FRANK McAVENNIE has said that he expects another addition to the Celtic backroom despite the arrival of Gavin Strachan. Strachan, son of Gordon, replaced Damien Duff as first team coach to Neil Lennon and John Kennedy; however, McAvennie believes that Lennon will want to bring another new face in with the ex-Celt touting Garry Parker for a potential job.
Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie believes that Lennon will want his own right-hand man to help him along with Kennedy and Strachan. Ex-Celtic coach and friend of Lennon, Garry Parker has been touted as a potential option should the Celtic manager seek a new face to his backroom staff in an advisory role to the manager.
“It seems like Strachan is John Kennedy’s man – he knows him.
“I know John went through his coaching badges with him, so John knows him. Gordon will have been talking to Lenny.
“I still think Lenny needs to get somebody else in, maybe not a coach but he needs somebody to talk to.
“He’s talking to his agent – and I know Martin well – and Lenny will be offloading to him because the best managers have to speak to somebody.
“Brendan had the boy Davies and that was his man. Lenny is comfortable working with John but Garry Parker was his man but by all accounts they got on too well!
“Garry is a great lad and he can go into a dressing room and put his arm around players.”
Parker served as a first team coach at Celtic during Lennon’s first spell before following the Irishman to Bolton and then Hibs. A move for him would not be out of the blue considering their history. However, it is unlikely that Celtic will move for Parker given that they did not move for him when Lennon returned in an interim capacity in February 2019 nor when he was confirmed as Hoops boss in May of that year.
Lennon will need to use the counsel and expertise of his colleagues, Stevie Woods, John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan as Celtic look to win a 10th consecutive title and whilst Parker may help Lennon, the club should be wary of changing a winning formula with Lennon/Kennedy.