Stephen McManus has sung the praises of new Celtic set-piece coach Ross Grant.
Promoted from the role of B Team Head Coach to work on Martin O’Neill’s backroom staff last summer, McManus has now joined the first-team dugout permanently.
He will be joined by Grant, who will fill the gap left after Gavin Strachan’s switch to West Bromwich Albion.
Having served as set-piece coach for an overachieving Hearts last season, his appointment is certainly exciting on paper, and McManus agrees.
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Stephen McManus: We can see Ross Grant’s ‘qualities’
McManus told the club’s new streaming service, CelticPlayer: “I think it’s certainly an area that, as the game’s evolved over the last four or five years…
“The work that Gavin’s done with the set-players was incredible.
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“He’s a top, top fella and a top, top coach, so Gavin’s going to be a big, big miss.”
“Ross has come in again with new ideas, fresh ideas, and he focused a lot on the set-pieces.
“We welcome him into the coaching staff, and you can see the qualities – as a person, as a coach – that he’s going to bring.
“We’re excited to see how it goes.”
On how pre-season has gone so far in general, McManus said: “Yeah, really good. The boys have come in and worked really well.
“It’s been a tough week, it’s always the first week of pre-season, so there’s a lot of testing in the first day, but the boys have come in, as always our lads have come in, in really good shape.
“They’ve enjoyed the break and now they’re looking forward to the games coming back fast in pre-season.”
Celtic’s pre-season kicks off against Shelbourne on Tuesday evening. Middlesbrough and AC Milan will come to Parkhead for friendlies later in the month.
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Celtic’s backroom staff under Martin O’Neill
O’Neill and his staff stepped up for the club in a time of need. Along with Brendan Rodgers, assistant John Kennedy, coaches Adam Sadler and Glen Driscoll and analyst Jack Lyons also left the club suddenly.
Maloney had been working with Rodgers as Player Pathways Manager, being promoted to assistant manager under O’Neill.
Fotheringham had, most recently, worked as assistant to Alan Sheehan during his interim spell at Swansea. He left when Sheehan earned the permanent role.
McManus was replaced as B team boss by Jonny Hayes when promoted to first-team duties.
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