As the debate over who should take the permanent reins at Celtic Park rages on, an intriguing and somewhat left-field name has been thrown into the mix.
Peter Grant has publicly backed the idea of John McGlynn stepping into the hot seat, pointing to his tactical intelligence and crucial past experiences at Celtic when he worked under Brendan Rodgers.
Right now, Martin O’Neill is trying to guide Celtic to a double, but regardless of what happens, a new face will be in the dugout for next season, and there will be a major clearout in Glasgow this summer.
While Grant understands that McGlynn, who is pushing newly-promoted Falkirk to an impressive top-six finish this term, would be an ‘unfashionable’ pick, he still likes the idea of the domestic boss being the main guy at Celtic.
“People forget, John worked under Brendan at Celtic for a period of time, so he was there under Brendan working,” Grant explained early in the discussion.
“John has taken a lot of stuff that he worked along with Brendan, plus all the stuff he has himself previously, so he is an intelligent man and knows the game inside and out.”
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Peter Grant explains why John McGlynn would be a strong Celtic manager
There is every chance Falkirk and McGlynn could stop Celtic from winning the double this season. That’s taking points off them in the Premiership, and if they meet in the Scottish Cup final.
Either way, there is no denying that the 64-year-old has done a stellar job with Falkirk, taking them from League One all the way up to Scotland’s top tier.
If there is a section of the Celtic fanbase against the idea of McGlynn, then Grant was on Go Radio trying to explain otherwise.
Celtic fan: “Would you go for John McGlynn. Unfashionable. If he were appointed tomorrow, Celtic fans would be saying, ‘he’s been manager of Hearts. Falkirk.’
“I think he would be a great fit. It would be an unfashionable appointment. But he would be in my top three, because I think personally, if he were made Celtic manager, he would do a brilliant job.”
Grant: “John McGlynn. People forget that John worked under Brendan at Celtic for a period of time, so he was there under Brendan, working.
“John has taken a lot of stuff that he worked along with Brendan, plus all the stuff he has himself previously, so he is an intelligent man and knows the game inside and out.
“I agree with you in the respect of that (it would be unfashionable). I don’t mean an unpopular decision. But why not? Because he has been successful with people who have played in the Scottish second division and brought them to the first division, it becomes our third division here.
“He has brought them through and made sure they can perform in the Premier League.”
McGlynn’s record at Falkirk
It’s not the norm for Celtic to appoint a domestic boss, although the club are never shy to go left-field.
Ange Postecoglou was a huge success at Celtic, including winning the Treble, but Wilfried Nancy proved to be a nightmare.
But if the champions of Scotland are to go down the unlikely road of McGlynn, then this is how his record at Falkirk reads out after he took charge of them in 2022, when they were in League One.
- Games: 180
- Wins: 108
- Draws: 33
- Losses: 39
- Goals scored: 386
- Goals conceded: 211
- Points per game: 1.98
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