Former SPL chief Roger Mitchell insists the idea of a manager being able to choose his director of football is "nonsense".
It's been suggested that Eddie Howe wants to bring Richard Hughes with him to Celtic if he takes the job, having worked with the Scotsman at Bournemouth.
Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan dismissed that idea, insisting that anyone in that role has to be chosen by the club.
While the sporting director role is a fairly new innovation in British football it's been commonplace on the continent for decades.
The likes of Monchi, Luis Campos and Giuseppe Marotta are lauded for their expertise and even transfer between clubs like players.
And Mitchell believes Celtic fans will need to get used to the idea of a European-style director of football rather than craving an all-powerful manager.
Sharing an article on Jordan's quotes from the Daily Record the former SPL chief wrote: "UK football has such an issue with the Director of football role.
"This person is misunderstood as a 'contracts guy', as a 'player identification guy'. Even part of the staff of the manager. Often his mate. Nonsense.
"This is understandable given our history with dynasty 'managers' like Stein, Shankly, Busby, Clough and Ferguson.
"Those days have gone. European football has never had such issues. They don't have managers, but mere coaches or trainers who report 100 per cent to a DOF.
"It is essential that a 'manager' is controlled in the European way.
"The club must have a strategy and structure beyond the current guy and his cabal. Especially around player recruitment, playing style, and data.
"First question to any candidate for quick filtering should be 'do you consider yourself a manager or a head coach?'.
"UK fans don't get this at all. They crave the manager."
