Celtic would be unable to resist hiring Martin O’Neill permanently, if he wins the title.
That’s according to insider journo Stephen McGowan, who has been discussing candidates for the permanent role in the summer with PLZ Soccer.
Talk of Jens Berthel Askou has gathered momentum this week, whilst Roberto Martinez continues to be mentioned.
But McGowan has made his expectation clear, saying: “I think the clamour [for Martin O’Neill] would be irresistible. Genuinely.
“I mean, it’s an interesting scenario. Askou, you think, should be a contender, but you have to go back 32 years to the last time Celtic took a manager from another Scottish club. That was Tommy Burns, 1994.
“Rangers have been 24, 25 years since Alex McLeish came from Hibs. Even Hibs have been 12 years since Terry Butcher (from Inverness).
“Scottish clubs, generally – Derek McInnes to Hearts was the outlier – don’t take managers from other clubs.”
I want the next manager of Celtic to be…
Stephen McGowan on Roberto Martinez, Jens Berthel Askou and Martin O’Neill for Celtic
Askou certainly seems attainable for Celtic, and with his Motherwell side going from strength to strength, many in the Parkhead faithful would take him.
McGowan agrees that he is one that the club should be looking at.
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He said: “So I don’t know if Celtic would look at Askou – I think they should, absolutely should.
“Roberto Martinez is intriguing, because it does look like he’ll be leaving Portugal after the World Cup… you have the Shaun Maloney link-up…
“The Dermot Desmond factor with Robbie Keane would be interesting…
“But, I think if Martin O’Neill pulls this off, it would be his biggest triumph at Celtic beyond getting to Seville in 2003.
“And I think the clamour to give him one more year, certainly, rebuild that squad – assuming Shaun Maloney was on board with it, with Mark Fotheringham and so on – would be irresistible.”
Martinez would be available after the World Cup, though this could complicate things given Celtic’s likely involvement in European qualifiers as early as July.
The Portugal boss looks likely to be replaced by Jose Mourinho after the tournament.
Would you take Roberto Martinez as Celtic’s permanent manager after the World Cup?
Other permanent Celtic manager candidates
Craig Bellamy was heavily linked to the vacancy prior to Wilfried Nancy’s involvement, but the ex-Hoops striker is fully focused on his side’s World Cup play-offs next month.
Ange Postecoglou has ruled out a Celtic return this week, in a disappointing development for many in the support.
Kieran McKenna seems fully focused on Ipswich Town, despite being named as a ‘serious contender’ for the hotseat before Nancy.
It remains to be seen who leads the club’s search, after the debacle of Paul Tisdale’s leading role in the disastrous appointment of the Frenchman.
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