Celtic’s hunt for a new manager is now into its tenth week as the Hoops desperately try to find a replacement for Neil Lennon.

Their wretched end to the season has only elevated the need for a new head at Parkhead, particularly after being drubbed 4-1 by their biggest rivals on Sunday.

What’s the word?

Celtic have been in advanced discussions to bring Eddie Howe to Glasgow for over a month now.

A deal is thought to be reaching its final stages and that could be down to the progression in their search for a director of football.

Nick Hammond left his role in the recruitment at Paradise in March and they are now looking to fill the role by opening up a new position.

Fergal Harkin has been at the top of Celtic’s list but Howe was trying to stall things and bring Richard Hughes, his companion at Bournemouth, on board instead.

However, in a surprising update that seemingly contradicts those initial reports, it’s been claimed that the 43-year-old manager will have absolutely no say in who the boardroom are preparing for the director of football position.

That news was revealed by The Sun’s Alan Nixon on Twitter this weekend.

After being asked by a Celtic supporter whether Howe had a say, he commented: “A manager is an employee ... if the club want a director of football who is there for the long term that is up to the club to choose and decide.”

Desmond finally getting things right

The club’s majority shareholder has been relentlessly criticised and bemoaned by segments of the Celtic fan base this season.

Mass protests occurred outside Parkhead towards the end of last year against the club’s ownership but in a revealing interview a few months ago, Dermot Desmond said he wouldn’t be selling his shares.

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For those who protested so staunchly, this came as a bitter blow. After all, the few years or so of his current tenure at the top of the Celtic hierarchy has been a disastrous one.

In fact, it rather stems back to when they hired Neil Lennon. The Bhoys received nearly £10m in compensation for Brendan Rodgers but used it to bring in a dispiriting replacement.

Finding the right successor on this occasion, therefore, is absolutely imperative. The appointment of Lennon has now set them back considerably but after the appointment of Dominic McKay, it looks to have kicked some sense into proceedings.

They are now closer than ever to Howe and they have taken the bold but sensible approach to leave the appointment of a director of football to themselves, rather than Howe.

If they’d let the former Bournemouth boss take over things and appoint Hughes, it could have been disastrous. Harkin has been labelled a transfer guru but the latter’s track record hardly sets the world alight.

For instance, Hughes spent £15m on Jordon Ibe only to see him score five goals in 92 appearances before leaving the Cherries on a free transfer.

What Celtic need right now is someone who is going to maximise the transfer window, not a figure who spends needlessly and poorly.

Desmond is absolutely correct to leave this in his and McKay’s hands and not be tempted to give the new manager any say in who is hired above him, which earlier reports indicated that could happen.

AND in other news, McKay can form dream Celtic duo by hiring 42y/o and signing "unbelievable" 97-goal gem...