Martin O’Neill has confirmed Celtic are looking to appoint a head of recruitment, but admitted it is not viewed as the club’s biggest priority.

That admission is unlikely to settle nerves among supporters.

More than four weeks have passed since the transfer window opened and Celtic have made just one new signing. The first competitive fixture of the season is less than three weeks away, while the Champions League play-off is little more than a month from now.

When O’Neill was confirmed as the club’s permanent manager, the message from the board was clear. Interim chairman Brian Wilson promised “a very active few weeks” in the transfer market.

That statement came over a month ago.

There is still optimism that Kelechi Iheanacho will agree a new contract after becoming a free agent, with reports suggesting the decision now rests with the player. A new goalkeeper is also understood to be on Celtic’s radar to compete with Viljami Sinisalo.

O’Neill recently revealed he did not seek transfer assurances from principal shareholder Dermot Desmond before accepting the job on a permanent basis.

Now he has lifted the lid on the club’s recruitment structure, confirming work is under way to bring in someone to lead that department.

“They’re looking at that [head of recruitment] at this minute,” O’Neill said.

“I think obviously there’s a process. I think that they want to do that, but it’s not at the top of the list at this minute.

“I’ve got a couple of boys who are very, very good in the background anyway.

“I think that we’ve made a couple of changes. Some people have left the football club. On the recruitment side, honestly, they’re working day and night.

“I’m in constant talks with them every single day. They’re behind the scenes. Genuinely, I’m really pleased with what they’re doing.

“Mark Cooper has been doing really well for us. He’s identified players over the last 10 or 12 years for us. Some really fine players. Considering he was in South America, he identified young players even before they made the grade.”

Former Celtic midfielder Shaun Maloney played a significant role in the club’s recruitment work during the January window, covering multiple roles while balancing his assistance to O’Neill in the dugout.

That is no longer part of his remit.

“The recruitment [team] sends the stuff over to us, and eventually it’s our kind of say that makes the difference.

“He’s [Maloney] not [involved] in the same extent. He was doing six or seven jobs at the time. So just concentrate on this, and that’s fine.” (The Celtic Way)

The idea that appointing a head of recruitment is not near the top of the agenda will raise eyebrows.

Recruitment is the foundation of any successful football operation, particularly at a club expected to compete for trophies while preparing for Champions League qualifiers. Leaving that position unresolved while the season rapidly approaches feels difficult to justify.

Supporters are growing increasingly concerned by the lack of movement.

At the moment, O’Neill is the only senior figure regularly speaking publicly about transfers, recruitment and what the squad still needs. The board said improving supporter engagement would be a priority.

So far, there has been little evidence of that.