Trevor Sinclair suggests English Championship manager as next Celtic boss

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Trevor Sinclair has told TalkSPORT that Celtic should consider a move to raid English Championship side Stoke City for Northern Irish manager Michael O’Neill – after Neil Lennon resigned from the Scottish champions on Wednesday morning.

Following a very difficult spell this season, Lennon has finally resigned after enormous criticism from supporters and pundits alike. The pursuit of 10 in a row is almost over, with Rangers 18 clear – and in need of just seven points from eight games.

Not only have Celtic failed to achieve 10, but recruitment has been woeful. A trip to Dubai has been heavily criticised, tactics have been inconsistent questionable – and the defeat to Ross County last weekend proved the final straw for Lennon.

He has resigned with John Kennedy taking interim charge, but Celtic-supporting pundit Sinclair thinks the Hoops should consider a move to raid Stoke for ex-Northern Ireland manager O’Neill, who has won just 28 of his 69 Stoke games in charge.

“They’ve got to bring in an experienced manager that needs to know about recruitment, he’s got to do the scouting again. I like Michael O’Neill because he did a fantastic job with Northern Ireland, he’s done a superb job with Stoke City,” Sinclair said.

“I think a manager like that – a David Moyes kind of manager – who knows the game inside out. One that knows how to run clubs from top to bottom. You need a manager like that to come in and get the club into shape and really get it going again.”

TBR’s view – O’Neill would be a decent appointment

But should Celtic be looking higher? Clearly, the Hoops need a big name. Steven Gerrard has shown at Rangers that having a big name in charge can attract a higher calibre of player – does O’Neill bring that same kind of calibre?

Probably not. Rafa Benitez has been linked and of course, that would certainly attract players but the chances of him accepting a move to Parkhead is unlikely. 51-year-old O’Neill is a good appointment, but Celtic can do better.