Paul Hartley makes exciting claim about next Celtic manager

There is no hiding from the fact that Celtic have had to endure a terrible season. It led to Neil Lennon ultimately stepping down from his role. And while John Kennedy is currently the interim manager, the club are expected to make a new appointment in the summer when Dominic McKay replaces Peter Lawwell.

Now, it would be wrong to completely rule out the chances of Kennedy being given the role on a permanent basis. If he can turn this team around before the end of this campaign, and improve both performances and results, he might have a very good chance.

You have to feel though that after this season, the club will most likely need to freshen things up from top to bottom. And that view is shared by Paul Hartley as well.

Hartley is currently the manager of Scottish League One side Cove Rangers and believes that his former side will need to bring in a “marquee” name in the summer. As reported by The Scottish Sun, while speaking with the Celtic Huddle Podcast, he said:

"“I do think the Celtic fans expect a marquee manager now.“To go and say to the Celtic fans ‘Give us your season ticket money’ without them knowing who the manager’s going to be, it’s going to be very difficult.“I think they’ve maybe lost the trust in the board.“And I think to get them back onside I think Dermot Desmond will have to go and get a marquee manager in.“Now, that’s not easy.“For me, if Celtic are going to go and get a marquee manager, it will probably be someone out of a job.“I think the fans have been fed up this season, the criticism the squad’s had, I think they expect a big marquee name in the summer.“I think the director of football or sporting director might come in first.“And then he’ll have that opportunity to bring his own man in.“It’s an important two or three months for Celtic and I think they’ve got to bring in the director of football first.“He then picks the manager and they both work closely. They have to have a close bond, especially with players coming in.”"

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Who will be the next Celtic manager?

The Hoops have certainly been linked with their fair share of marquee managers over the past couple of months. Eddie Howe is certainly someone that the majority of the fans would be delighted to see arrive at Parkhead. The same can be said about Rafa Benitez and Roberto Martinez, although it will take a herculean effort on the part of the board to convince either of them to join.

But on the other hand, some managers have been mentioned as well whose appointment would not be nearly as exciting.

Whatever, may be the case. The next few months are certainly going to be some of the most interesting in recent memory. And let’s just hope that whoever is in charge of the club next season, is good enough to guide them to the Premiership title.