Brendan Rodgers has given an insight into Paul Tisdale’s role at Celtic and how he will help edge along off-field processes while at the club.
After months of searching for Mark Lawwell’s replacement in the recruitment department, Celtic appointed Tisdale as Head of Football Operations over a year after holding initial contact with the former Exeter City boss.
Sharing a pre-existing relationship with the self-styled ‘Football Doctor’, Brendan Rodgers labelled the 51-year-old ‘hugely talented’ as he looks to help establish a culture of continual growth on and off the field.
Recruitment is one of Tisdale’s key Celtic assignments, though development, analytics, and bringing fresh ideas to support football performance are also all within his remit.
The future at Parkhead is as bright as ever, and Rodgers has shed some further light on the distinguishable qualities Tisdale has to offer during his time in post.
Brendan Rodgers on Paul Tisdale’s role at Celtic
Speaking in his press conference before Celtic take on Ross County tomorrow afternoon, Rodgers made it clear that Tisdale’s understanding of his situation as someone who has previously been a manager comes as a ‘big benefit’ as they look to work in conjunction successfully.
He explained: “I think it’ll be a big benefit for us. Paul came in here during the summer to help. I obviously control a lot of the core performance of the team, the B team and everything else that goes around that, media, everything else.
But there’s a side that runs beside that, which is, for me, the strategic operation of the club. And I felt there was a gap there in that. So, I wanted to bring someone in just to see how that would go. Paul, not only has he managed before, which gives me comfort, he knows what it’s like to be in the shoes of a manager. He also understands the business side.
I felt that having someone in to help support that organisation and a lot of the logistics that go on at that level, from recruitment to academy to admin, for me, a modern club needs that.
“If you’re going to progress, you need that operation. If I’m out on the pitch and doing all the stuff there, it still needs to go on down here. Clearly, the business side of the club has run immaculately, you only need to look at Celtic over many, many years.
“From a strategy perspective, that was Paul’s role. So he links in very closely with Michael and myself, along with Dermot, in terms of the strategy. We obviously converse a lot, we speak a lot, and he will bring his strength to that role.
Celtic running seamlessly is the goal for everyone at the club
While there will always be difficult decisions along the way, a culture at Celtic where everyone is pulling in the same direction makes sense for one and all.
The Bhoys sit in rude financial health in comparison to anyone else in Scotland, while they are on course to deliver further silverware this season should they maintain current momentum from a domestic standpoint.
Looking forward, the hope is for that to continue as the club modernises in all aspects to maximise its marketability, appeal to potential recruits and, most importantly, claim further success.
