Chris Sutton has warned Ange Postecoglou that he is walking in on Mission Impossible if he accepts the offer to manage Celtic.
The Yokohoma Marinos boss has to get a Work Permit and UEFA clearance before he can hit the training ground but the squad and structure that he’ll be walking into won’t be recognisable with the image that Peter Lawwell likes to present.
Recruitment since July 2018 has been a source of concern with last season’s side propped up by four expensive loan signings with none of them likely to return.
Head of Football Operations Nick Hammond hasn’t been replaced since quitting the club in March while Lawwell finalises his handover to Dom McKay.
In the squad the next manager will notice some glaring holes with one first team experienced full-back. Shortages in most areas with Albian Ajeti the only striker surviving from Neil Lennon’s final season in charge.
Postecoglou will be the biggest left-field manager to arrive in Glasgow since Pedro Caixinha’s caravan pitched up at Ibrox with that project terminated after 26 matches
Sutton tells the Daily Record:
You can see the comparisons in that – like Caixinha – Postecoglou has a big personality, is not afraid of conflict and has had some success in non traditional footballing areas.
But it would be extremely harsh to completely dismiss him before he even gets in the door I actually feel sorry for the guy. He’s walking in to a Mission Impossible job right now.
If Postecoglou isn’t in Glasgow by early next week then quarantine rules mean he will be unlikely to be at Lennoxtown for the first day of pre-season.
That’s not going to be a great look for the players who will still be on the books when they report back for duty. Even they will be wondering how the heck did Celtic get to his point. They’ll be asking each other, what on earth is going on?
There is still no confirmation from Celtic or Yokohama about a deal being agreed for Postecoglou.
