The curious exit of Willie McStay from Celtic
Another one out at Celtic Park
People lose jobs at football clubs, quite often at a fairly high rate so there can never be too much surprise at someone getting their jotters but the news that Willie McStay has departed Celtic makes you wonder about the situation.
There is no doubt that Willie McStay is very well thought of in some of the corridors of power at Celtic Park and Lennoxtown. Celtic tried to retain McStay on the official wage bill when he went to Hungary to manage Ujpest Dozsa but this was ruled to be unlawful. Oddly enough though, as soon as McStay departed the Hungarian club, he returned to Glasgow (no surprise there) and straight back to a job at Celtic.
McStay has managed in Ireland, Hungary and has about 5 times the length in charge of the Celtic reserve and under sides (in an era when they played in a league as opposed to the Harlem Globetrotters side that Neil Lennon reigned over) of Lennon but clearly that level of experience is not needed at the moment at Celtic Park!
McStay has probably been harmed by being stuck in the middle ground. He has far more experience than Lennon has at the moment but he is still lacking in quality top-level experience that would allow him to confidently offer Lennon advice if it was required. Celtic may still be looking for a mentor for Lenoon but Willie McStay is not that man.
The timing of McStay’s departure looks linked to Neil Lennon’s return from holiday and the assembly of his own backroom staff (Garry Parker was tipped for the role of reserve team coach) but surely this would have been known about earlier. If McStay was to be relieved of his duties, would it not have been better for all parties for this to have been completed sooner?
So where now for McStay?
The two other SPL jobs that were up for grabs have now been filled and the vast majority of teams will now have their plans for the new season set…so he may have to wait until the managerial merry-go-round starts spinning again before he gets another crack at a post.
For Celtic, there is the need to look forward and perhaps McStay lacks the level of experience to be of any great assistance to Lennon to make him worthwhile keeping around. If that’s the case, fair enough, no doubt they will have to properly compensate McStay for the remainder of his contract, which should give Willie McStay a bit of leeway before needing to find a new position.
Where do you think Willie McStay will end up?
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Experience appears to be the key word in your article about McStay, specifically lack of it costing him the Celtic job. Tell me what experience Lennon has?
McStay has done far more in management than Lennon has even began to dream about, surely he would have been a better bet than Lennon?
The lack of experience of Lennon – even when compared to Willie McStay – has been discussed at length on this site Quagmire.
As for what Lennon would bring over McStay – who knows….issues could include : more drive, more determination, better performances at interviews, better contacts, showing a greater in-depth understanding of tactics during discussions – so many reasons.
We’re not saying any of these reasons are the reasons – we know nothing about either men about these issues – but they could all make the difference at a job interview or for a potential employer.
Willie was sacked, this is not an amicable arrangement.
These things always happen when a new manager comes in, he want’s his own people around and not to have somebody who could take over waiting in the wings.
I’m sure Mowbray must have had the same worries with Lennon.
Perhaps the age old problem of McStay not being a big enough name has cost him when compared to Lennon. Dealings in the transfer market for players like Campbell and Bullard might have been more difficult for a man not universally known in the game, whereas Lennon is known reasonably well in England.
As for tactics, well I’m sure McStay would win that argument, Lennons chin wag at the Ross County game with Donald Park certainly dented his credibility in that sphere.
have to say that I am waiting to here why he’s left, and hopefully its for positive reasons (another challenge has come up) but if its on Lennons whim, then its a dark day at Celtic. Garry Parker has no experience of management apart from a 6 – 0 drubbing by Leeds when at Leicester and having him in charge of the reserves seems like a job for one of the boys, which isnt what we want or need – if we need something painting however i’m sure he’s the man… If they do a Lawell and Lennon visit anywhere near where I live, I will attempt to raise the matter if McStay is not moving onto better things, I can see why he wasnt given the top job – not at the forefront of the majority of fans, wouldnt boost season ticket sales and he’d maybe struggle to get the excitement levels up, although I’m sure if he hadnt have left for Ujpest he’d have taken the reigns and we’d have had some silverwear at the end of the season. I’m pretty sure a reserve celtic team beat the dundee starting 11 easily (3-0 maybe) a few days after the ross county debacle. Having watched what he achieved with Ujpest and the reserves i’ve no doubt he’s a very good manager, who plays football the right way, but sets his team upto win, not just play exciting football. If he has been given the boot then lennon and whoever sanctioned the decision should be leave Celtic. Its no way to treat anyone and the excuse that this is the way football clubs are run doesnt wash, the man won umpteen league titles in a row, and has proved himself in other leagues, a strong reserve team with a winning mentality is both hard to achieve and intrinsic to any successful football club… Lennon failed with the reserves, McStay didnt.
Jbhoy
I have heard it from a good source that Willie was sacked and he doesn’t have anything else lined up.
first time i’ve been disgusted by Celtic, since the old board. Sacking a faithful and exemplary employee (and all round good man from the stories that surround him) is a not the way to conduct yourself in any walk of life. Plus the fact he was potential manager to take the reigns quickly and without fuss should Lennon make a mess of things. Celtic Family my backside.
II find this pretty troubling and don’t like the way the club is moving. Lennon should never have been given this job. McStay has more proven quality than Lennon and his backroom staff put together. Having said that we should have gone for a top manager but we have absolutely no ambition. I think Sol campbell has twigged that and wont be signing. A very poor way to treat someone of McStay’s quality and family history with our club.
McStay wes given an hour to get out of Celtic Park,fact.Gary Parker?Old pals act.Lennon seen Willie as a threat.Lennon is a badge kisser and will leave Celtic asap if things dont go well.He didnt leave Leicester quickly to come to the Hoops and yhe fans get conned by guys like this.There is a poison within Celtic Park namely John Reid,I am not comfortable with the so called “Celtic Family”