Celtic coach quietly makes exit as behind-the-scenes change emerges

Celtic have made another quiet change to their academy setup, with under-19s head coach Adam Asghar leaving his position at the club.

The departure has not been officially announced by Celtic, and there is currently no permanent replacement confirmed for the role.

Asghar’s exit only came to wider attention after The Celtic Way checked his LinkedIn profile and reported that the highly-rated coach was no longer in the position.

The 19s boss joined Celtic from Southampton in 2024 after previous coaching roles with Sunderland and Dundee United.

He initially arrived at Lennoxtown as the club’s under-18s lead coach, working alongside Chris Hendry before moving into the under-19s role.

Celtic academy forced to adjust coaching structure

Hendry was part of Asghar’s coaching staff last season and has reportedly taken on a greater responsibility for the under-19 group since his departure.

Stevie Hammell has also increased his involvement with the age group as Celtic look to maintain continuity within the academy.

Hammell remains an important figure within the club’s youth structure and is currently overseeing the B team during the international break.

Jonny Hayes continues to work with Celtic’s young players but is currently away with Scotland after taking up a new role as assistant coach of the national under-17 side.

The former Celtic winger is expected to combine his international responsibilities with his duties at Parkhead and will work with Scotland during international windows.

Celtic have yet to explain long-term plans

While the academy appears to have found an internal solution to cover Asghar’s departure, Celtic have not provided supporters with much detail about what happens next.

There has been no formal announcement regarding Asghar’s exit, while the club has yet to name a permanent successor or outline how the under-19 setup will look going forward.

That lack of clarity is likely to raise questions given the importance Celtic place on youth development.

The academy is viewed as a key pathway for producing players capable of eventually breaking into the first team, making the identity and structure of the coaching staff an important part of the club’s long-term plans.

Celtic’s own academy information also appears not to have been fully updated to reflect the latest staffing changes.

The temporary reshuffle itself may not be the main concern. Instead, it is the lack of communication surrounding the change that could frustrate supporters.

For a club that regularly highlights the importance of developing elite young talent, supporters will expect clearer information about who is responsible for guiding the next generation of Celtic players.