KEEPING JOTA AND CARTER-VICKERS IS VITAL

JOB DONE, now for the next one. As Ange Postecoglou is aware, time for reflection on success is always limited by the prospect of even greater goals to pursue. His outstanding rebuilding work during his first season in charge has left Celtic in a position of strength. And around £30million richer. Direct qualification for the Champions League group stage should give him scope for the tweaks in personnel he needs to improve the club’s continental standing. His approach to Celtic’s reunion with Europe’s elite will be just one fascinating aspect of the months to come. At least this summer will be calmer than the last one, when Postecoglou was pitched into a chaotic situation on arrival from Yokohama F Marinos. Short on players and with some on the books eyeing an exit, he soon expressed frustration at the slow speed of recruitment headed by then chief executive Dominic McKay. Celtic’s defeat to a distinctly average Midtjylland in the Champions League qualifiers made for an inauspicious start to Postecoglou’s reign, even if the blame lay elsewhere. Next season, the summer transfer window will have been and gone by the time Celtic play their first group stage match in early September. It’s the start of a congested Champions League schedule caused by the World Cup in Qatar, featuring seven-day gaps between some rounds of matches and completion by the start of November. Combined with the opening months of a title defence, it will place strenuous demands on the Celtic squad. While there will be nothing like the 17 new signings made in Postecoglou’s first term, Celtic can ill afford to stand still. First comes retaining what’s already there. Recent noises from Portugal have been positive about Jota’s willingness to stay. Making permanent his loan from Benfica means triggering a hefty £6.5m option, yet the winger brings not only an x-factor but scope for further improvement — and Celtic could well recoup their investment in future. Keeping Cameron Carter-Vickers is just as vital. On loan from Spurs, he brought consistency to the heart of defence. The stability of his partnership with Carl Starfelt also helped the Swede improve. In terms of fresh blood, another leftback is required to provide more active competition for Greg Taylor. Hammarby’s Iraq international Mohanad Jeahze is being targeted, while another centreback, midfielder and winger may also figure. After McKay’s exit last September — just 72 days after joining — head of legal and football affairs Michael Nicholson became acting CEO before being confirmed in the role in December. He formed a close relationship with Postecoglou and was praised for his swift work in setting up three January additions from Japan. Now another key appointment has been made in Mark Lawwell as new head of first-team scouting and recruitment. Son of exCeltic chief executive Peter, he held a similar role with the City Football Group. Yokohama come under that umbrella, meaning Lawwell and Postecoglou were already well acquainted. Effort will also be applied to the tricky issue of freeing up resources by shifting unwanted players like Vasilis Barkas, Albian Ajeti, Ismaila Soro and Boli Bolingoli. Some important decisions have, however, been made since the title was clinched, While James Forrest has signed a contract extension, Tom Rogic and Nir Bitton made emotional farewells on Saturday. The exits of two longserving stars ensures phase two of Postecoglou’s reign will carry even fewer echoes of the past. Celtic’s transformation continues.