Celtic board overhaul will transform transfer plan with earlier signings - Keith Wyness
Celtic have got to find a way of spending money earlier in the summer, rather than in the final stages of the transfer window.
That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Bhoys simply have to use more forward planning if they are to get more success in Europe.
Martin O’Neill’s side suffered an embarrassing play-off exit against LASK back in August, and missed out on the league phase of the Champions League for the second successive season.
Wyness believes that Celtic’s European struggles are seeing them waste their “competitive advantage” that comes with them being the Scottish Premiership’s most profitable club.
The Scottish businessman made it clear that the Glasgow giants should be “streets ahead” of their domestic competitors, if not for sustained flaws in their summer planning.
He is adamant that this is the overriding issue at Parkhead, but also believes that it will take a switch at the very top of the club for things to change.
Celtic have ‘intransigent’ board
Aberdeen’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs – believes that the Celtic board are “intransigent” when it comes to the way they spend their money.
The Bhoys continue to follow the same planning structure ahead of each campaign, and it routinely leaves them open to embarrassment in Europe.
Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained exactly what needs to change for Celtic to truly start realising their potential on the continent.
“Celtic are not fighting for European places with one hand tied behind their back. They're fighting with one hand tied in their pocket, and they're not getting the money out and doing it,” he said.
“Now, it may not just be wild spending on players I'm talking about, but if you were to spend on the data research about recruitment, on the medical facilities, things will compound over time and improve the squad in many different ways.
“It doesn't have to be a mad spend on players’ wages, et cetera, although they should be spending more in June, July, rather than waiting until August, September. That definitely is correct.
“They could be streets ahead by now, but their competitive advantage is the most unused competitive advantage in modern football when you look at the league they're in right now, and that's got to lay the blame at board level.
“There's a very intransigent board with Dermot Desmond and his followers. So will there be a movement at that level? It may take that for this to happen.”
Celtic about to land £10m windfall
Wyness previously told Football Insider earlier this week that Celtic could potentially earn as much as £10million from hosting Oasis gigs next year.
The Manchester band are set to play five nights at Celtic Park in May 2027, with Wyness suggesting that they potentially stand to earn up to £2m from each gig.
He also emphasised the value behind the club getting their stadium back on the map for concerts, which could prove to be a hugely lucrative source of revenue moving forward.
Celtic are set to benefit massively from Oasis’ tour, but how they will ultimately spend that money remains firmly up for debate.