Mckay ready to arrive ahead of schedule and begin rebuild job

Dominic Mckay is expected to begin his new role as Celtic chief executive months earlier than planned.

The current Scottish Rugby Union chief operating officer is due to begin his new job in Glasgow on July 1, but Mckay is set to vacate his role at Murrayfield this week to begin work at Celtic Park. His desire to get his feet under the table at Celtic is down to the fact that the dethroned Premiership champions are closing on the appointment of Eddie Howe as their new manager, with Mckay keen to work in tandem with current chief executive Peter Lawwell to ensure a smooth handover before the latter’s departure.

If Mckay does leave the SRU early, it leaves a large void at Murrayfield, although with Scotland now idle following the conclusion of the Six Nations and pro teams Edinburgh and Glasgow competing only in the Rainbow Cup, it allows them time to fill his departure. Celtic are in need of an overhaul within the footballing department, with a manager yet to be appointed since Neil Lennon’s departure in late February.

A new director of football is required, while Celtic also have a number of players either leaving in the summer or expected to seek pastures new. Their head of football operations, Nick Hammond, left the club last week.

John Kennedy has been in caretaker charge for four games and Celtic return to Premiership action against Livingston on Saturday – one of five league matches remaining.

They face Rangers the following weekend in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup, meaning a new manager could find himself facing a baptism of fire.

It is followed by a midweek trip to Aberdeen and a return to Ibrox on league duty the next weekend.