If and when Celtic ever announce a new manager, it will be an absolute miracle.
It has now been 11 long arduous weeks since Neil Lennon left his post behind at Parkhead but the Hoops hierarchy are still stumbling and struggling to find a new boss.
What’s the word?
Over the last week or so it looked like a deal to bring Eddie Howe to Paradise was reaching a conclusion.
The Daily Mail reported that talks were being finalised before journalist Stuart Hodge revealed over the weekend that Howe would become the new head coach of Celtic.
However, we keep getting sent mixed messages in this saga with the latest word being that an announcement may not be as close as we all think.
That’s due to the recent statement that Celtic released regarding their hunt for a new manager.
Reporter Mark Guidi said on the Go Radio Football Show: “For people again it’s like a holding statement. Every Celtic supporter wants the next statement from the club to be ‘here’s your new manager’. That’s not happening. Going by that statement, I don’t think it’s close otherwise I don’t think the club would have put the statement out."
Guidi continued: “It’s a kind of ‘we know you’re frustrated, but we are working hard, get behind us, it’s been a horrible season, we want to bounce back as quickly as we can, we want to appoint a new manager as quickly as we can. And when we do send out our season tickets, please renew them, because we need you inside the stadium and obviously, we need the finances.’
“But going with that statement, I’m not anticipating any announcement, whether it’s Eddie Howe or anyone, anytime soon.”
Worrying news
Given the enormous amount of work that is required this summer behind the scenes at Celtic, yet another stall in their bid to find a new manager is simply disastrous.
The Hoops need a new manager and they need one extremely swiftly. Of course, the Bhoys can’t appoint the very first person they see but John Kennedy has proven in a matter of months that he’s not fit for the full-time role.
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He’s only won three of his eight matches and has seen his side crash out of the Scottish Cup at the expense of Rangers and then smacked by the same opposition 4-1 in the league.
There is a mass clear out of the playing staff needed this summer and concrete plans for recruitment cannot be put in place until someone arrives.
Considering the transfer window opens in a month’s time on June 9th, there is now very little time to get someone through the door before they should be active in the market.
Scott Brown is leaving for Aberdeen so a replacement will be needed there while negotiations will need to take place with Odsonne Edouard and Kristoffer Ajer over their futures.
The two Celtic stars have been linked with the exit door on a regular basis but they aren’t the only ones that might need replacing.
Ryan Christie’s contract expires in January 2022 so he’ll be free to leave while Moi Elyounoussi, Jonjoe Kenny and Diego Laxalt will all head back to their parent clubs.
The longer this goes on, the less time Celtic are going to have in order to prepare for next season.
They cannot afford to stall things for much longer.