McKay's Impact on Celtic's Transfer Strategies

As another Celtic transfer farce comes to a conclusion more and more fans are looking back on the outstanding window undertaken by Dom McKay.

Ten days after the summer2021 ended McKay was removed from the job of CEO. Replaced by Michael Nicholson, apparently Mikey is a great team player. Experience would translate that to yes-man.

McKay took over from Peter Lawwell on July 1 after a period shadowing the great Pretender. Fortunately that period showed McKay how not to do the job.

McKay had been the CEO of the Scottish Rugby Union, arriving without extensive footballing contacts but a keen awareness of his job and the issues facing Celtic.

MCKAY V LAWWELL

During the January 2021 Lawwell had concentrated on profit as he waved off 10-in-a-row on the back of the jolly to Dubai.

There was an off-on-off saga over signing Nat Phillips. Instead Jonjo Kenny was signed on loan as Lawwell smashed his KPIs with the sale of Jeremy Frimpong to Bayer Leverkusen.

Post transfer window Liam Shaw signed a pre-contract with Celtic. After two appearances he was sent out on loan to Motherwell, Morecombe, Wigan and eventually Fleetwood Town.

Ahead of his start date McKay introduced Ange Postecoglou as Celtic’s new manager.

Crucially Postecoglou was brought to the attention of Dermot Desmond by Frank Trimboli. One of the top agents in the game.

Trimboli was tasked with finding a job in Europe for Postecoglou. When Celtic appointed the Australian as manager they also brought in a first rate Recruitment Operation. Trimboli hadn’t spent 12 years at Exeter City working on his wardrobe and trying to create a personality.

Trimboli was a do-er. He got deals done. He doesn’t keep tabs or monitor events. Trimboli makes things happen, he completed transfers and can work on multiple deals at the same time.

Was reminded today of a Dom McKay story. One of the things that sealed his fate was signing CCV after being told categorically not to do so. Dom had the wild idea that the CEO had some autonomy & decided to listen to Ange & get the deal done with 15 mins to go in the window.…
— John Hughes (@yogijunior3) January 28, 2026

Yogi tweeted:

Was reminded today of a Dom McKay story. One of the things that sealed his fate was signing CCV after being told categorically not to do so. Dom had the wild idea that the CEO had some autonomy & decided to listen to Ange & get the deal done with 15 mins to go in the window.

Think of that being the prevailing attitude still, which needs to be opposed at every turn. Except of course, there’s nobody left to stand up for the team & manager.

Asset stripping managers of decline. Thats what we’re left with. Unqualified, perpetually unprepared & undeniably unfit for purpose.

THE OUTSTANDING SUMMER 2021 TRANSFER WINDOW

The first transfer completed by McKay was for Liel Abada. The Israeli made an instant impact, scoring at home to Midtjylland in a Champions League qualifier before Vasilas Barkas and Nir Bitton intervened.

In Celtic’s first SPFL match, a 2-1 defeat away to Hearts Carl Starfelt and Kyogo Furuhashi made their debuts.

Ahead of the Europa League qualifier away to Jablonec Joe Hart and James McCarthy were signed. The former Hamilton man was the only summer signing that made no impact at Celtic.

During the summer a right-back appeared to be a key position for Celtic to strengthen.

The previously written off Tony Ralston suddenly emerged as a first team player of substance. Regardless of that Josip Juranovic was signed from Legia Warsaw.

Celtic scored six goals in the home wins over Dundee and St Mirren. The work of McKay, Postecoglou and Trimboli was starting to have an impact.

Having made progress on the team corporate Celtic then applied the handbrake.

At the end of August Celtic lost at Ibrox in the final appearances of Ryan Christie and Odsonne Edouard.

In the final day of the window Giorgos Giakoumakis was signed from VVV Venlo. Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers were signed on loan. McKay, Trimboli and Postecoglou knew the gaping gaps in the team, they moved to fill them.

McKay transformed the squad on a profit. Kris Ajer and Edourard were sold to fund the turnover. As CEO of Celtic he never got to see Jota, Carter-Vickers or Giakoumakis play.

And so the benchmark was set for Celtic transfer windows. Trimboli ensured that January 2022 was a success. Since then Mark Lawwell and Paul Tisdale have failed to to build on the stepping stones created.

Ange had Celtic moving like an ambitious club damn I miss this🫠 pic.twitter.com/w1njaaqbF0
— Jim (@jamess_1888) January 27, 2026

LAWWELL MINI, TISDALE AND NICHOLSON

And now with a few days left in the transfer window Celtic sit third in the SPFL Premiership table. In five matches against the clubs above them they have picked up two points.

The CEO that raced into the arms of Gerry McCulloch to discuss the brilliance of Wilfried Nancy has again fallen silent.

After 24 days back as interim manager Martin O’Neill has been given one striker.

Celtic do seem keen on bringing people back. Rodgers, Neil Lennon, Lawwell and O’Neill have all returned. As have Kieran Tierney and Jota.

Bringing back Dom McKay would top the lot. With or without Postecoglou and Trimboli he knows the job required. Alas that is one return that Dermot Desmond is unlikely to sign off on.