Journalist Peter Martin believes that Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond has decided who the club’s next manager will be.
This came after Martin recently hosted the latest episode of PLZ Soccer’s The Football Show and the panel discussed numerous issues involving Scottish football. One topic of discussion was Dermot Desmond’s recent comments about the Parkhead-based club’s season.
Martin insisted that since he knows how Desmond operates at the club, he suspects that he has already decided upon the identity of Neil Lennon’s successor.
Has Dermot Desmond already identified a new manager?
Yes
No
It has been reported recently that Celtic have opened talks to appoint Roy Keane as their manager and discussions are underway. In the past, Rafael Benitez, Steve Clarke and Roberto Martinez have also been linked with the role.
Martin talked about the club’s managerial situation and Desmond’s decision, saying: “I think he’s got his man. I think he knows who he is. I know the way he operates – they make the call, he meets up with them, or in this case, he’ll be having a call with them. And they’ll have done the deal to say this is what you’re getting. He’s done that on countless occasions.”
TIF Thoughts on Desmond’s managerial decision…
Desmond, recently insisted that incoming CEO Dominic McKay will be involved in the process of hiring the club’s manager and Peter Lawwell’s decision will also be taken into account.
The fact that McKay will have a say in the process may prove to be important, as he is replacing Lawwell soon. McKay’s input will make sure that the next manager will on the same wavelength as himself as the new chief executive and it will make sure that the club is run in a coherent manner.
So in a way, Desmond’s comments about the process of hiring a new manager are rather positive, and if Martin’s suspicions are correct – which are a huge call given no announcement has been made – then Celtic are well on the way to becoming fully set up for the next campaign.