Michael Stewart has looked on from the outside at an incredible day for Celtic.
Six days after Bournemouth’s EPL promotion hopes were ended by Brentford it was looking ominous over the apparent ‘done deal’ to appoint Eddie Howe as manager.
Early in the afternoon news seeped out that the deal was dead with flimsy reasons put forward to explain it. Apparently there were problems in assembling his backroom team- why that wasn’t identified much earlier is something that very few people can explain.
A very embarrassing day for Celtic. They’ve waited months for Howe, this should’ve been brought to a head a long time ago. Whoever is approached now knows they’re not the first choice which is far from ideal. All this time wasted as the new season gets ever closer.
— Michael Stewart (@mstewart_23) May 28, 2021
So many things needing addressed at the club and a new manager is urgently required before they can press on with these issues.
— Michael Stewart (@mstewart_23) May 28, 2021
Eddie Howe would’ve been aware of the Celtic possibility last year, I find it incredible that it’s been allowed to go on till almost June before anyone knowing if he’s taking the job or not. All this simply heaps pressure on getting the right man in and quickly.
— Michael Stewart (@mstewart_23) May 28, 2021
Around 6pm Celtic took the unusual step of making a statement about failure, confirming that they had missed out on a deal for Howe. Three months after Neil Lennon resigned.
Who is next is now the big question, whoever is appointed can be in no doubt that they were at best Plan B.
Celtic could think big to blow Howe out the water but if they go for a low profile manager with the track record of Ronny Deila or Neil Lennon they will forever be compared with Howe- the one that got away.