching team that will work alongside him.
That uncertainty has only grown after SunSport journalist David Friel reported that Gavin Strachan is now expected to move on from Celtic, with West Bromwich Albion closing in on his arrival.
His expected exit would already leave Celtic with a major coaching change to deal with.
But the wider picture is arguably even more important.
Friel also reports that Maloney and Fotheringham have been offered reduced terms compared to last season, with talks still ongoing.
That detail gives the delay a different feel.
Until now, much of the focus has been on whether O’Neill would get the continuity he wants around him. But if reduced terms are part of the discussions, it may help explain why agreements have not yet been reached.
Maloney and Fotheringham were both involved last season and are understood to be valued by O’Neill, who is keen to have both coaches as part of his staff.
With some members of the first-team squad due back for pre-season at the end of next week, the timing is far from ideal.
Celtic should be moving into the summer with the manager, coaching staff and recruitment plans all pulling in the same direction. Instead, there are still questions over who will be on the training pitch when preparations begin.
O’Neill has agreed a 12-month deal, with the option of a further year, and now needs to be backed with a staff that gives him the best possible chance of success.
The club also have pre-season plans already in place, including fixtures against Shelbourne, Sporting Lisbon and AC Milan.
That makes the lack of clarity around the backroom team even more pressing.
Strachan’s potential move to West Brom would be significant on its own. He has been one of Celtic’s most consistent behind-the-scenes figures over the past six years and has built a strong reputation inside the game.
Celtic supporters have been waiting for clarity since O’Neill’s future was confirmed.
The manager is now in place, but there is still work to do around him. Celtic could lose Strachan while still trying to reach agreements with two coaches O’Neill wants to keep.
At a time when transfer work and Champions League preparations should be the main focus, the club now appear to have another important internal issue to resolve.
if the “text message ” rumour is to be true and Celtic are making cuts to the coaching team to compensate for what they paid out for Nancy, the that petulant old prick Desmond should be footing the bill in his own. He was the one who employed Tisdale and gave that joker a free run. He allowed the board to undermine Rodgers at every turn and not replace the outgoing quality we once had. Celtic have enough in the bank to pay for Nancy 10 times over as it is anyway. Desmond has to go. Changes need to be made. Season tickets have been bought and still Desmond, Nicholson and McKay are still in the building
Totally agree with Stevie Bhoy.What we paid out for Nancy and his coaches is chump change for us and yet this money obsessed lot are determined to claw it back from the guys who dragged this team over the line.Your mess DD,you clean it up,not the supporters. who put the money into the club.Total shitshow.
DD will not allow Celtic to progress to mutch his biggest fears are Celtic becoming bigger and more attractive for a take over he uses Celtic in his business as a promotion look at me I am the one in charge of Celtic so my businesses are something you need to be part off he will undermine Celtic and the supporters every time it is just a status symbol to be used to promote him and his business