In midweek most bookies stopped taking bets as they were swamped with money on Roy Keane becoming the next Celtic manager.
Martin O’Neill had spoken powerfully in favour of his former assistant followed by a predictable stream of pundits hoping that they were reading the signs and backing the right horse.
It doesn’t take much to impact the betting markets, Keane came down to odds on before the books were closed which added to the speculation that an announcement was on the way.
Should Roy Keane be the next Celtic manager
Yes, exactly what we need
No, never. We need to get serious
On Friday night internet speculation turned to Eddie Howe with ‘reports’ spreading that he had booked into the Radisson in Glasgow city centre. If you are about to become Celtic manager or even be interviewed for the job a hotel on Argyle Street is probably the last place to be seen.
After five seasons in the EPL Howe remains out of work with a few appearances on Sky Sports to retain his profile.
It seems likely that Newcastle United and Crystal Palace could soon be looking for a manager, perhaps it could be Howe, it may even be Keane but regardless the only winners are the bookies who’ve had both men, Rafa Benitez and Steve Clarke as odds-on favourite for the Celtic job.