Former Celtic midfielder Kris Commons is rounding in on one man at Celtic Park this morning as he looks to play the blame game.
Commons told RecordSport, the forward thinking and structure at the club is not there when it comes to recruitment.
Nicky Hammond has been the man in charge of overseeing things when it comes to bringing players in and the structure in which we do it.
However, his track record to this point has been suspect and Kris Commons is asking if there can be any vindication for the club splashing nearly £10m out on Albian Ajeti and Vasilis Barkas, and another £3m on Patryk Klimala. Three players who haven’t done the business for Celtic.
The club are toiling and it’s not just one area which has us on the floor. Recruitment is a big part of it though and it’s just not been good enough. When the players have come in, Neil Lennon seems reluctant to use them.
There could be some hope for Albian Ajeti if he gets some game time, but the other transfers look bleak.
Should Hammond be moved on this season? Commons seems to think so.
“I found it interesting listening to Steven Gerrard speak last week about the club’s recruitment policy and how things work behind the scenes.
“Gerrard explained that, along with the club’s sporting director Ross Wilson, Rangers are actually now in the business of looking two transfer windows down the line, let alone just one.
“That’s how a well-run club operates. A good recruitment structure is now the key ingredient which underpins everything else in modern football.
“Contrast all of this to what’s currently going on behind the scenes at Celtic, meanwhile, and it soon becomes clear why they are in such a mess.
“Whether or not Neil Lennon remains in charge is another matter. It seems that, in all likelihood, the board will allow him to see things through until the end of the season.
“But, in the bigger picture, and in terms of how the club move forward from here, it’s the lack of vision and direction coming from the boardroom which is most alarming.
“Nick Hammond is the head of football operations at Celtic Park. He oversees the club’s scouting and recruitment department.
“Was it Hammond who sanctioned a combined £10million outlay on Vasilis Barkas and Albian Ajeti? Or a £2m loan fee plus a hefty wage packet for Shane Duffy?
“The £3.5m wasted on Patryk Klimala is another case in point. Ultimately, Hammond is the man who must carry the can for this litany of woeful signings.”
There has been rumours of a big shake up but those have yet to be founded. We’re still waiting on the club telling us what’s going on with the manager.
