The list of potential candidates to be the next Celtic manager is being whittled down. It’s maybe not through the normal manner of getting to a short list. But the list of who it might be is getting shorter all the time, and that could be worrying.
The latest adjustment is the crossing off of Scotland boss Steve Clarke. Ahead of the World Cup 2026, the news is that Clarke has had his contract extended. Clarke will be in charge of Scotland right through to the 2030 tournament. That's a hefty slap on the back for Clarke and a nice boost ahead of this year's finals.Â
Clarke might not have been high on the Celtic rumour list. The World Cup for one thing always seemed to be an awkward factor to overcome. The hoops need their next manager in place quickly with a lot of work to get through early this summer.Â
The list of potential new Celtic managers keeps reducing
Neither was Clarke much of a fan favourite at Celtic. He’s an intelligent manager and has done exceptionally well with Scotland. As he did in his last club role at Kilmarnock. His style of football though feels at odds with what Celtic fans want to see from their team.Â
The rumour list has also lost another contender recently when Jens Berthel Askou left Motherwell. After a great season transforming the Steelmen he had impressed many onlookers, and quite a few Celtic fans too. Askou has taken up the job as Manager at Ligue 1 side Toulouse.Â
Ex-boss Ange Postecoglou ruled himself out of a return several weeks back in a media interview. Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has also been mentioned as a possible candidate in the past. McKenna has now taken Ipswich back into the EPL, so it would seem highly unlikely he’d be giving up that opportunity to join Celtic.
If only it were the Celtic board working through a list and getting down to a couple of serious contenders. There is already a lack of trust and respect by fans for the board. If they felt the new manager was being chosen from the ones that are left rather than who we really want, it wouldn't go down well at all.
At the moment it seems as though Robbie Keane and Craig Bellamy are among the candidates the board is looking at. Along with, of course, the remarkable Martin O’Neill. Some rumours suggest Oliver Glasner has been approached. That would be a bold move, especially after his recent trophy wins with Crystal Palace. Let's hope the board can announce a decision soon, and that it is one the fans can get behind.Â
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