Weeks rather than days- In The Know reporter reveals no rush to replace Postecoglou
Soccer Football - Scottish Cup Final - Celtic vs Motherwell - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Britain - May 19, 2018 Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell (2nd L) and Independent non-executive director Dermot Desmond (C) in the stand Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Keith Jackson isn’t expecting a quick announcement of the next Celtic manager.
Peter Lawwell’s last interview as CEO was with the Daily Record reporter, alongside Dermot Desmond and Michael Nicholson the 64-year-old will decide on who replaces Ange Postecoglou who joined Spurs less than three days after guiding Celtic to completing the domestic treble.
Between the lines it seems like Celtic have been caught out by the loss of Postecoglou who leaves behind a strong legacy with a young squad on long term contracts.
Already a dozen names have been linked with the vacancy by the media but there has been no real substance other than candidates who appear to have a profile that would interest the Celtic board.
Covering another day of speculation Jackson reports:
Celtic will not press the panic button by rushing into appointing Ange’s Postecoglou’s replacement.
The Parkhead club have been rocked internally by Postecoglou’s decision to quit the club and sign a four year deal with Spurs.
And the Aussie’s sudden departure has piled fan pressure on owner Dermot Desmond to recruit a new manager well ahead of the new season. But Record Sport understands the club’s top brass will not be spooked into moving too quickly as they sift through the credentials of their leading candidates.
That means Postecoglou’s successor is unlikely to be decided upon, far less anointed, in the coming days.
In fact, the recruitment process is more likely to run for weeks rather than days. It’s understood bookies’ favourite Brendan Rodgers is also taking time to consider whether or not to throw his hat into the ring.
As Record Sport revealed on Tuesday, Rodgers would first have to be convinced that the time is right for him to make a sensational return to his old club – having previously advised friends and family he intended to take a year out of the game following his sacking from Leicester.
Who do you want as the next Celtic manger?
Brendan- He is the best available
Kjetil Knutsen- Fresh, ambitious, exciting
Enzo Maresca- if Pep rates him highly...
None of them for me- other options out there
It seems like Celtic are waiting to see if Brendan Rodgers is interested in a dramatic return to the club that he he left in mid-season four years ago.
Rodgers didn’t seem to be a contender for the Spurs job, with Chelsea also appointing a new manager in Mauricio Pochettino the biggest clubs look like starting next season with settled management teams.
Time is on Celtic’s side in terms of preparing for next season but with the transfer window opening on June 14 the next manager will be wanting to bring in his own signings in time for the pre-season friendlies in Japan and South Korea.