No sign of a quick fix for Celtic shambles

LACK OF STAR PLAYERS IS AN ISSUE FOR HOWE

WHEN Rangers put four goals past Celtic as they romped towards the title in 2000, at least there were crumbs of comfort for those watching in horror from the Broomloan Road stand.

On the field that March day were the likes of Johan Mjallby, Paul Lambert, Stiliyan Petrov and Lubo Moravcik. Henrik Larsson was on the brink of returning from a leg break suffered the previous October.

For all Rangers were worth every one of the 21 points separating the sides in the final reckoning that year, what was beyond all debate was that the incoming Celtic boss at least had something substantial to work with.

The 36-point swing that Martin O’Neill oversaw over the course of one season remains a cautionary tale for those believing the current chasm between the sides — 23 points and counting — is insurmountable.

There is, though, substantial reason to question the likelihood of Eddie Howe (below) repeating the trick.

Working on the assumption that a band of loan players won’t be returning to the club — and that those who wish to move on will be allowed to do so — the number of dependable first-team players could be counted on the fingers of one hand.

If the need to recruit a significant number of stellar names is clear, the lack of time on Celtic’s side is scarcely going to help their bargaining position.

Almost ten weeks after Neil Lennon’s exit, Howe’s appointment has yet to be confirmed, and there are only 11 weeks until the first Champions League qualifier.

Vidar Riseth, whose time at Celtic straddled those two seasons at the turn of the century, knows the big money O’Neill was allowed to spend on the likes of Chris Sutton and Lennon was the exception rather than the rule.

But unless his former club are prepared to spend now and spend big, the Norwegian feels they will be playing for second place before a ball is kicked.

‘It’s a concern,’ he said of the scale of the rebuild. ‘You have to bring in many players that have experience and good names.

‘No one had heard of Lubo when he arrived. But you knew immediately he was a great player and what he’d bring to the team. Sometimes, you are lucky and can sign players like this for not much money. But you can’t be lucky like that too often. So Celtic have to spend good money now to get players guaranteed to make an impact.

‘You have to hope you can get some of it back by qualifying for the Champions League but, firstly, you have to think about competing again for the title.’

Sunday’s loss was Celtic’s fifth league defeat of the season but that stat alone doesn’t do justice to the sheer ineptitude of performances witnessed since the first cracks began to appear.

Even if they’d somehow pipped Rangers at the title post, this was always going to be the end of an era. New faces will fill the roles of manager, captain and chief executive from next season. The team will be broken up and reconstructed.

Riseth believes a fresh chapter could yet prove cathartic, although he feels a happy ending may be some time away.

‘It’s going to be a huge summer for the club. It’s always difficult when so many good players leave but, sometimes, it can be good as well from the point of building a new team for the future,’ he stated.

‘I know Celtic fans can’t wait that long (for success) but a team with many new faces might be a good thing after this year. When Steven Gerrard came to Rangers, he said he’d need time to build a new team. ‘That was never going to happen overnight. It took him three years to win his first trophy. Now you can see he’s put his thoughts into the team and they are playing well.

‘Celtic also have to think along those lines — bringing in many good players and being patient.

‘Firstly, they have to get good money for those who don’t want to be there. Then start signing up some big names who want to come and play for the club.

‘The points gap is considerable but I don’t think the gap between the teams is so big.

‘Okay, they lost again on Sunday but, if the new manager is able to bring in a few quality players, they will be on the same level. Things can change very quickly in football.

‘But the clock is ticking. It’s not that long until the new season starts and every other club will be looking to add players of their own.

‘I don’t know how much money the new manager will get, but he will need significant funds. Between the players who will leave and the loan players who will go back, it’s probably more than half a team.’

As for those players whose contracts expire next year, Odsonne Edouard, Ryan Christie and Kris Ajer have given no indication they see their long-term futures at the club.

It’s now a matter of smoking out those clubs who are seriously interested, agreeing fees and securing replacements.

Leicester are keen on Edouard, Norwich and Burnley are tracking Christie and Ajer seems open to Newcastle’s advances.

‘It would be a good move for him,’ Riseth said of his compatriot. ‘Last time I talked with him, I didn’t think he was going to leave Celtic as he seemed really happy in Glasgow.

‘But I can understand he wants to move there as they have a big fan base, a big history and, obviously, play in the EPL.

‘If the money is good for Celtic then it’s a good deal. As long as they replace him.’