FORMER Colchester United advisor Paul Tisdale has joined Celtic as their head of football operations.

The 51-year-old, who worked in an advisory role alongside Hayden Mullins at Colchester United in the final two months of the 2020-21 season, has been working as a consultant over recent years and assisted the Scottish Premiership giants during the summer transfer window.

In his new role, Celtic say that Tisdale will ‘oversee the development and management of effective operations to support high-level football performance, including the identification and development of talent, in line with the club’s objective to develop Champions League players through our Academy and recruitment processes’.

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He will also work with the club’s analytics functions, supporting colleagues across the club to continuously improve our processes.

Tisdale told the Celtic website: “It is a huge honour to accept this new role at Celtic and join a club of such pedigree and stature.

“I can’t wait to join the team, to begin my work and deliver positive results. Celtic demands and deserves excellence across all areas and I know that that is something the Board and Brendan seek at all times.

“In my role I will be doing all I can to further develop our work across talent identification, development and analytics, always with the aim of ensuring high-level support of football performance.

“Having knowledge already of Celtic, I know there are so many quality, authentic people at the club all pulling in the same direction and passionate for success.

(Image: STEVEN PASTON/PA WIRE)

“I look forward to joining them as we work together to deliver excellence for the club and our supporters.”

Tisdale made a positive impact during his short time at Colchester, working alongside Mullins and helping them preserve their League Two status.

The former Exeter City, MK Dons and Bristol Rovers boss, who has taken charge of more than 700 games as a manager, has provided advice and support to a number of clubs.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers told the club’s website: “I am so pleased that we have been able to bring Paul to the club in this important new role and I am really looking forward to working with him.

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'He is a hugely talented man who I know will make a real positive difference to us and give us a new edge.

“He knows modern football inside out, he understands what we need as a club, what our team needs to operate at a high level, and how we can develop positively and successfully across a number of functions within the club.

“I have known Paul for some time and have been well aware of his work.

“I know that he will be a huge asset to Celtic and that his knowledge, talent and tremendous work ethic will be crucial to us as we drive forward across a number of areas, always with the aim of delivering higher performance and more and more success.”