Steve Clarke must be on any Celtic managerial shortlist

By John Reid

May 10, 2019

As the football season reaches its climax, there is one important question that still has to be answered. That is – who will be the next permanent manager of Celtic?

At the moment Neil Lennon is in charge until the end of the season. But what happens after that is not yet known. There could well be a shortlist of names that the board have identified as candidates.

If there is a shortlist, there is one name that should be prominently featured – Kilmarnock’s manager of the year Steve Clarke.

(photo by David Young/Action Plus via Getty Images)

From relegation to Europe

In his two seasons at Rugby Park, Clarke has transformed Kilmarnock from perennial relegation candidates to a team that is fighting for Europe.

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

His team currently lie in third place in the Scottish Premiership, and qualification for Europe seems a certainty.

Great ability

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Clarke has the ability to turn players who have not being performing well into great players.

A recent example of that was when his suspension ravaged Killie side played Celtic off the park for much of the recent match between the sides.

At Celtic, he would have the chance to turn great players into even better players. He is more than capable of doing that job.

Of course, it remains to be seen if there is a shortlist of names for the job. Neil Lennon may well be appointed as permanent manager as soon as the season ends.

However, should there be a shortlist, Clarke has more than earned his place on it.