Tony Mowbray must act fast to save his rudderless revolution at Celtic

The derision of Tony Mowbray's overhaul of Celtic is a little unfair. There were plenty of the club's supporters, not to mention media commentators, who told anyone willing to listen in the not-too distant past that Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell were a hopeless central defensive pairing and that Paul Hartley and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink were, not to put too fine a point on it, past it. Scott McDonald? Too lazy, some argued. Chris Killen and Willo Flood, never any more than squad players . And yet, as those players have either departed or edged towards the Parkhead exit door, another chorus of discontent is audible with replacements rolling in from Scandinavia or England's lower leagues. This transfer window has proved utterly intriguing, if at times slightly peculiar, where Celtic are concerned. Whatever criticisms can be thrown Mowbray's way, and there are plenty, he cannot be accused of letting the grass grow under his feet. The simple reason for unrest emanates from the Scottish Premier League table and that Celtic lie 10 points behind their old adversaries across the city. And he needs the financial assistance of his board at a time when those very people will be raising eyebrows at disappointing results. The blunt truth is that none of the players who have left Celtic, nor any of those who have arrived, rank meaningfully above average in the greater scale of things. This does not say much for the general standard of Scottish football, but then there isn't much to be said for the general standard of Scottish football. If the identity of the players Mowbray has decided do not fit into his grand plan for Celtic's future is generally understandable, there is the odd notable exception. Barry Robson performed in his usual forceful way in the New Year Old Firm match before being allowed to join a mini-exodus to Middlesbrough. Robson's midfield replacement, Zheng Zhi, has done little to endorse that as a smart move on Celtic's part. McDonald owes Celtic nothing, a bargain signing from Motherwell who has notched goal after goal in important games. His peripheral role this season has been odd given the damaging tendency for Mowbray's team to fail in the basic conversion of possession into goals. And then there is Danny Fox, the full-back who was Mowbray's first close season signing. He is now on the verge of a move to Burnley, a matter the Celtic manager says is due largely to his desire to have further leverage in the transfer market. For that, read "we want the money." In Mowbray's own words, Fox will continue as the first-choice left-back if he decides against a move to Turf Moor. Mowbray has not adopted such a laid-back stance with regard to his other courted first picks, namely Aiden McGeady. A section of the Celtic support blame the club's directors for the on-field troubles. Banners at recent games have criticised those in power amid a perception that they are downsizing at a time when Rangers are so financially weak. It would, they argue, not take much investment to steal a significant march on them. The board, who have never been shy to trumpet financial success, dispute such a notion by quoting a series of their own facts and figures: not least the one that says they never pay a dividend to shareholders. Whatever the rights and wrongs of that particular debate, two things are plain to the naked eye. First, it seems odd that the richest club in Scotland by a considerable margin has slipped so far behind in the title race. It is also surely a leap of faith to suggest the first-team wage levels that were prevalent when Gordon Strachan led Celtic to three titles in succession will be maintained by the end of this season. If Mowbray fails in this rebuilding job his time in Glasgow will be short-lived. If those above him have moved the financial goalposts during his short stay, he is also unlikely to hang around beyond the summer. In the meantime, he must implement experience and direction into a side that currently resembles, the odd exceptional showing apart, rudderless individuals rather than a coherent unit. And he has only days left to do that. That Darren O'Dea, who endured an inauspicious loan spell at Reading this season, is currently wearing the Celtic captain's armband is tacit admission of Mowbray's troubles. In the words of his counterpart at Ibrox, Walter Smith, Mowbray is readily discovering that at either half of the Old Firm "all you have to do is win. It is as simple as that". Revolution or not, Celtic's manager is in an unforgiving place. A frantic weekend awaits.