With only one pre-season signing under their belt so far, it seems all is quiet in the east end of Glasgow.

Paddy McCourt, a player of undoubted talent but of questionable application and confidence, will be a cameo player who will hopefully develop into something other than a bit-part player at Celtic Park.

As I have said on many previous occasions, the task facing Celtic in the current transfer market is difficult. The biggest fish in one of the smallest ponds in European football means very little money in comparison to the rest. Martin O'Neill was correct in commenting that Celtic, although mixing it up with the big boys, were punching above their weight.

They continue to do so. It's an extraordinary feat for a club that has to maximise every single ounce of their money-making acumen to even feel like they could jump into that financial ocean where so many sharks are swimming. The simple fact of the matter is that Celtic have to shop elsewhere.

They have just become the first British football club to appoint a director of international development in the form of Jason Hughes. Formerly with the FA and a deputy general secretary of CONCACAF, Hughes has an impressive CV and Celtic have once more shown themselves to be forward thinkers as well as leaders in development of British football.

It's a neccessity for a club with limited resources to tap into every available market and utilise the standing and traditions in countries where big money can be made. Several measures in previous years have witnessed Celtic making giant strides in development (the Lennoxtown training centre) and unleashing previously untapped markets (most nobably Asia thanks to Shunsuke Nakamura) to aid and abet further talent and much-needed money filtering its way to the Parkhead club.

Criticism was aimed at Celtic from a few snipers when Nakamura was signed three years ago but I imagine every team in Scotland - and a good few down south - would gladly have the mercurial little man lining up for them.

"They only signed him to sell shirts in Asia!" they cried. Yes, and what's wrong with that? If you can also get a player who, when Celtic are awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, is almost as good as being awarded a penalty, then why wouldn't you? Some people just don't like change.

It did take Celtic a number of years to realise just how much they could exploit their worldwide fan base. Exploit may not be the best word to use but it is truthful and really, if the fans are happy buying products and ploughing money into the club, who is being exploited?

Celtic are on a financially-sound footing. Selling players to make money is no longer necessary. Artur Boruc should stay - unless £15million is seen as good business by a huge European club. The speculation in the papers surrounding the keeper is endless and the Daily Record and the rest of the Scottish gutter rags are desperately trying their utmost to rid Scotland of Boruc.

They are continually linking Celtic with swap deals involving Aiden McGeady to Spurs in return for Darren Bent. We all know why they do it, but now is the time to ignore such futile attempts at upsetting a very happy applecart. I'm not going to speculate on signings because I don't have insider information, I dont know any agents and, quite frankly, I trust Celtic to sign three or possibly four very capable players who will help them to the next realistic stage of development on the park.

That next step would be to retain the SPL title first and foremost, followed by an attempt to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Any cups are a bonus and if Celtic parachute into the UEFA Cup then winning it would be a more than realistic ambition. These are Celtics aims for the coming season. Let's hope all of them are met!