Celtic’s talks with Eddie Howe have advanced to discussions over his backroom staff and the vital role of Director of Football.
Nick Hammond’s exit on Wednesday as Head of Football Operations appears to have been some sort of signal that the decks are being cleared with Richard Hughes an essential part of ‘Team Howe’.
The 41-year-old is little known in Scotland despite picking up five international caps under Walter Smith.
Although he was born in Glasgow his family moved to Italy at an early age where he attended school and started his playing career with Atalanta before moving to Arsenal and on to Bournemouth and Portsmouth.
Since retiring from playing at the age of 34 he has worked behind the scenes and is currently Technical Director at Bournemouth.
Stephen McGowan has been closer to the thinking of the Celtic hierarchy than any reporter over the last decade, giving his take on recent developments he tells Daily Mail readers:
Celtic are closing in on an agreement to name Eddie Howe as the club’s new manager early next week. And the former Bournemouth boss wants Cherries technical director Richard Hughes to join him in Glasgow.
Howe held face-to-face talks with the club’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond in London this week. And the 43-year-old is now ready to commit to a move to Glasgow if the Parkhead hierarchy agree to the structural changes he wants put in place.
Sportsmail understands Howe is prepared to stick with current first-team coaches John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan, but wants former Scotland midfielder Hughes to oversee a restructuring of the football operations.
Former Celtic striker Mark Burchill – now a Bournemouth scout – is also in line for a scouting job after head of football operations Nick Hammond quit his post on Wednesday.
Howe left Bournemouth by mutual consent in August after the club were relegated from the English Premier League following five seasons in the top flight. Touted for the Crystal Palace job if Roy Hodgson departs, a move to Glasgow now looks more likely after Desmond provided assurances over funds to rebuild the playing squad and a revamp of football operations.
Should Celtic offer the manager's job to Eddie Howe
Yes, absolutely. Howe is the perfect fit
No, what has he won?
After the release of details yesterday there is a strong expectation of an announcement coming from Celtic over the next week, meanwhile John Kennedy is preparing the squad for tomorrow’s Scottish Cup tie at home to Falkirk.