Celtic CEO keeping spending tight

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will not have any extra cash to spend in the transfer market despite qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Scottish champions booked their place in the knockout stages as Group D runners-up last night, meaning a financial boost for the Parkhead club.

But chief executive Peter Lawwell admits Strachan is unlikely to benefit from the European jackpot.

“We have our plans, we knew what we were trying to do,” he told Scotland Today.

“So, in effect, it [Champions League money] probably won‘t affect those plans significantly.

“Gordon and I have sat down over the last number of months and we understand where he wants to strengthen and we understand the targets he wants to go for.

“Hopefully we can deliver those so really those plans were set in place before last night.”

Having reached the last 16 for the second consecutive season, Lawwell wants to see Celtic progress even further this time around.

He added: “The target for the Champions League is that we always want to be in it, we want to play in it and we want to progress as far as we can.

“Hopefully this year, we will get beyond the last 16 and that will be progression on last year.”

Former Scotland and Rangers manager Alex McLeish has recently been lured to the Barclays Premier League but Lawwell has no fears about Strachan joining him any time soon.

He said: “He has settled in and has taken the club forward. Of course, if you have a very good manager, there is going to be interest at some point.

“But I think Gordon is settled here, we are delighted to have him and hopefully he will be here for many years to come.”