Scottish Premier League - Who next for Celtic?

Eurosport - Tue, 26 May 16:04:00 2009

Celtic have been forced to launch a hurried search for a new manager after Gordon Strachan quit the Scottish Premier League club.

FOOTBALL 2006-2007 Scottish Premier League Celtic Parkhead - 0

Strachan resigned on Monday just a day after a disappointing campaign ended with Celtic surrendering the title to bitter rivals Rangers for the first time in four years - made worse by the fact Celtic at one point had a seven point advantage over their bitter rivals.

The Celtic board now need to act quickly to appoint a new boss because the new season will begin in late July with a Champions League qualifier.

A number of managers have already been linked with the job as Celtic chairman John Reid and chief executive Peter Lawwell prepare to draw up a shortlist of candidates.

West Brom manager Tony Mowbray, a former Celtic player, is among the early favourites despite Albion's relegation from the Premier League after impressing fans at the Hawthorns and former club Hibernian with his brand of football.

Owen Coyle's stock has risen considerably following his two-year spell at Burnley, who he led into the Premier League via the Championship play-offs just hours after Strachan quit.

Motherwell boss Mark McGhee has long been touted as a candidate to manage Celtic, while Dundee United manager Craig Levein is also highly regarded.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy and Everton boss David Moyes are also both former Celtic players who have done impressive jobs in England, although both are unlikely to leave the Premier League.

Reid knows he has to make a move as soon as possible and vowed to find a manager who will reclaim the title from Rangers.

"We will now aim to appoint our new football manager as soon as possible," Reid said.

"Our aim is to regain the championship which we have dominated in recent years and restore our pre-eminent place in Scottish football.

"This is nothing less than our supporters deserve and I would like to thank our supporters and our players for the commitment they have shown during the course of the season."

Strachan was never fondly thought of by a large section of the club's support who were unhappy with the quality of the team's players and his lack of Celtic background.

But his successor will find it hard to emulate Strachan's achievements in the east end of Glasgow.

He was the first Celtic manager to claim a hat-trick of titles since Jock Stein, despite having less money to spend than acclaimed predecessor Martin O'Neill and also reached the last 16 of the Champions League twice.

The new manager's transfer budget has been hit by the lack of guaranteed Champions League football as Celtic must negotiate two qualifying rounds to reach the lucrative group stage.

Strachan insisted it was an honour to have managed Celtic but his thoughts may already be turning to a fresh challenge in England, with reports linking him with the vacant manager's position at Sunderland.

He said: "I have enjoyed my time immensely at Celtic and clearly I will be sad to leave this great club.

"As I have said before, Celtic is a special club, with special supporters.

"There is no club like it and it has been an absolute honour and privilege to be the club's manager for the past four years.

"We have done all we can to bring success to the club and we were delighted to deliver three SPL titles, other domestic silverware, as well as making some great progress in Europe.

"It is just disappointing that we did not manage the fourth championship.

"However, the players can hold their heads high in terms of what they have done for the club in recent years.

"I thank all the players I have worked with at the club and, of course, my backroom team for the backing and assistance which they have given me."

AFP

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  1. rupert wot happened to the english in europe tonight­ maybe they were too busy watching out for the flying­ haggis

