Shaun Maloney has been appointed as Professional Player Pathway manager at Celtic.

For those of you who have no idea what a professional pathway manager does, it’s fairly straightforward. He waits until the current first team coach storms off in a huff and then offers himself up as a replacement.

For the moment, though, he will…

…work closely with Paul Tisdale, our Head of Football Operations, Men’s First Team Manager, Brendan Rodgers, Chris McCart, our Head of Academy and the club’s B Team and Academy Coaches and, in this hugely important role, he will work to ensure the effective development of players to play for Celtic.  

Through the maintenance of strong relationships with clubs across leagues, both domestically and internationally, the role will also manage loan opportunities which support player pathway and development opportunities. 

He’ll chip in with a bit of coaching, ring Brendan every now and again to say one or two players might make it, and tell everyone he used to be manager at Wigan, where they make pies.

For some of us. Maloney will be remembered for making a complete arse of a free kick in the last minutes of the ill fated UEFA Cup final, and very little else.

Or maybe that’s just me.

There have been a few new faces around the training ground this week, getting themselves ready to be presented to the support officially tomorrow, which should cheer us up.

But there is still no sign of a replacement for the outgoing Cameron Carter Vickers, though he won’t be going anywhere until a replacement is signed. One of Maloney’s first tasks is to find someone who can’t get a game for their current English championship side and see if he fancies rebuilding his career north of the border.

Nicolas Kuhn is more or less away, Greg Taylor still hasn’t actually gone, he figures that the offer Celtic made will be increased after Keiran Tierney’s first training ground injury hits, which is now only a week or so away.

The overall mood of the Diary today may be a little less jovial than usual, but the slurred word on the street is that there will be no major signings until UCL group stage is confirmed, by which time we’ll be able to choose any one, or two, from a list of players no one else wanted.

Mind you, it’s not all doom and gloom…

Toilet designed by Rod Stewart revealed at Glastonbury

WaterAid’s Boombox Bog houses a toilet that sits behind the tape deck of a giant blue boombox decorated with leopard print, a pattern often worn by Sir Rod.

The Celtic daft rocker, 80, will perform in front of thousands of music fans on Sunday when he plays the coveted tea-time legends slot on the Pyramid Stage, which sits nearby to the toilet.  

I suppose at his age he needs to be close to one at all times.

And then there’s the pressing question, asked by Celtic Quick News this morning…

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO…MUBARAK WAKASO?

Sometimes these sites just publish sensationalist stories in the hope of attracting clicks. Though one senses if they depend on the clicks and cash from that story, it’ll be beans on toast for tea.

Celtic TV has announced that all of the pre season games will be shown on the channel, which are…

Friday 4 July (KO 7:45pm) – Queen’s Park v Celtic
Tuesday 8 July (KO 6pm) – Cork City v Celtic
Saturday 12 July (KO 11am) – Celtic v Estrela Da Amadora*
Wednesday 16 July (KO 7:30pm) – Sporting CP v Celtic
Saturday 19 July (KO 3pm) – Celtic v Newcastle United**
Tuesday 24 July (KO 8:30pm) – Celtic v Ajax
Sat 26/ Sun 27 July (KO TBC) – Celtic v Como or Al Ahli

As long as you don’t live in Britain or Ireland, that is.

In fairness, only the Newcastle game won’t be shown, a cynical push to try and sell tickets for the underwhelming “glamour ” clash.

Underwhelming, over whelming…doesn’t anyone know what the right amount of whelm is ?

Perhaps the undertone of misery today is down to the new breed at Ibrox already looking like the winners of the next World Club Cup…

As the Record reports….

It’s been a busy window at Ibrox to say the least and news that Max Aarons is finally in the door is expected to kick off a signing avalanche.

Max Aarons is on loan from Bournemouth. Lyall Cameron has joined them on a free….

Though perhaps we could breathe a sigh of relief as they are about to lose another star player…. Hamza Igamane

It’s even claimed that he has ‘agreed terms’ on the move after a meeting on Wednesday – with Lille now in talks with Rangers to agree a deal.

Any sale would dwarf the £1.7m Rangers paid to sign him a year ago and would likely represent a substantial boost to Martin‘s coffers as he rebuilds things at Ibrox – though whether he or the new owners are open to parting with Igamane remains to be seen. 

There’s talk of a fee around £20m, but not among anyone who has seen the player play without blue tinted specs on their noses.

One movement of interest that is worth mentioning, is the announcement that Hearts have a few quid coming their way…

Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom has vowed to loosen Celtic and Rangers’ grip on Scottish football after his £10m investment in Hearts was confirmed.

Bloom has acquired a 29 per cent share in the Edinburgh club which confers no voting rights but comes with a non-executive director’s seat, which will be taken by trusted aide James Franks.  

Bear in mind, the recent promised Ibrox investment was only £20m, so if Hearts spend wisely that could be a disaster for their west coast cousins.

Last Thursday, we had this…

Today