Howe, Keane or Mourinho? Why Is Nothing Happening, Celtic?

Season 2020/21 is now dead as far as Celtic is concerned. Enough has been said about those who disgraced the green and white jerseys, We must now allow this awful season to go.

In some ways, it is like an alcoholic who has hit the gutter one night. When that happens, the only way you can look is up. We have hit the ground and we must now slowly pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and face the future. Next season begins, I understand, in the first week in August – earlier, in fact, for European commitments. No-one knows what the position will be about fans, but my guess is that limited numbers will be allowed to attend.

That is just a guess, but in any case it is an irrelevance in comparison with getting a team together. With all due respect to Chief Executives, Directors of Football and whatever, what really matters is a Manager. This is why I am worried and increasingly puzzled as to why nothing seems to be happening. We really need to know. I can appreciate that when the season was still alive, there was an argument which said better to leave things alone lest we disturb something or someone, but the season died on Sunday. We really have to get moving now, and I am disappointed that there has as yet been no announcement.

Photo: Shaun Boggust

So who? John Kennedy may well have blown his chances on Sunday (although I do want him to be kept on in some capacity, for he is knowledgeable and a true Celtic man of impeccable credentials), Eddie Howe has now been the favourite for a long time – too long a time in fact, and enough to make me detect a lack of enthusiasm either on Eddie’s part or on Celtic’s part; there is Roy Keane, a wild boy but a winner and able to show the same ruthless determination that has brought success on the other side of the city.

Perhaps we must fight fire with fire. And of course, recently Jose Mourinho has become available – not a totally ridiculous option for he knows his football and he, like Keane, knows how to win things.

Photo: Nick Potts

The man who gets the job, whoever he may be, will probably underestimate the enormity of the task. He will undeniably say in the next few months that he did not realise what he was letting himself in for. This is why he must be tough.

He must realise just what season 20/21 has done to so many people, and he must be able to ensure that it will never happen again. He must be able to concentrate on his job, to be ruthless even at the cost of temporary unpopularity and to insist that everyone wearing the green and white jersey knows what it means.

19/04/2021. Jose Mourinho arriving back at his home in London after being sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur

He must also ensure that his players are tough. He must ignore the Scottish Press which every day now reveals its true colours – but will change them whenever Celtic take over again! – and above all else he must dismiss Social Media which will accuse him of everything – and if you don’t believe me, just have a look at some of the ignorance and filth that has been poured out by so-called Celtic supporters on John Kennedy and Neil Lennon this season!

But whoever he is, he must be appointed SOON!

David Potter

About Author

I am Celtic author and historian and write for The Celtic Star. I live in Kirkcaldy and have followed Celtic all my life, having seen them first at Dundee in March 1958. I am a retired teacher and my other interests are cricket, drama and the poetry of Robert Burns.

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