Sadiku fighting losing battle for further support at Celtic

The National

21 hours ago

Most get down to business as soon as the campaign ends, allowing players to know where they stand and prepare for a fresh term.
With a number of players coming to the end of their contracts and no one now in position, it would seem, to green-light administrative decisions, the optics of the situation suggest a lack of joined-up thinking when it comes to the women's side of the club.
Chris Duffy, essentially Celtic women's CEO, stepped down from his role at the end of the season after murmurs of a difference in vision as to how the club should progress. Stewart McGuire, formerly of Hibs and Dunfermline, could be set to be his confirmed replacement at some point this coming week. He has his work cut out for him.
Towards the latter weeks of the season when it was apparent that Celtic were clearly out of the running as Hibs, Rangers and City jostled for the title, there were two notable points made repeatedly by Elena Sadiku in both pre- and post-match interviews.
The first was that the players she signed – Emma Lawton, Saoirse Noonan, Morgan Cross – have all improved and made an impact this season. Lawton broke into the Scotland set-up and Noonan has managed to force herself into the Republic of Ireland squad.
Existing players, though, who excelled as Celtic clinched the title for the first time in their history have struggled to make the same kind of impact this term. The second point Sadiku was at pains to make was an appeal for the club to back her. The suspicion will be back that in a financial sense all the backing that is going to be given is already there. The likelihood of further sums being filtered into the women's side is little more than fanciful, however unpalatable that may be to the likes of Sadiku.
The Swede, who has told the players that she will be there for another season, will have to work with what she has got in terms of a budget that isn't likely to shift significantly.
Last year when it became apparent that Caitlin Hayes was heading to Brighton in the January transfer window, Sadiku had spoken of doing the ground work to ensure that there was a replacement lined up to step in.
At the final hurdle the move fell down, much to the inevitable frustration of the Celtic manager. Hayes' absence was felt keenly as the season went on and although there remains an accusation that Celtic under-performed given the resources that they do have, there is no doubt that her loss was hugely damaging to Sadiku's ambitions of retaining the title.
This summer who goes out may well be as interesting as who goes in.
Certainly, though, if anyone is paying attention then a fourth-placed finish in a trophyless season is never going to cut the mustard for a team looking to forge a dominance in the women's game that mirrors that of the men.
The optics of the current situation would point to the fact that Sadiku is a lone voice when it comes to a wish to amplify the reach and exposure of the women's wing.
AND ANOTHER THING
It is difficult to give Hibs the full credit they deserve for their title win at Ibrox on the final day of the season.
It was an extraordinary achievement for Grant Scott to take the Championship when consideration is given to the funds of Glasgow City and Rangers.
With less than half their budget, Scott was able to deliver a first title since 2007 to Leith.
But, and this was an accusation that could also have been made last season when Celtic won their first title, the club have missed a trick when it comes to fully milking the achievement and pressing home the magnitude of the title win.
It could and should have stayed front and centre for far longer than it did with more media invitations to fully endorse the title win and ensure that coverage of the event did not dissipate at the full-time whistle.
AND FINALLY
In a month where Scots have been celebrated around Europe for the impact that they have had, it would be remiss to overlook Kim Little.
How Melissa Andreatta, and those who have gone before, must wish that she had not made the call to step down from international duty so early on in her career.
The 34-year-old helped Arsenal to the Champions League against a much celebrated Barcelona side last month as the London side continue to lead the way in the women's game.
They announced this week that they will use the 60,000 Emirates for all home domestic games next season.
They played nine of 11 home games in the WSL at the stadium this season – and had 57,000 in for a 5-0 win over Spurs.