Celtic’s plan to bring Eddie Howe to Parkhead in a bid to replace Neil Lennon has taken more twists and turns than a helter-skelter.
The Bhoys are still without a new boss and as time goes on, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that Howe won’t be the man sitting in the dugout next term.
What’s the word?
In a sensational twist to the tale last week, it was revealed that Howe wouldn’t be returning to management until the summer.
Since then, we’ve been given a number of reasons as to why he may be stalling over his future.
A fresh reason may be down to his family and a major change of scenery, moving across the border to Glasgow.
That’s according to Paddy Kenny who was speaking to Football Insider over the weekend: “I heard that he struggled with his family moving to Burnley. So to move to Scotland, that’s a long, long way,” he began.
“Maybe he’s umming and ahhing about moving that far north and has got a sniff of something more local in the Premier League. It could be Crystal Palace.
“But there could be more to it. We don’t know. If he’s spoken to his Mrs, maybe it’s something to do with that,” Kenny concluded.
Desmond pulling his hair out
As each day passes by, it feels like Celtic’s majority shareholder is handed yet more bad news in Celtic’s hunt for Howe.
Negotiations were thought to be at an advanced stage for the 43-year-old but a number of issues have arisen since.
Firstly, Desmond won’t be able to appoint the former Bournemouth coach until the summer, while there are also issues regarding Howe’s backroom staff.
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After Nick Hammond departed, Celtic were in discussions to bring Fergal Harkin to Paradise in a new role as their director of football.
A deal was reportedly 90% done but Howe has had other ideas. He doesn’t want Harkin calling the shots on the transfer front and instead wants to bring Richard Hughes with him.
They worked together at Bournemouth but he is also facing the problem that his family don’t want to come to Scotland.
The fact that this issue has arisen is leaving Desmond in a very difficult situation. He does have an alternative in the form of Lucien Favre but Howe is evidently the hierarchy’s first choice.
This saga feels like one that will continue to rumble on for weeks.