Celtic’s first summer under Ange Postecoglou is meant to be about rebuilding the Hoops and ensuring a better future at Parkhead.
It’s supposed to be a story of exiling old faces in Paradise in the shape of Scott Brown and bringing through new ones like Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide.
However, just a few hours before the latter arrived at Celtic for a nominal fee, the Bhoys announced a surprising piece of news.
On the chalkboard
As the calendar rolled over into the month of July, it looked for all of the world as though Leigh Griffiths would be following Brown out the door on a free transfer. However, step forward Celtic social media, who set off a frenzy on Thursday after they revealed that the 30-year-old had signed a new one-year extension.
The news was greeted positively by a certain amount of fans but the vast majority of supporters were baffled and angry by the decision to hand him a new deal.
One individual claimed it was burning the goodwill which had been built up at the club, while another said it was a waste of time and resources by keeping the striker in Glasgow. Another dejected supporter commented that Celtic were a shambles.
There has been a better atmosphere surrounding the club since Postecoglou arrived but a rather peculiar decision like this has to go down as Dominic McKay’s first clanger since replacing Peter Lawwell as CEO.
McKay has been snapped with the new manager on a number of occasions and has talked a good game alongside the Australian. However, this is the time to look towards the future, not back to the past.
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Griffiths has often been revered as one of the best finishers at the club. It’s unlikely many will dispute that considering his haul of 123 goals in the famous green and white, but at the age of 30, his career is only heading one way - downhill.
The experienced forward has already been handed several chances to prove himself at Parkhead but recent years have been plagued by inconsistency. He scored just seven times last term, a solid tally for someone playing second fiddle to Odsonne Edouard, but if the Frenchman leaves, Celtic could be in real trouble from an attacking perspective.
Postecoglou has already hinted at using the academy more but keeping players like Griffiths in their ranks will only put a dent in the chances of younger talents coming through.
This felt like the perfect time to cut ties but McKay has handed him a new deal instead. A segment of supporters are right to feel aggrieved.