The last few weeks have been landmark moments in the future of Celtic football club. Neil Lennon has left the Bhoys but further exits have occurred since.
What’s the word?
Celtic made a major announcement on Wednesday night, confirming that Nick Hammond would be leaving his role at Paradise.
Hammond had been with the Hoops since 2019, taking up the position of Head of Football Operations.
It was a job that saw the 53-year-old placed in charge of the club’s transfer strategy. Hammond was primarily responsible for bringing new players to Glasgow, an area he had mixed success in.
He spent £4.5m on error-prone goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas for instance, but he did help bring the effervescent David Turnbull to Parkhead.
Who is his replacement?
Hammond’s departure from Glasgow had been touted for a number of months now. Celtic had been hoping to rip up his role and open up the position for a director of football.
That, however, wouldn’t be possible until Hammond left the club. Thus, with the Hoops figure now on his way out, it could pave the way for a landmark appointment.
Celtic are planning to completely revamp and modernise the structure at the top of the club over the summer, something that’ll start with the entrance of Dominic McKay as the new CEO in the summer.
He’ll replace the retiring Peter Lawwell but another man who now looks set to arrive is Fergal Harkin.
[snack-amp-story url="https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-roy-keane-nicky-butt-jesse-marsch-scott-brown" title="Latest Celtic manager and transfer news!"]
Football Insider reported last week that a deal to bring the Irishman to Parkhead was 90% done and with Hammond now on the verge of departing, it only feels like a matter of time before Harkin signs on the dotted line to replace him.
His arrival should come as a major boost to Celtic, especially given his background at Manchester City.
Harkin has been in charge of the loan system at the Etihad, developing players for the future and helping to make their pathway to the senior side more attainable.
That’s an area the Bhoys have failed in over the last few years. Cameron Harper has departed for America after a lack of first-team opportunities while Armstrong Oko-Flex nearly joined Huddersfield in January.
This summer could also see the exit of their hottest prospect, Karamoko Dembele. He’s out of contract at the end of the season and it doesn’t look as though he’ll sign a new one.
The imminent arrival of Harkin, therefore, feels timely.