Lee Congerton, the former head scout of Celtic, has opened up about the challenges he faced during his tenure with the Scottish club, particularly highlighting financial constraints and recruitment difficulties. Congerton, who was brought in by then-manager Brendan Rodgers, faced significant scrutiny from fans over several signings that did not meet expectations.
In a candid reflection on his stint at Celtic, Congerton did not shy away from discussing the financial limitations he worked under. “At Celtic, we had no money,” he stated, pointing to the stark contrast in resources when compared to clubs like PSG, known for their robust youth programmes.
Congerton also touched on his relationship with Peter Lawwell, the club’s chief executive at the time, who has since become the chairman. He described Lawwell as “a nice man” but also “an accountant,” implying a possible divergence in their approach to club finances and player acquisition.
The former scout shed light on some of the ambitious targets Celtic pursued under his and Rodgers’ direction. Notably, the club attempted to sign Moussa Diaby and Christopher Nkunku, both of whom have gone on to establish successful careers in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Chelsea, respectively. These revelations underscore the high calibre of talent Celtic aimed to attract, despite their financial limitations.
However, Congerton’s tenure wasn’t without its frustrations. He expressed dissatisfaction with certain recruitment decisions, which eventually led to his departure from the club. “There were several players I didn’t want to be anywhere near them, and that is why I left. Peter knows that, and so did Brendan,” he told the Telegraph, indicating internal disagreements over transfer targets.
Following his time at Celtic, Congerton joined Rodgers at Leicester City. Now at Atalanta he described their situation as “very different,” likely referring to more substantial investment in player recruitment compared to his previous constraints at Celtic.
Congerton hasn’t said anything Celtic fans didn’t already know about the club and the way the board do business, especially Peter. Balance sheets first, players second has always been the way forward.
However, if he came to Celtic thinking he could hand out big wages for players to come in, he was on a hiding to nothing. Celtic did sign Odsonne Edouard for around £9m which is still Celtic’s largest ever fee paid out.
