Celtic have been ‘unprofessional’ with Callum McGregor plan, he has no ‘value’ now – Keith Wyness
Celtic are continuing to show negligence with their lack of a succession plan for when club captain Callum McGregor ultimately departs.
That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the Bhoys should have been planning for the midfielder’s exit for the last two years.
McGregor is now 33 and has started nine of his team's 10 games so far this season, but his performances have been under serious scrutiny so far this season.
Wyness believes that Celtic are now at the stage where McGregor has no “value” to them in a transfer sense, as the end of his contract approaches in the summer of 2028.
The veteran has been heavily criticised in the aftermath of last weekend’s heavy defeat to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup, but Wyness believes that the Bhoys are still not prepared for his exit.
He also pointed out that Martin O'Neill now has no choice but to stick with the skipper until the end of the season, having missed the chance to replace him during the summer transfer window.
Celtic acting unprofessionally over Callum McGregor’s future
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 it would be “professional” for Celtic to have a young player learning and developing alongside McGregor for “at least a season,” before then taking over from him.
The Glasgow giants arguably had that in recent years with Arne Engels, but made the decision to sell him to West Ham for £22million just a few months ago.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained the measures Celtic should be taking to prepare for McGregor’s eventual exit.
“I think they should have been considering it for the last two years if you're going to have proper succession planning,” he said.
“But it seems Celtic have just sort of carried on with a lack of planning, so to speak. And so it shouldn't be a case of a couple of bad performances, and then they're starting to work out what to do.
“They should have had somebody in there working with McGregor in midfield to learn and to become that replacement and play together for a season together at the very least. That’s the sort of thing that a professional club would have been doing by now.
“Something should have been done in the summer window to foresee this situation and go forward. McGregor has given a great service to the club. He's right at the edge now of getting any value for him if they were to let him go.
“They're going to have to go through this season with him. And I think there's got to be a longer-term situation now.”
Martin O’Neill on verge of huge turning point
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider earlier this week that Celtic boss O’Neill could face huge pressure from the fans if they lose to Rangers again this weekend.
The ex-recruitment boss described last weekend’s heavy loss to the Gers as “humiliating” for the Bhoys, and made it clear that fans are hugely frustrated as a result.
Brown is adamant that the upcoming Scottish Premiership edition of the Old Firm Derby could provide a nasty turning point for O’Neill if his side lose again.
The veteran boss is held in extremely high regard at Celtic Park, but that could quickly change if things go wrong again when they meet their bitter rivals for a second time.