EXCLUSIVE: Celtic’s new recruitment chief Tisdale is one of the brightest men in football, says Tottenham legend Perryman

Spurs legend Steve Perryman believes Celtic are signing one of the brightest men in football with new recruitment chief Paul Tisdale.

Perryman, a former director of football at Exeter City, interviewed Tisdale in the hotseat at St James Park and worked alongside him for 12 years.

The 51-year-old has been a self-employed football consultant since leaving Stevenage in 2022 and is set to become Celtic’s new head of recruitment after Mark Lawwell left the post in March.

And ex-England midfielder Perryman claims the Parkhead club have secured an astute judge of a player.

“Paul is in the top three football people I have met because of his intelligence,” he told Mail Sport.

‘You meet people in football with an educational background and you think: “Yes, but they haven’t played”.

Steve Perryman, top left, with Paul Tisdale during their time at Exeter City

Tisdale was a fashionable figure on the sidelines during his time in management

Perryman, left, in action with Tottenham Hotspur during a London derby with Chelsea

‘Then you see people with an educational background who look at players and think: “They’re not thinkers, are they?”

‘The most difficult thing is to find the balance between the two, and “Tis” was – and is – a very, very well-trained footballer.

‘So in terms of judgment in situations such as recruitment, selection, dealing with management and players, he is excellent.

“His intelligence got him through, and his intelligence said to me, ‘He could be CEO of this club.’

“He covered every base because he had great character and intelligence.

“He knows where he belongs and he focuses on that. He can wear so many different hats.”

Former Southampton player Tisdale was credited with discovering Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, and Perryman claims the England striker is just one of a number of talented young players to come through during his time as Exeter boss.

He also believes Tisdale’s skills suit the Parkhead club’s player trading model, which sold Matt O’Riley to Brighton for £25million and brought in Arne Engels in an £11million recording contract.

“He signed well even when we were dealing with the lower market,” Perryman said.

“But when you play at Exeter – and I think this probably applies to everyone now – you have to have a keen eye and good judgment for young players.

“At Exeter he signed players from under 13s into the first team and if you had anything about yourself then you could be in the first team at 17.

‘Like he did with Ollie Watkins, like he did with Matt Grimes, who is now captain of Swansea.

“He found Ethan Ampadu and put him in the team at the age of 15.

“He just had good judgment. Judge in the boardroom, judge in a trial match where you have thirty or forty players and only three are needed to put together your squad.

‘Judgment in football is crucial. And ‘Tis’ has the brains to get the best out of his work and just do things right.

“He’s honest, he’s honorable, he’s sympathetic and he just does things right.”