AS we reported yesterday afternoon Gavin Strachan is to replace Damien Duff as Celtic first team coach. The son of former manager Gordon Strachan has agreed personal terms with Celtic and the club has also agreed a compensation package with Peterborough where Gavin was working as Assistant Manager to Darren Ferguson.
The 41 year old’s dream move to Celtic was confirmed by Peterborough’s Director of Football Barry Fry who told local media that the deal had been agreed and would be finalised on Monday.
“I have agreed a deal with Celtic’s lawyer and Gavin Strachan has also agreed a deal with the club,” Fry revealed to Peterborough Today.
“We don’t want to lose him, but we cannot stand in the way of such a big job. The deal should be completed on Monday.”
And Fry also spoke to Mailsport about the deal. “We’ve spoken to Celtic and we’re not going to stand in Gavin’s way.
“If they choose him, there’s a deal in place and it would be another great signing for Neil and Celtic.
“They’re a massive club and when Celtic come calling you can’t stand in anyone’s way.”
Gavin Strachan went through the SFA coaching programme with Celtic’s Assistant Manager John Kennedy and also knows Neil Lennon. It was thought by some that Celtic would opt to replace Duff, who left due to family reasons to take up a job in Dublin with the Irish national side, with an internal appointment with both former club captain Stephen McManus and Darren O’Dea already at the club working with the Celtic Academy squad.
However Aberdeen born Strachan got the nod and will now be announced as Celtic’s first team coach over the next day or so. Gavin Strachan’s own playing career was in the lower divisions in England.
Damien Duff was a class act at Celtic and Neil Lennon will be confident that he’s found an ideal replacement in Gavin Strachan who will join the club shortly.
