The name of the next Celtic manager is highly anticipated. Fans are anxious to hear who has got the job. They are almost as keen to know who hasn't got it too. That comes with worries some have over the prospect of Robbie Keane being selected.
Those concerns aren't necessarily eased by news of another twist in the hunt for the right candidate. Over the last couple of days, the rumour mill has been closing in on the next boss being either Keane or Martin O’Neill. Or perhaps a combination of the two, with O’Neill in a more oversight role.That followed a number of other contenders falling away as options.
It seemed as though Craig Bellamy was one of those now out of the picture. He had indicated in a recent interview that he was intending to see out the remaining two years of his contract with Wales. That, and his relative inexperience in the hot seat seemed to rule him out of the role at Celtic.
Bellamy could be back on the Celtic manager short list
Journalist Stephen McGowan though, often close to Celtic as a club, suggested that may not be the case. He reckons it wouldn't be wise for fans to ignore Bellamy as a contender just yet. That might help those unhappy with the idea of Keane taking over, but it still doesn't seem ideal.
And there lies the problem. Is there an ideal manager out there, in contention and available for the role? At the moment Keane has some fans unhappy at a mix of his track record as a coach and that Israel connection from his time at Maccabi Tel Aviv. So he wouldn't be seen as a great fit by everyone by any means.
Then there is O’Neill. He did an absolutely fantastic job of securing a double. He rescued the Celtic season, gave them a chance of success, and took silverware with the league title and the Scottish Cup.
O’Neill not a long term Celtic solution
The fans aren't ungrateful at that, but some point to O’Neill’s age, the style of football played, and the January signings. Those factors suggest another season may not be ideal. It would also feel like a transitional appointment, kicking the can down the road for another year. Also not ideal for many.
Bellamy, as an option, will be attractive for some fans. Especially those who remember his loan spell as a player. Sadly, though, that memory is dented with that awful defeat by Motherwell, which lost the league for Celtic in the final match.
His managerial experience is light; his temperament as a player was at times questionable. But he does know the club and the size of the job, which may help a little. The biggest advantage, though, that Bellamy has, as far as some of the Celtic supporters are concerned, is that he isn't Keane or O’Neill. That's not a good enough reason, really. But you’d not put anything past this Celtic board in recent years.
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