Keith Jackson has good news for Celtic fans over the future of Ange Postecoglou obtained through ‘sources at the club’ with an early mention of the ‘Bullish top brass’.
With no transfer window or midweek Scottish fixtures it seems that the managerial vacancy at Leeds has become the biggest story at the Daily Record.
By lunchtime on Tuesday the Glasgow based publisher had run stories detailing the thoughts of Chris Sutton, Ally McCoist and Jason Cundy’s about the chances of Postecoglou quitting Celtic for the Leeds vacancy.
The Celtic manager remains on the same 12 month rolling contract that he signed in June 2021, on a couple of occasions he has stated his happiness with that deal adding that if results go the wrong way a long term contract won’t save him from the sack.
Midway through season two only Robbie Neilson, David Martindale and Callum Davidson have been in their job longer than Postecoglou who spent three and a half years with Yokohama F Marinos.
Reacting to the speculation that Postecoglou could be about to join Leeds, late on Tuesday night in the Daily Record Jackson reported:
Bullish Celtic top brass remain confident Ange Postecoglou will not leave them in the lurch for Leeds United despite mounting speculation that the Aussie’s name has made it onto an Elland Road shortlist.
Postecoglou has been linked with a possible move to the Premier League strugglers ever since the trigger was pulled on American Jesse Marsch in the aftermath of Sunday’s defeat at Nottingham Forest. And the interest appears to have intensified over the last 24 hours.
Reports from Yorkshire named Postecoglou as one of three bosses, currently in employment elsewhere, who are under serious consideration for the post, and West Brom’s Carlos Corberan was another. But news that he has signed a new deal at West Brom appear to have put that to bed.
Rayo Vallecano head coach Andoni Iraola – of who like Corberan worked with former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa – is the other name in the frame. But the relegation-threatened top flight outfit also see similarities between the management styles of Bielsa and Postecoglou – with the Celtic boss believed to fit perfectly with their desired profile for the job.
Sources at the club insist the interview process got up and running after Marsch’s sacking on Monday, with further discussions held on Tuesday. But Record Sport understands that, as of late Tuesday afternoon, Celtic had received no contact from the Leeds board asking for permission to open talks with Postecoglou.
Furthermore, chief executive Michael Nicholson and chairman Peter Lawwell believe the 57-year-old is happy, motivated and completely committed to leading his side towards a second successive Premiership title, despite any potential interest from across the border.
Previously that type of story would have focussed in the role of the Celtic CEO, as Chairman Ian Bankier’s role was very much in the background, out of the spotlight.
Jackson has strong contacts at Celtic, in June 2020 Peter Lawwell gave the Daily Record reporter his last ever newspaper interview when he explained his plans to have supporters attending Test Matches ahead of the start of the SPFL season. No fans attended a match inside Celtic Park until July 2021, after Lawwell had stood down as CEO.
On January 7 Jackson described Postecoglou as self pitying and using spiteful irrationalism.
A week later the Record reporter accused the Celtic manager of pouring fuel on the particularly toxic fire of the paranoia narrative.
In December 2022 Jackson hit out at fans critical of Lawwell’s return to Celtic as Chairman.
In December 2020 Jackson revealed how a senior source had told him about the enormous sense of self entitlement among fans critical of the club’s leadership as the Lockdown Season crumbled on the back of four successive home defeats.
Maybe now these knowalls like jackass who always seems to be 100% wrong will put it to bed , Ange is genuine not like another few named eh slippy and warty.
Are jackass Jackson and keyhole Keevins related,think there must a connection as surely they both couldn’t have been dropped on there head repeatedly when young, Celtic Board should ban both from Celtic park as if banned won’t make any difference as they will still continue to write malicious tripe about our club
Editor: Both are very welcome at Celtic, Jackson is a particular favourite of the club.
Jackson can’t lose on this one ! If someone within Celtic demands to know his source is ,you know what the answer will be to that ! He could have made up the story knowing that he can’t and won’t name names …. The old mind plays a good strategic game when you are on the old Vino Calypso sometimes !
I’m afraid Jackson and his hun mates will need to suck it up as long as Ange is here. I’m loving their torment.