After a January spent pushing the ‘Celts are Paranoid’ myth surrounding the implementation and interpretation of those working out of VAR Portacabin’s – and of course some hefty criticism of Ange Postecoglou himself. Keith Jackson’s ‘exclusive’ for Record Sport this morning that Michael Nicholson – and of course – Peter Lawwell are confident Ange Postecoglou will remain at Celtic and not be attracted by the Leeds United vacancy following the sacking of Jesse Marsch, indicates although a lot has changed at Celtic much remains the same – with Jackson writing:
‘Bullish Celtic top brass remain confident Ange Postecoglou will not leave them in the lurch for Leeds United despite mounting speculation that the Aussie’s name has made it onto an Elland Road shortlist.
‘Postecoglou has been linked with a possible move to the Premier League strugglers ever since the trigger was pulled on American Jesse Marsch in the aftermath of Sunday’s defeat at Nottingham Forest. And the interest appears to have intensified over the last 24 hours.
‘Reports from Yorkshire named Postecoglou as one of three bosses, currently in employment elsewhere, who are under serious consideration for the post, and West Brom’s Carlos Corberan was another. But news that he has signed a new deal at West Brom appear to have put that to bed.
‘Sources at the club insist the interview process got up and running after Marsch’s sacking on Monday, with further discussions held on Tuesday. But Record Sport understands that, as of late Tuesday afternoon, Celtic had received no contact from the Leeds board asking for permission to open talks with Postecoglou.
‘Furthermore, chief executive Michael Nicholson and chairman Peter Lawwell believe the 57-year-old is happy, motivated and completely committed to leading his side towards a second successive Premiership title, despite any potential interest from across the border.’
The fact both Nicholson and Lawwell are name dropped probably tells us a lot. After all, how often was Ian Bankier’s name included in ‘exclusives’ for Jackson and others when Lawwell was CEO at Celtic? And who was the man chosen to put forward the view that criticism of Lawwell returning to Celtic as non-Exec Chairman was over the top at the end of last year?
It is good news of course to hear such confidence emanating from Celtic when it comes to retaining the services of Ange Postecoglou, but it is also worth at least attempting to read the room when it comes to how the support feels about hacks like Jackson being used to brief the support, whether that is on Ange remaining with Celtic, or perhaps those in the support who may or may not be viewed as somewhat entitled.
And such a story does Michael Nicholson no favours either. To date few would have any complaints regarding the job of work Celtic’s CEO has done when it comes to supporting Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic rebuild, but the return of Lawwell to a prominent role at Celtic may leave some worried, that although Nicholson is the man with the job title, other may well still be pulling the levers. Reports such as this one from Jackson may only add to such concerns.
Nicholson’s style of management from the outside looks entirely different from Peter Lawwell’s and it’s perhaps in the manner in which transfers – both in and out – are handled that this is most obvious. Had we had Ange Postecoglou and Michael Nicholson in charge at the time then if the manager wanted to sign John McGinn from Hibs he would have been a Celtic player, as indeed was the player’s wish over that frustrating summer spent waiting for a deal that never happened.
It should be acknowledged that the Lawwell family had a huge role to play in the appointment of Ange Postecoglou but these days it’s the relationship that Ange enjoys with Michael Nicholson that allows the Celtic manager to build the club that he wants and offers him the chance to deliver where it matters most to the manager, in the Champions League.
And that relationship is likely to be a key factor for Ange Postecoglou in dismissing any notion that he might want to play managerial roulette in the English Premier League where he could end up in the Championship next season alongside Tom Rogic down at West Brom, and where the sack is always just a few bad results away.
The creeping return of the media strategies and modus operandi of the previous CEO is noteworthy and it’s worth pointing out that Michael Nicholson is highly unlikely to be Keith Jackson’s source for this morning’s ‘exclusive’ story, as the current Celtic CEO has shown no interest in trying to man-manage the mainstream media or indeed the fan media.
Niall J
If, and appreciate it s a big if, this isnt just made up keech from KJ to fill pages, then the finger can only be pointed at PL and his need to be recognised, his ego responsible for a lot of things previously so now hes back in CP as Chairman it shouldnt be a surprise.
To change the conversation, having watched the game at McDiarmid Park on Sunday, the condition of the ground was, like many others was shocking. How is Scottish football going to progress as a spectacle when good players have to overcome such conditions.
Wow so a we get a negative story about a Celtic employee all because of a hun mouthpiece , heres a wee tip for ye STOP reading anti celtic media pish …… whats the point of fan media if your just going to regurgitate their divisive crap and help them sow discord ?
That’s a fair point RPM CELTIC FAN..
Why should we care what they think?
If you can call it thinking.
Well a hypothesis was outlined and a conclusion reached.
You even managed to award yourself a “case-proven” QED conclusion.
All that was missing was evidence.
Advancing an argument that these events coincided in time, therefore we must have causality, is weak.
So is – “no smoke without fire”
Peter Lawwell has done a lot of terrible things but he has not done all terrible things.