Celtic’s hunt to replace Neil Lennon in the Parkhead dugout is becoming a never-ending cycle of torment.
It’s been a number of weeks since the Northern Irishman left his post with the Bhoys but there are no closer to an announcement on a new manager.
What’s the word?
Eddie Howe was in advanced discussions with Celtic to the point where he was performing due diligence on behind-the-scenes matters and preparing his contingent of backroom staff.
However, as the clock has ticked by, it’s become increasingly unlikely he’ll arrive at Paradise.
Brighton and Crystal Palace have both been interested in his services but now a major power in English football could have Howe on their radar.
That happens to be Tottenham Hotspur, a side who have just sacked Jose Mourinho after a torrid season where Spurs sit outside the top four.
As a result, the former Bournemouth boss is being tipped to head to north London. Speaking on DAZN’s Premier League coverage this week (via Glasgow Live), Tim Sherwood provided Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy with a glowing review.
Howe also happened to be on the same show as he listened to this appraisal: "Give him the finances and let him build a football club. Let him build a structure, let him build a playing identity. I think that's what he (Levy) needs to do now,” Sherwood began.
"He needs to look for a young, up and coming manager... like Eddie Howe,” he added.
Hammer blow to Celtic
If Levy does indeed have the 43-year-old on his radar then it can only be bad news for Celtic and their pursuit.
They have waited a considerable period of time now while they wait for a response for Howe and this is the precise reason he’s been hanging around.
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His agent has claimed the manager won’t return until the summer while GIVEMESPORT claimed at the weekend that his representatives still think he can get a job in the Premier League.
Peterborough director of football Barry Fry commented that Howe could be waiting for a bigger and better challenge to come up which now Mourinho has been sacked, has presented itself in the form of Spurs.
It would be hard to say no to a club like Tottenham; they have a brand new stadium, one of the best strikers in world football in Harry Kane and they have regularly been in the final stages of the Champions League in the last few years.
For Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond, this is a crushing piece of news.
Howe was on the verge of becoming the new boss at Celtic but with Spurs lurking, all possibility of him arriving in Glasgow may as well be done and dusted.