There’s something eerily similar about the Celtic managerial rumours this year compared to 2019.
When Brendan Rodgers left back in February that year, so many wild rumours surfaced. The likes of Rafa Benitez [Daily Record] and Jose Mourinho [Di Marzio] were being linked with the club even then.
And what was interesting about it was Celtic were happy to allow these rumours to go around during season-ticket renewal time. The prospect of a big name was always going to entice supporters to renew.
Celtic never once came out and played down any of the reports on their potential new boss. They didn’t come out and dismiss Mourinho. Didn’t make a move to call the Benitez stuff nonsense. Instead, they were happy to let it play out.
Only to then make the underwhelming appointment of Neil Lennon after the deadline for season-ticket renewals had passed. The vast majority of us were left seething with this decision.
It was something Peter Lawwell and the Celtic board had always intended of doing too. They claimed back then that any CV that got sent to them was stored away in a filing cabinet and not even looked at. The reason? They wanted to keep their word to Lennon [Daily Record].
Celtic can’t pull off their season-ticket trick once again – purposefully or not
Whether Celtic meant to do this or not, it was crafty. Disappointing in the end, but crafty nevertheless. They could’ve easily come out and downplayed any of the wild rumours or the big names that were being banded about. They refused to do so.
Just as they’re doing now. The Mourinho to Celtic links in particular have resurfaced again [Transfer Window Podcast]. Celtic again haven’t been quick to come out and dismiss much of the speculation.
As the Eddie Howe saga continues to rumble on with no end in sight, Celtic fans are being given no information by the club.
Celtic have yet to announce the deadline for season-ticket renewals, but it won’t be long before the campaigning begins. Back in 2019, they were happy to allow everyone to renew in the hope of a fresh start under a big-name manager post-Rodgers.
That didn’t happen. And now in 2021 we have the same scenario unfolding. Granted, there is next to no chance that John Kennedy is given the gig after a ropey spell as caretaker manager.
But there’s been no clarity from the club once again. And it’s therefore understandable that many fans remain pessimistic about the managerial hunt because of it. Hopefully, we have a new boss in sooner rather than later. At the very least, it’ll allow supporters to know what they’re buying into for next season.
In other news, a prominent Scottish football pundit has urged Celtic to offer Leigh Griffiths a new Celtic contract.
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