CELTIC continued, over the weekend, to put into place what they see as vital components in their strategy for the new season.

On Saturday, they made their first major signing of the close season when they paid Hibs #1.3m for Scotland World Cup player Darren Jackson. Yesterday, Paolo Di Canio seemed to take steps towards making peace with the club after talks with the newly-appointed coach Wim Jansen.

Then, today, the Parkhead club will announce a major strip sponsorship deal worth several millions - some of which will be allocated to further strengthening the player pool. Last night, the general manager Jock Brown said: ''Paolo Di Canio has now spoken to Wim Jansen and he also had another chat with me.

''He didn't say to either of us anything about any problems he has with the club. He trained with the rest of the players today and he will go with the squad to Dublin and take part in the matches we have there.

''Wim told me that he is in great shape and that he worked really hard.''

The signing of Jackson - ironically a target for the previous Celtic manager Tommy Burns, who was sacked toward the end of last season - makes him the first major acquisition to the playing staff in the close season. Jansen admitted that his only knowledge of the player came from videos but added that he was happy to take the advice of his assistant general manager, Davie Hay, and reserve team coach Murdo MacLeod.

Jackson admitted: ''I thought any chance I had of making this move had died last season. Even when it was resurrected a few days ago, it seemed that Hibs were determined to keep me.

''I see this as a major opportunity for me. I have given Hibs five good years and now I embark on another important stage in my career.''

Jackson, who will be 31 in two weeks time, has been a key player in Scotland's current World Cup campaign. That is what attracted the Celtic interest last season and has seen it continue under the new regime.

However, the Hibs fans were angered that their club had once more sold one of their top players. They have already seen one international leave in the summer, when Jim Leighton took advantage of freedom of contract to return to Aberdeen.

Now Jackson has gone and the Hibs support are bitterly critical of the decision to sell him. Manager Jim Duffy, however, stressed: ''Darren did not want to stay at Easter Road.

''He and his agent knew about the Celtic moves and made it clear that the transfer was something he wanted. There was little we could do to stop it.''

Jackson will be with Celtic in Ireland this week and his first premier division match for the club will be in the live televised game against Hibs at Easter Road on August 3.

However, while Jackson goes to Dublin, two other players from the Celtic first-team squad must be left at home. The Italian defender, Enrico Annoni, has a calf injury he picked up on the tour to Holland and Phil O'Donnell, who did not play in any of the three games there, is nursing a knee injury.

Brown said: ''Wim feels it is better that the players remain behind to have treatment. That way they are more likely to get fit sooner.

''It could even be that they could join us later in the week in Ireland.''

Celtic are also remaining in touch with their Portuguese striker, Jorge Cadete, who is ill in Lisbon and has yet to report back to the club after leaving them at the end of the season amid clear suggestions that he wished to be transferred.

The Celtic club doctor is talking to Cadete's doctor in an attempt to find out when the player may be ready to return. There has been no clear indication when that may be.

While Di Canio has trained on his own, and has now returned from Italy, and looks ready to toe the line at last, Cadete remains a worry for the Glasgow club.