The departure of assistant general manager David Hay from Celtic remained shrouded in mystery last night as the Parkhead club refused to discuss the affair.
Hay left Celtic on Monday night, and yesterday, the general manager, Jock Brown, said in a terse statement: ''I can confirm that David Hay has left Celtic Football Club. He goes with everyone's good wishes for the future and with thanks for his substantial service in various roles over many years. The club intends to make no further comment on the matter.''
That, of course, left the supporters and shareholders in the dark.
Rumours have spread through the city of behind-the-scenes rows which had brought about the breach between Hay and the club he had previously served as player and manager before returning at former manager Tommy Burns' invitation as the club's chief scout.
However, sources inside Parkhead were surprised at these suggestions.
One insider said: ''David Hay's departure will mean a loss to the club. People are genuinely upset that he has gone, and there was no sign of any friction between him and other members of the backroom staff.
''After all it was the new regime which appointed him as assistant general manager and he has still been carrying out all the duties of chief scout, travelling to look at players and assess them for Wim Jansen.''
It remains strange that Hay has gone so suddenly, and that this has happened as Celtic build towards the first Old Firm clash of the season at Ibrox on Saturday.
Also it was Hay who held the fort in the summer while Celtic were looking for a new coach and, even before that, when they were seeking to name their general manager.
It was also Hay who recommended Pierre van Hooydonk, Paolo Di Canio, and Jorge Cadete, and while the Celtic careers of all three turned sour, that was not Hay's doing and the club cashed in to the tune of millions of pounds when they were sold.
Ken Gallacher
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