No manager as yet confirmed for next season.
A new chief executive just getting his feet under his desk.
And a massive squad rebuild after the club’s first trophyless season in 13 years, which included their collapse in the pursuit of 10-in-a-row.
Celtic do not have their troubles to seek right now.
And their former striker, Scott McDonald, reckons one of the most-important decisions this summer will be who the new manager signs to replace Odsonne Edouard.
Indeed, he believes the task could be doubly difficult as the Hoops might need to bring in two top strikers.
McDonald knows top hitmen are rare these days, and Celtic struggled in that department last close-season when they failed to get Ivan Toney from Peterborough.
Brentford beat them to his signature for a fee in the region of £6.5-million.
The Parkhead side brought in Albian Ajeti from West Ham for £4.5m.
Ajeti has struggled to make an impact. Toney has scored almost 30 goals for Brentford.
McDonald – who signed for the Hoops for a bargain £650,000 in 2007 from Motherwell – told The Sunday Post: “Lessons need to be learned from last summer.
“Celtic had two excellent goalkeepers in Fraser Forster and Craig Gordon. For various reasons, both didn’t sign on again.
“The club also searched for a striker, and Toney appeared to be their No. 1 target.
“I remember watching him two or three years ago for Peterborough against Middlesbrough, and he really caught my eye.
“He had presence and pace. He looked to have the raw materials to go a long way.
“When Celtic were linked with him, I was excited. There was no doubt in my mind he’d do well. But a fee couldn’t be agreed and he went to Brentford. That was a blow.
“Look at how well he is doing in the English Championship, so it’s a sore one to miss out on.
“The club ended up getting Ajeti, but it’s not been a great season for the Swiss striker. He has been in and out.
“So we know how hard it is to find a proper No. 9. It will not be easy to find one.
“Indeed, Celtic might be looking for two strikers in the summer window if Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard follow Patryk Klimala, another disappointment this season, out the door. It makes it all the harder.
“Leigh scored a good goal against Aberdeen in midweek, and that will have done his case no harm.
“But he has just eight goals in 26 appearances this season, and Celtic must find someone who will get them at least 20 goals a season.
“A Celtic striker is judged on numbers, the amount of times he puts the ball in the net. He’s not judged on performances.
“When I signed for the club 14 years ago from Motherwell, I gave the club a good return.
“Back then, we had strikers in the Scottish game ready to step up and play for Celtic and Rangers. Kris Boyd was the same when he went to Rangers from Kilmarnock.
“Are there more of the same out there just now in the SPFL?
“Kevin Nisbet of Hibs and Lawrence Shankland at Dundee United? Would they be prolific enough?
“Lyndon Dykes was at Livingston last season before moving to QPR, and was mentioned for Celtic. Would he be prolific enough?
“It’s something my former club needs to address. Sorting out the goalkeeping situation and the centre-forward situation will be the priorities for the new manager.
“Rangers had Alfredo Morelos and Jermain Defoe last season. But they still spent big sums on Kemar Roofe and Cedric Itten.
“They have been rewarded for having good options, and recruiting well.”
© Rico Brouwer / SNS GroupMcDonald, now playing for Brisbane Roar in Australia, is waiting with interest to see who his former club employ in all the key roles, from manager to head of recruitment.
The 37-year-old Australian said: “Which way will Celtic go?.
“It’s been more than two months now since Neil Lennon left, and John Kennedy has filled in during trying circumstances.
“The sooner all things are tied up, the better.
“Dom McKay has started his new job as chief executive, and that could see some movement in the coming days.
“There is also plenty of other work to be done. A head of recruitment needs to be brought in, and they have to find very good players fast.
“There really is no time to waste with a lot of things. The fans are a wee bit impatient, and that is understandable.
“They just want the big decisions to be made, and then everyone get on with the job of trying to win the league title back next season.”
After playing for Celtic, Motherwell, Dundee United and Partick Thistle in Scotland, McDonald is back in his homeland.
Life at Brisbane Roar is good, and he also has the Euros to look forward to this summer, working for an Australian TV company.
He said: “I’m enjoying my football, and loving still pulling on the boots, even though I’m 37.
“But part of me is thinking if it’s right that I’m still playing with lads 20 years younger than me.
“I’ve got plenty to offer, but do I hang up my boots at the end of the season? We’ll see. Is it time for me to go and get a real job?
“However, I push myself every day in training. I still want to be the very best I possibly can be. My body is still in good condition.
“Media and television work does really appeal to me, and I’ve landed a spot for the Euros this summer. That will be good.
“Will I return to Scotland? Well, at the moment in Brisbane we are in autumn – and it’s 27 degrees outside. It’s beautiful.
“The family loves it, so it would take a lot for us to move back again.
“But you never say never, and Scottish football will always appeal to me.
“I’m doing all my advanced coaching badges just now.
“We’ll see what the future holds, but there is no rush to look for anything new.”
Unlike Celtic.
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