The timeline of Celtic’s season is enough to drag you to depression if you’re a Hoops supporter.

It has been a wretched campaign that will end without a trophy at Parkhead for the first time in around a decade. They could also end the term without a first-team manager.

What’s the word?

Neil Lennon left the Bhoys nine weeks ago but majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is finding life difficult in terms of finding a replacement.

Roy Keane has twice emerged on the scene but it’s Eddie Howe who appears to be their number one choice.

Unfortunately, there have been a number of complications holding a deal up.

Taking to Twitter over the weekend, reliable journalist Alan Nixon made a big claim on the major reason behind the delay.

Responding to a fan who asked if Howe’s backroom staff demands were an issue, he said: “It’s a huge factor in this.”

Desmond fuming

This has been a ridiculous scenario for the club’s main shareholder and it doesn’t look like ending anytime soon.

After such an arduous season the last thing the Bhoys needed was another lengthy saga, especially when there’s so much to address this summer.

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Desmond and indeed the entire club are being left in the lurch right now and if we’re seeking a resolution, we may not have one until the end of next month.

There is good news in the sense that Richard Hughes is reportedly no longer a major factor for Howe but he still wants some of the Bournemouth coaching staff to join him at Paradise.

He is keen on seeing Stephen Purches and Stephen Weatherstone come with him but the Cherries are right in the middle of a promotion hunt.

The Championship play-off finals aren’t until May 29th so it might not be before then that we hear news of a new manager. If the south-coast side successfully negotiates their way back to the top-flight then it will cost Celtic more financially to prise Purches and Weatherstone away.

That’s because they will be due pay rises. On top of that, they will also have the lure of Premier League football to keep them in England.

This is a situation that must be leaving Desmond tearing his hair out. Whatever way you look at it, there is no swift remedy.

AND in other news, Bye-bye Ajer: Celtic must unleash rarely-seen "weapon" next term, he's clear of Duffy...