Sources: Celtic submit ex-Everton man offer

Celtic have tabled an offer to ex-Everton scout Gary Penrice as part of an overhaul of their recruitment set-up, Football Insider has learned.

The former Premier League striker has been targeted by the Hoops recruitment chief Nick Hammond.

A Celtic source has told Football Insider that the club are ready to appoint experienced talent-spotter Penrice, 56, as their new chief scout.

He would report directly to Hammond, who joined Celtic last summer, initially signing a short-term deal, following the departure of the former recruitment chief Lee Congerton.

Penrice ended his 16-year playing career at Bristol Rovers in 2000 after also spending time at Watford, QPR and Aston Villa.

His most successful spell was in Gerry Francis' Rangers side that punched well above their weight in the early to mid 1990s.

A qualified plumber, he had played alongside Hammond in his first spell at Bristol Rovers.

Since retiring from playing, Penrice worked extensively as a coach and assistant manager before moving across into recruitment in 2006.

He has had scouting spells at Everton, Stoke City, Plymouth Argyle and Leicester City, before his most recent full-time appointment at QPR, where he spent two-and-a-half years as a recruitment consultant before his exit in December.

Penrice has subsequently been working on a freelance basis for a number of clubs, including Wigan Athletic.

Hammond has been restructuring the Celtic recruitment set-up during his time in charge ahead of what is likely to be another busy summer of transfer business.

In other Celtic news, it can be REVEALED that big accusations are now flying from the direction of Rangers towards the east End of Glasgow.