Jackie McNamara admitted William Hill Premiership champions Celtic have “a lot of issues that they’ll need to sort quickly” in order to be ready for next season.
The champions could yet end up securing a double in what has been a turbulent campaign if Martin O’Neill can steer them past Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline in Saturday’s Scottish Cup final.
But 74-year-old O’Neill has indicated that he does not expect to remain in charge next term.
In addition to the likely arrival of a new manager, Celtic must re-establish their recruitment strategy for their summer rebuild after head of football operations Paul Tisdale lost his job in January following the ill-fated appointment of Wilfried Nancy.
“It’s not an easy job to pick someone that’s going to take the club forward to what the club wants,” said former Celtic player McNamara, speaking at the launch of On The Ball Academy’s free and subsidised summer football programme.
“When Martin came in, he was a safe pair of hands. He knows what it takes to manage the club and to be successful as well.
“The Champions League won’t be long coming round, so there are a lot of things, a lot of issues there that they’ll need to sort quickly.”
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After losing a Champions League play-off to Kairat Almaty last summer, McNamara believes it is essential that Celtic prioritise signing a dependable centre-forward in time for their next crack at the play-off for Europe’s premier competition in August.
“It’s important they spend wisely for what they need, and that comes down to recruitment,” said the 52-year-old. “Obviously, that side of it they need to sort as well. Who is going to be doing that?
“I think over the years it’s been a lot easier to attract players if you’re playing Champions League, but obviously they need to get in there first.
“Last year it was kind of a gamble to get in and then get the players in place, and not getting there put them off to a really bad start, so it is important they get the players in early that they need.
“There are a few positions that are key that they need to strengthen. Obviously, Kasper Schmeichel will be going, so the goalkeeping situation, the centre-backs, and I think they need a proper nine.
“I think they’ve needed that kind of target man for a couple of years now. Giorgos Giakoumakis was a good player at the time, but I don’t think they’ve really replaced that type. I think they definitely need a number nine to come in and lead the line for them.”
