Celtic’s negotiations with Eddie Howe are said to have collapsed, according to Daily Mail‘s Stephen McGowan. The report states that Howe and Celtic officials have been unable to reach an agreement relating to the backroom team that Howe wishes to bring and as a result talks have hit a wall. McGowan followed up the report by saying that the club were in ‘advanced’ talks with another candidate as they look to appoint a manager ahead of the new season.
The 43-year-old had been the clear favourite to replace Neil Lennon as permanent manager and bar a few names such as Jesse Marsch, Roy Keane and Enzo Maresca, Howe has been the support’s ideal candidate. If the news is to be believed, Celtic have failed to reach an agreement relating to Richard Hughes, Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone in as part of his backroom team.
This may be Celtic’s idea of flushing Howe out by suggesting that they will be pursuing other options but it cannot be overstated how embarrassing this whole ordeal has been for the club.
McGowan, who is normally reliable, does not name the other candidate and it won’t be Maresca or Marsch, with both having signed up for new clubs for next season. One name that has been suggested is former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, who recently left OGC Nice.
Either way, Celtic need to get their act together and make a statement with their next appointment or face backlash from supporters in terms of season ticket renewals.