| Matches: 1997 – 1998 |
The period between these two seasons was an important one for the club. Tommy Burns had been sacked at the end of 1996/97. Billy Stark, his assistant who had been appointed caretaker, resigned after the last game of the season, and Fergus McCann had declared that the club would adopt a continental model appointing a General Manager and Head Coach – none of these were in place and had to be appointed.
The team was without a captain, Paul McStay having retired from football through injury in late May. There were six of the first team squad out of contract with no agreements in place and the season had ended with major difficulties between the club and it's two foreign stars, Paolo di Canio and Jorge Cadete.
Press and Celtic View gleanings from 22/5/97 to 4/7/97
- The search for the new Head Coach proceeded. Names in the frame were: Terry Venables, John Toshack, Johan Cruyff, Bobby Robson, Joe Kinnear, Wim van Hanegem, Stewart Baxter and Craig Brown. Bobby Robson appeared to be first choice with a feeling also towards Baxter and Toshack.
- On the General Manager front the likeliest candidate appeared to be Davie Hay. With the departure of Billy Stark he was appointed acting football manager, seen as a temporary post to bring stability till the new positions were filled.
- On 24/5 Celtic sacked Reserve team coaches Frank Connor and Tom McAdam. Connor was asked to take a wage cut and the position of Kitman.
- French 2nd Division club Lille were poised to sign Stuart Gray when his contract expired at the end of the month (Sunday Mail 1/6/97)
- Paolo di Canio had instructed his lawyers to take Celtic to court to win back the 2 weeks wages he had been fined. He still said he wanted to play for the club but only if he was given a contract that paid him what he was worth. Cadete meanwhile had written to Celtic demanding to be either released or sold.
- The club were being linked to Stephan Mahe of Rennes. (Daily Record 2/6/97)
- Graeme Morrison was given a 2 year deal. He had played well for the reserves all the previous season and was attracting the interest of Bolton and Leeds Utd.
- It looked strongly like Tosh McKinlay, Malky MacKay and Peter Grant would be leaving the club. All were out of contract and appeared unable to find any common ground with the offers from the club. Wolves appeared favourites to sign Grant.
- 22/6. It looked like Davie Hay had lost out in the General Manager frame and Jock Brown was set to be appointed. Celtic had failed to lure Arrigo Sacchi from AC Milan and had also interviewed Gigi Maifredi of Juventus. Jock Brown was duly appointed on 23/6/97. He in turn appointed Davie Hay as his Assistant General Manager, Murdo MacLeod as Reserve team coach and John Clark as kitman.
- Following the appointment of a General Manager the appointment of the Head Coach stepped up several gears with two names being in the frame. Of the original list Toshack had joined Besiktas, Robson stayed with Barcelona but moved upstairs, Cruyff wasn’t interested; Craig Brown was out of the frame with his brother appointed General Manager.
- 25/6. Players reported back to Celtic Park to begin pre-season. One notable absentee was Paolo di Canio who submitted a doctor’ certificate that he was unfit to train or travel back from Italy.
- Brian O’Neil was discussing a move to Aberdeen, Peter Grant was discussing a new contract, Tosh McKinlay was discussing a move to Tottenham and Malky MacKay was prepared to sign month-to-month deals. Brian O’Neil duly signed for Aberdeen on 1/7/97 in a £750,000 move with a 4 year contract.
- 29/6. Tommy Burns joined Kenny Dalglish at Newcastle as first team coach. Paddy Kelly was then signed from the Reserve team squad.
- 2/7. Paolo and Cadete duly failed to appear for training when they were meant to. They were deemed in breach of contract. Paolo duly arrived one day later with his personal trainer, but the club received a fax from Cadete’s agent Paulo Barbosa requesting that his client be either released from his contract or sold.
- On 4/7/97 the media feeding frenzy went into overdrive when Wim Jansen was introduced as the new Head Coach. Shug the Rug Keevins had just blown his cover (and last chance) with the Scotsman by categorically announcing the previous day that Artur Jorge would be appointed. Meanwhile the first crisis presented itself with Di Canio refusing to go on pre-season tour to Holland saying he was not fit, and Cadete refused to return to Glasgow declaring himself ill whilst asking to be put on the transfer list. On the transfers front there was less than a week remaining to the UEFA deadline for transfers. Meanwhile the players left for the pre-season tour of Holland settling into their camp on the outskirts of Arnhem