The search for Celtic’s new head coach is like looking for a needle in a haystack. No matter how hard the Bhoys try, they can’t seem to lure anybody to Parkhead.

A number of names have been thrown in the hat to replace Neil Lennon but the Hoops are stuck with an interim manager for now.

What’s the word?

Roy Keane is back among the contenders for the vacant position at Paradise but Eddie Howe is still thought to be the favourite. Celtic are relaxed about the 43-year-old’s situation despite a number of complications, but they received a real boost in their pursuit on Thursday.

Tottenham have just sacked Jose Mourinho and, as such, there is a big opening for the Englishman in north London. However, Football.London reported this week that Howe isn’t expected to be in the frame for the Spurs job.

Desmond surely buzzing

With Celtic already facing such stern competition for his signature, this will come as sheer delight for Dermot Desmond. The majority shareholder has not had it easy in the last few weeks with Howe playing Celtic around on a regular basis.

He doesn’t want to return to football until the summer, which has enabled both Crystal Palace and Brighton to join the race for his services.

[snack-amp-story url= "https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-celtic-manager-and-transfer-news-howe-lampard-klimala-ajer-gossip" title= "Read the latest Celtic manager and transfer news!"]

Peterborough director of football Barry Fry told This is Futbol last week that Howe was stalling over the job at Parkhead because he didn’t view it as a big enough challenge.

When Tottenham fired Mourinho, therefore, it would have been easy to look towards Spurs as his next destination. They are a big club at this moment in time and have an attractive new stadium.

With that in mind, Desmond would have been fretting over the worst-case scenario. At last, the opportunity for which the former Bournemouth manager had been waiting was staring him right in the face.

He isn’t too keen on moving his family to Scotland, while the manager’s representatives think he can still get a job in the English top flight.

Although it may be a personal setback to the Englishman to be out of contention for the Spurs job, it will come as music to the ears of those at Celtic.

Perhaps negotiations with Howe will now improve? Only time will tell in this unpredictable chase for a new manager at Parkhead.

AND in other news, Forget Harkin: Celtic could find their new Van Dijk by appointing title-winning 39 y/o...