Celtic B-team coach, Darren O’Dea is on the Inverness Caley Thistle shortlist to replace the departed Billy Dodds, following his sacking from the Highland outfit. The former Rangers striker was cut loose by the club, despite getting to a Scottish Cup Final last season and losing out to Treble winners Celtic on the day.
Now the Caley Jags are on the hunt for Dodds’ replacement and view young and aspiring coach, O’Dea, as one of the men that can possibly fill the departed manager’s shoes, according to Scottish Sun. The Irishman of course played for Celtic for years, having been a product of the club’s youth academy, eventually breaking through under Gordon Strachan all those years ago now.
The player was mainly used as a back-up to captain, Stephen McManus, and his centre-back partner, Gary Caldwell during those days. Although the club’s academy player did fill in at left-back on occasion too and even managed a goal in the 2009 League Cup Final against our arch-rivals Rangers. His fellow Irishman and also fellow academy graduate would also score that day in a fantastic achievement for the youth set-up.
And that’s where is O’Dea is currently as he helps mould the Celtic stars of tomorrow in the Lowland League. It’s been a struggle for the Hoops to try and keep a hold of their emerging talents as there is a very limited pathway to the first-team as we have found out continually these past several years, as we’ve lost some real gems due to this.
If Inverness were to make a move for Darren, it would be hard to turn down as it would allow him to cut his teeth in men’s first-team management and let his career progress at a very early stage. However, it remains to be seen if the Championship club will make a move for him or look elsewhere. They have scheduled talks with the 36-year-old but ex-St Johnstone boss and cup double-winner, Callum Davidson, is the current bookies’ favourite.
Paul Gillespie
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