Eddie Howe is closing in on the Celtic job. The 43-year-old is in advanced discussions with the Parkhead hierarchy, having met incoming CEO Dominic McKay and major shareholder Dermot Desmond in London this week. A report from the Daily Mail and Stephen McGowan claims that Howe is keen on bringing his former teammate and colleague Richard Hughes with him to Celtic Park.
Hughes, born in Glasgow, made over 180 appearances during his time with Bournemouth and worked with Howe during his eight-year tenure. Howe is expected to have made his own demands regarding staff and a transfer kitty to ensure a competitive rebuild in the summer as Celtic target regaining the league title. Hughes is a surprise name in the discussion regarding a new Technical Director/Director of Football position that McKay is expected to create, despite weeks of speculation that Fergal Harkin would be taking over.
An agreement is expected next week if things progress the way that they have been going recently. Howe is happy to work with Gavin Strachan and John Kennedy but he is hoping to bring in some of his own backroom team, along with ex-Celtic striker Mark Burchill.
Celtic are needing a new manager since the club parted ways with Neil Lennon last month. The Irishman struggled to deliver performances on the park in one of the club’s most anticipated seasons with results domestically and in Europe falling way short of any acceptable level. Howe, meanwhile, has been one of the leading candidates for some time, he is viewed in a similar light to Brendan Rodgers regarding developing and cultivating talent, which will certainly be appealing to the club.