Chris Sutton has revealed that he started his coaching career in the same class as Eddie Howe.
As the former Lincoln City boss admits things have gone in different directions since. Next season it looks very likely that Sutton will be in the Press Box passing judgement on every move that Howe makes.
The story of the former Bournemouth boss is quite well known, taking the club from the bottom tier to five seasons in the EPL broken by an 18-month stint at Burnley.
Sutton, on the other hand, was in charge of Lincoln for 51 matches at roughly the same time as Howe was given the Bolton job. A record of 14 wins, 13 draws and 24 defeats pointed him towards a career in the media rather than the dug-out.
Discussing the likely new Celtic manager In the Daily Record, Sutton reveals:
He and I did our coaching badges together in Ireland many years ago. It’s fair to say our managerial careers went in separate directions, but I liked him. Howe strikes me as being quite unassuming. A calm character and a deep thinker on the game.
He is one who has travelled around Europe studying other managers and methods to build his knowledge. He’s a student of football. Given the fact he thinks about things, taking the Celtic job won’t just be a snap decision.
He’ll weigh it all up. He’ll explore every avenue and he’s just what Celtic need at the moment because there’s a rebuild required and he’s got previous for that.
Bournemouth were in a real state when he went into that post. On the brink of oblivion. Yet he built them up from scratch and got them into the Premier League. That was a remarkable achievement.
So was keeping them in the top-flight for five years. The wheels came off a bit at the end, but it’s hard to be critical. There was only so long a club of that size could keep punching above their weight.
Should Celtic offer the manager's job to Eddie Howe
Yes, absolutely. Howe is the perfect fit
No, what has he won?
John Kennedy will take charge of Celtic for today’s Scottish Cup tie against Falkirk but the match will be surrounded by speculation about Howe.
Next Saturday Celtic are at home to Livingston with a high expectation among fans that Howe will be in charge of the team by then.