Charlie Nicholas has suggested three novices that Celtic should be speaking to as they look for a new manager.
Last week Neil Lennon resigned three months after the club announced a managerial review but it seems that the hierarchy were taken by surprise with no successor in the pipeline.
With a complete rebuild required this summer it seems that it is a task for a time-served manager who knows the ropes rather than a project, punt or novice.
Despite the problems of this season Celtic demonstrated as recently as 2016 that they can put together the financial package and show the ambition to bring in a manager of genuine quality.
Brendan Rodgers quickly transformed every aspect of the club, bringing life back to players like James Forrest, Tom Rogic and Stuart Armstrong and pushing the club into the Champions League group stages in successive seasons.
Nicholas takes a very different view to appointing a manager with the Daily Record picking up on his column in the Daily Express:
Celtic should be speaking to the agents of Xavi, Vincent Kompany and Xabi Alonso to gauge their interest in the job. I have seen Frank Lampard mentioned as a potential candidate, while Thierry Henry’s name has also been thrown into the mix, but I am not sure if either of them would be keen.
I just want the club to ask the question and show a bit of ambition. If they don’t then they will appoint someone like Roy Keane or Steve Clarke. It all comes back to the owner and it is now up to him to deliver. Is Desmond truly determined to get Celtic back to the top.
Kompany has had one season managing Anderlecht who are currently in fifth place in the Belgian League, 18 points behind Brugge who have played two matches less.
Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso is in charge of the Real Sociedad B team in the Spanish Second Division. Xavi is managing in the Qatar Stars League.
Since Lennon resigned John Kennedy has been in charge as Interim Manager.