Celtic's new contract extensions highlight a harmonious club

Last week was a busy one off of the pitch for Celtic, as the above trio pledged their long-term futures to the club by means of contract renewals. Ralston and O’Riley signed on for a further four years, whilst the much-rumoured Hatate extended his stay – at least on paper – for another five seasons.

Particularly for the latter two, these developments were a power play by the club’s hierarchy, fresh off the back of posting record profits to the London Stock Exchange just a week earlier. The original announcement caused quite a bit of discussion and debate on social media with many fans and pundits alike, off the back of the lack of ready-made quality signings made in the summer, particularly in key areas like left-back and between the sticks in goals.

What a difference a week can make. Following murmurings of a deal close to being agreed, Hatate was the start of a one-two contract punch combination, which sent the rest of Scottish football to the proverbial canvas in shock. No stranger to talking to the media back in his homeland, the general consensus surrounding Hatate was that he may depart the club in the near future, citing his keenness for a “fresh challenge” if the opportunity ever arose for the former Kawasaki Frontale man. The writing could have very well been on the wall for Hatate and Celtic in terms of a departure.

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Whilst that still might – and probably will - be the case in the coming years, the difference now compared to last week is that any potential suitors will have to pay a premium fee to acquire his services via a transfer. No two ways about it, Hatate will now be one of Celtic’s highest earners in the squad, attracting a wage that reflects his undoubted quality in the middle of the park. In renewing his contract, it both safeguards Hatate as one of Celtic’s biggest assets and also demonstrates a massive vote of confidence in the player’s ability from his new manager Brendan Rodgers.

When Celtic’s social media admin teased that they were ‘busy’ regarding Hatate, the club’s computer must have been overheating with the amount of interaction that initial hint generated. Yet, once he was announced – amidst the sheer excitement and delight of the news - there was a clamour for the next asset to sign up to Rodgers’ renewal revolution, in the shape of Celtic’s standout player so far this campaign in O’Riley.

Again, Celtic’s social media admin had the enviable job of teasing – then announcing, thankfully – O’Riley’s contract extension to the masses on Saturday morning, just a little over three hours before the club’s away fixture in Motherwell got underway. Much like the responses to the previous contract announcement less than 24 hours prior, it was clear through social media that Celtic, their manager and their hierarchy had made another statement when it came to off-field developments.

That joy off of the pitch would directly translate to euphoria on it, as O’Riley was the difference maker (again) for Celtic in the league just a few hours later. With ghost-like movement to the far post – not unlike another renewed starlet in Liel Abada – the Denmark international hopeful got on the end of a succulent Greg Taylor delivery to score the winner deep into stoppage time. In his post-match press conference directly after, O’Riley dismissed the idea of fate coming into proceedings, given the day’s prior events.

He said: “Yeah, I don’t know about fate, but it was a cool way to wrap up a new contract. My time here has been really good so far, and hopefully, I am able to continue that now and keep pushing on.”

Again, this announcement basically confirms that Celtic will make a lot of money on another dynamic midfield option when the time comes. With assets all over the pitch now, the club are in a tremendous spot when it comes to footballing employees in terms of on-field talent.

Circling back to the manager and those above him in the boardroom, it is clear that Rodgers’ appointment by the latter has had a massive impact on players and their desire to sign new deals. There was some doubt on whether or not the former Liverpool and Leicester City manager would be able to galvanise the squad assembled mostly by his predecessor Ange Postecoglou, particularly the players he drafted in from the J1 League like Kyogo Furuhashi and Daizen Maeda.

It just so happens that both players – so pivotal to ‘AngeBall’ – have already signed up for new four-year deals at the club, along with Hatate’s five-year renewal. In turn, another positive vote of confidence for Rodgers and his methodologies, whilst also a sign of vindication for the board with regard to their choice to bring him back to Glasgow. Add captain Callum McGregor and homegrown option Stephen Welsh into the mix, and you can observe what looks like a unified camp at present. With Taylor and Cameron Carter-Vickers seemingly next on the list, effectively all of Celtic’s assets could be safeguarded by the end of the calendar year.

In essence, players want to play for managers like Rodgers. A far cry from the somewhat distant style and approach of Postecoglou, the incumbent is a man-manager - a people person - who wants to form close relationships with those he has authority over. This is not to say that players do not want to work under Postecoglou – a quick look down in North London would debunk that theory – but these renewals indicate a willingness for talent to be nourished further under the guidance of the returning Irishman.

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It is no secret that Rodgers is Celtic’s highest-paid manager ever, and with a CV like his – both at the club and in his time down south – then he probably should be. However, the amount that the board do pay him will be a sidenote when compared to the embarrassment of riches that Celtic will no doubt accumulate, both in player sales and through European participation through their domestic successes.

Whilst the performances on the park have been a mixed bag so far, it is obvious that the players, manager and board are singing out of the same united songbook when it comes to contract extensions. Thankfully for Celtic, it is more Money, Money, Money by ABBA, than Bills, Bills, Bills by Destiny’s Child.