Fergal Harkin has ruled himself out of a switch from Manchester City to Celtic.
Whether the Irishman has turned down a job offer or the club is looking elsewhere is unlikely to be determined but Harkin has been linked with a Director of Football role for some time although there has never been any on the record comment from Celtic.
At the end of this month Peter Lawwell will step down as CEO, with Nick Hammond leaving his job as Head of Football Operations earlier this year there is a massive vacuum in decision making brewing at the club.
Bournemouth Technical Director Richard Hughes had been linked with a similar role at Celtic but with Eddie Howe pulling out of talks that door has also closed.
Tonight, the Irish Independent reports:
Irishman Fergal Harkin will not be leaving his role as Football Partnerships and Pathways Manager at Manchester City to take up a role as Celtic’s Director of Football.
The 44-year-old from Donegal has been linked strongly with the position while the Celtic hierarchy waited patiently on a decision on the manager’s job that was Eddie Howe’s until he dramatically pulled out because he could not secure his desired backroom team.
But we understand that Harkin’s loyalty to City Football Group remains steadfast and he is continuing in his role as Football Partnerships and Pathways Manager in which he is held in high esteem by the Manchester City hierarchy.
While conversations have taken place between Celtic and Harkin, the Director of Football job was not offered to him and he is not seeking a move from the Premier League champions at this time.
Should Ange Postecoglou be offered the Celtic job?
Yes, we have to trust the club, they know their job
No, the club has lost the plot, demonstrated by this and Lennon
Celtic and Manchester City have worked very closely in recent years with Patrick Roberts, Daniel Arzani, John Guidetti and Jason Denayer moving on loan while Olivier Ntcham and Jeremie Frimpong were signed on a permanent basis.
Harkin was credited by Sky Sports with recommending Ange Postecoglou for the manager’s job but with Harkin unlikely to be working at Celtic the Australian is unlikely to know who will be in charge of recruitment if he gets round to discussing a move to Scotland.