    From theresa, on Wed 27 May 11:49PM

  2. rupert ur a nanny

    From theresa, on Wed 27 May 11:47PM

  3. Pt.541 Naw we dont want your da, thank you very much

    From u2fns, on Wed 27 May 10:00PM

  4. Archbishop Peter file for next septic manager. lol. big­ jock knew :)

    From Captain Pugwash, on Wed 27 May 7:06PM

  5. Discard Craig leiven. Owen Coyle will be Celtic fc­ manager next year.

    From John, on Wed 27 May 6:44PM

  6. give the job to the pope ?? oh no he is a hun isnt he­ !! lol, follow follow

    From bri.10000, on Wed 27 May 6:27PM

  7. rupert forgot to tell u,yir mom and sister told me u­ are a rent boy

    From mac, on Wed 27 May 5:37PM

  8. rupert yir sister is a good sha.g also

    From mac, on Wed 27 May 5:35PM

  9. rupert i sha.gged yir mom last night,she had her first­ ever orgasm

    From mac, on Wed 27 May 5:32PM

  10. Message to Rupert, ye sack o @#$%. You are just a­ typical english mouthpiece, the type of guy who's­ brave in the crowd. You my friend would not last a­ minute up here, in fact I'd quite happily come down­ to see you and smash your dish in. Let me finish­ pumping your mam first though, and I had your stinking­ grandmother last night, she was absolute rubbish by the­ way. Hope I've offended you, as you are quite­ simply a ten-a-penny @#$%-jockey from England. Good day­ to you.

    From milne001, on Wed 27 May 5:26PM

  11. celtic will be champions next season, rangers will­ struggle for second... and king billy's a wee­ poof!!

    From t10guitars, on Wed 27 May 4:37PM

  12. THREE IS STILL BETTER THAN ONE CAREFULL MY FREND A YEAR­ IS A LONG TIME IN FOOTBALL

    From arkaig, on Wed 27 May 4:30PM

  13. DONT SEE TO MANY FOUR IN A ROWS ANYMORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA­ BJK AND SO DID THE KELLYS

    From john, on Wed 27 May 4:10PM

  14. No ta!

    Anyone who drops their best defender and then­ plays Caddis in a striking role whilst the top scorer­ sits on the bench, in the most important game of the­ season, can ramit for me;-)

    From GEORGE, on Wed 27 May 1:03PM

  15. Craig Leiven 4 celtic manager.

    From John, on Wed 27 May 12:56PM

  16. Bilic has confirmed his interest in the job.

    From tommygunn...Scotlands Elite, on Wed 27 May 10:42AM

  17. First of all who turned this into an international­ football debate. Scotland population 5 million, England­ 60 million so obviously more quality youngsters to pick­ from. money spent on coaching, management, grass roots,­ training facilites etc is also as wide a gap so the­ fact Scotland can compete at all is impressive and­ makes England the biggest underacheivers in World­ football.
    Secondly the old firm in England is another­ nonsense debate as current squads we would probably­ finish mid table, (if Fulham and wigan can) apart from­ the big 4 the premiership is vastly overrated. The real­ debate is potential and I dont think English ppl­ realise the size of clubs Rangers and Celtic are. If we­ received the same amout of money as your lot with our­ fanbase 55,000 season tkt holders we would go straight­ in behind Man u and Liverpool as the largest clubs in­ the UK. Which obviously means the new found wealth and­ playing in a more attractive league we would not have­ our current sqaud as we could attract the best players.­ R u getting this?
    thirdly well done Rangers as we­ deserved the title last year and the SFA handed it to­ celtic with the fixture list and some of the decisions­ that went celtics way. This year we won it because of­ the character in the team because ability wise they­ have both been poor this season. Celtic fans r dreaming­ manager wise, Coyle- why would u leave a newly promoted­ team. Moyes 4m a year contract- no chance, Bilic- half­ of Europe wanted him last year and he turned them down­ so why Celtic. maybe stick to levein or Mcgee which is­ probably the best you are going to get. And by the time­ the side have settled we will have 2 in a row in the­ bag.

    From I Killed Bill, on Wed 27 May 10:31AM

  18. Rupert you trumpet,go shove your pathetic opinions­ somewhere else,you sound like an immature kid,obviously­ engerlish teams do better in europe as to how many sold­ their have sold out their club to buy to pay the stupid­ fees for how many diddies.....
    Achhh i can't be­ bothered even entertaining your numb skull mentality.

    From tommygunn...Scotlands Elite, on Wed 27 May 9:14AM

  19. Pt.529...that may be true......but dont you think we­ look good in our green & white hoops......world­ famous they are too....

    From u2fns, on Wed 27 May 8:34AM

  20. You may have the money but you are still second best my­ friend hahahahahahahahaha

    From css, on Wed 27 May 7:41AM
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