John Collins has told Celtic to focus on appointing a director of football before they decide on their new manager.
The Parkhead club are in the market for a new man in the dugout following Neil Lennon's resignation.
But there's also expected to be a shake-up in the hierarchy with a sporting director to come in to guide the transfer strategy.
Bournemouth's David Webb, Manchester City football partnerships manager Fergal Harkin and Juventus chief scout Matteo Tognozzi have all been linked.
Collins knows the European model well from his time at Monaco and he believes that appointment should take precedence before a new manager is confirmed.
The former Celtic man said on BBC Sportsound: "The director of football has got to help choose the manager so the manager's his man and there's a relationship between the manager and the director of football that's so tight.
"The most important thing is they have the director of football in place before a manager so the director of football is in the process with the owners, the board helping them select the right type of manager for the type of football the club's looking for."
.jpg?w=600)
