In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, Frank McAvennie has been praising Eddie Howe, amid speculation linking him with the Celtic job.

Howe's been out of work since leaving Bournemouth following their relegation from the Premier League on the final day of last season.

The 43-year-old took the Cherries from League Two to becoming an established top-flight club in the space of five seasons before they went down after a wretched post-lockdown run.

Howe's only other previous managerial role was a brief stint at Burnley, but reports believe that he would be interested in the vacant job in Glasgow, with Celtic still searching hard for a replacement for Neil Lennon, who was sacked last month.

And McAvennie, who spent four seasons at Celtic Park across two separate spells, described Howe as a "great coach" but admitted that his former side need a complete clear out in their backroom staff department, including current caretaker manager John Kennedy.

He told Football FanCast: "I think Eddie's got good pedigree. He's a young coach. Unfortunately, I think today's game, players are too soft. They don't take to people shouting at them, and I think that's what happened with Lenny.

"I think Eddie Howe is a great coach, he's done wonderful at Bournemouth, but he would have to bring his own backroom staff. Celtic need a total clearance.

"John Kennedy is up there with one of the favourites, but I don't think the fans will want John [Kennedy] to be the manager. He's been there for four managers, but I think it's time John went away and got a manager's job. Celtic is too big a club for him to cut his teeth on."