67 Hail Hail understands that Craig Bellamy has NOT applied to become the new Celtic manager, but they do hugely admire the Wales boss.
Celtic are suddenly searching for a new permanent manager after Brendan Rodgers tendered his resignation from his position on Monday.
Martin O’Neill has sensationally made his return to the club and will be joined by Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham in the Celtic Park dugout this evening.
Rodgers’ departure has not been quiet. Less than an hour after his departure was announced, Dermot Desmond released an explosive statement which hammered the 52-year-old’s actions over recent months.
The search for his replacement is in its early days, but the rumour is already flowing.
Bellamy has been linked with the role on Wednesday, but his arrival on this occasion is unlikely, our Chief Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey has learned.
Craig Bellamy has not applied to be Celtic manager
Bellamy has worked hard moulding the Welsh squad, who are battling hard to qualify for the World Cup finals.
We understand Bellamy does have an ambition to be a club manager one day, but that looks unlikely to be anytime soon.
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Bellamy is a former Celtic player, making him an obvious candidate for the role which O’Neill says will be filled by a ‘promising young coach’.
But 67 Hail Hail is told it would take an ‘extraordinary’ effort to persuade the 46-year-old to leave Wales at this point.
That said there are members of Celtic’s hierarchy who really would like to make an effort for him.
But for now, candidates such as Kieran McKenna look more realistic. Robbie Keane, Ange Posteocoglou and Wilfried Nancy are also being discussed.
Postecoglou has similar City Group links to Bellamy – the Welshman was Vincent Kompany’s assistant at Anderlecht when the Belgian side tried to bring Postecoglou into their football set-up.
Bellamy joined for the second half of O’Neill’s final season of his first spell. He scored a famous brace at Ibrox and racked up nine goals overall in 15 appearances.
Craig Bellamy’s coaching career
Retiring at boyhood club Cardiff City in 2014, Bellamy went on to join the club’s youth set-up as a coach and work his way up.
He was on the verge of becoming Oxford United manager in 2018, but in a sliding doors moment, a takeover was completed during negotiations and Bellamy withdrew his application.
This led to his move to be Under-21s manager at Anderlecht when former teammate Kompany was appointed as their manager. He followed him to Burnley, but rejected the chance to join him at Bayern Munich.
Instead, he became Wales manager, where he went unbeaten in his first nine matches. They remain in contention for World Cup qualification, explaining the doubt over his Celtic move.
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