Postecoglou is unfazed by McKay’s exit

ANGE POSTECOGLOU last night insisted he has no issue with fresh fan unrest over the running of Celtic — and made it clear the shock departure of former chief executive Dominic McKay will not derail his attempts to get things back on track on the pitch.

McKay’s exit on Friday night saw a group of Parkhead Ultras gather outside the stadium before yesterday’s 3-0 league win over Ross County to hold a banner which read ‘A Board Like No Other’ — with the faces of the existing directors all crossed out with red lines.

In a continuation of the protests of last term, they also flew the same banner inside the stadium before kick-off.

But manager Postecoglou, casting doubts on the widelyheld view that McKay was responsible for bringing him to Glasgow after the lengthy pursuit of Eddie Howe collapsed, stated he is comfortable with the support making their feelings known and insisted it won’t divert him from his own role at the club.

‘We are all transient figures at

this great club. The constant is the fans and they expect us to get on with it,’ he said. ‘I’ve done that throughout my career and will continue to. Everyone is allowed to express opinions in whatever way they choose to.

‘Our job is to send the 60,000 here home happy and the millions around the world. Sometimes, it’s good to be kept on your toes and I am sure our supporters will do that.’

Postecoglou admitted that the departure of McKay, alleged to have left following issues with the club hierarchy and in spite of citing ‘personal reasons’, came as a shock.

However, he insisted he is content with existing director Michael Nicholson taking over as interim CEO and issued a warning over accepting certain accounts of the background behind his decision to leave J-League outfit Yokohama F-Marinos for Parkhead in June.

‘We have to be careful with the narrative of who brought me to the club,’ he said. ‘I was surprised as anyone that Dom resigned but I am going to be respectful of him and his family. When people cite personal reasons, there’s reasons for that.

‘Michael is now in charge and that’s good because I already know him.’

Celtic are understood to remain interested in hiring a director of football following McKay’s exit, with reports also stating there will be boardroom changes.

‘I’ve never said anything about a director of football,’ remarked Postecoglou in a pre-match interview with BBC Radio Scotland. ‘Do I need one? I need to continue to build a football club and a football team that can bring success.

‘What that entails is something we’ll deal with over the course of time. What I’ve never done over the course of my whole career is do what other people suggest. I’ll always do what I feel is the best.

‘We’ve come through a really hectic period where I felt getting together our squad was the number one priority. Now I get the chance to build a structure around it. If I feel changes need to be made, I will make them, but at no stage has the board, or anyone else at the club, got in the way of me doing anything.’

Postecoglou looks like being without left-back Greg Taylor for Thursday’s Europa League visit to Spanish side Real Betis. Taylor was taken off after 48 minutes of the County win with a recurrence of a shoulder injury.

The Celtic boss said full-back Tony Ralston is back fit again despite missing out yesterday.

Postecoglou admitted to some negatives in yesterday’s win, but made allowances for the fact two players in Cameron CarterVickers, who scored Celtic’s opener before Albian Ajeti netted twice in his first start of the campaign, and Joao Filipe Jota made their debuts.

‘The performance was okay,’ he said. ‘We started well and just needed a goal. We lacked a little bit of fluency in the front third.

‘With Albi coming in and Jota’s first game, we lacked a little bit of cutting edge.’