Andy Halliday comments on Celtic job, suggests appointment could be ‘all but done’

Andy Halliday has told Open Goal’s Right In The Coupon that he believes Celtic could be working in the background to appoint a new manager and that a deal could be “all but done” – having shared details of Steven Gerrard’s move to Rangers.

Celtic continue to scour ther market for a new name to take the club forward, following Neil Lennon’s resignation last Wednesday. Eddie Howe seems the favourite, while Frank Lampard, Walter Mazzarri and Roberto Martinez have been discussed.

John Kennedy remains in interim charge, beating Aberdeen 1-0 over the weekend in his first game in charge. Celtic sit 15 behind Rangers, but Gerrard’s men have a game in hand and only need seven points to claim the Scottish Premiership title.

Speaking over who Celtic should appoint, ex-Rangers midfielder Halliday has stated that he feels Celtic could have a manager “all but done” behind the scenes – as he knew about Gerrard’s appointment six weeks before it was announced in 2018.

“When Gerrard got the job, I was told six weeks before he was the manager that it was done,” Halliday said. “In the background, Celtic will have a target – maybe not right now – but eventually they will. That guy will all but done, except from pen on paper.”

(Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

TBR’s view – Who would be best for Celtic?

Following the initial rush of reports regarding the next Celtic manager, the main contenders remain in the form of Howe, Lampard and probably interim manager Kennedy. Martinez is hardly going to leave Belgium for Celtic.

Howe has got to be at the top of Celtic’s job. One of the Premier League’s best young English managers in recent years, it would be a coup for the Hoops to get him – but it would also be a good move for Howe, to show English clubs what he can do.

It is a no-brainer for Celtic to get Howe.

(Photo by Robin Jones – AFC Bournemouth/AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)