Inverness CT are reportedly targeting former Hibernian Assistant Manager Jamie McAllister for their managerial vacancy. The Highlanders sacked Billy Dodds after a 1-0 defeat to Raith Rovers, their first in twenty years, last weekend and were looking at hiring Celtic’s Darren O’Dea to replace him,
According to Record Sport, McAllister is keen on transitioning into management as a No.1 following his departure with Lee Johnson last month from Hibs. Johnson offered McAllister the opportunity to be his No.2 at Fleetwood Town in EFL League One but the ex-Aberdeen and Hearts man decided against it, owing to wanting a management role in his own right.
O’Dea is one of the names to be interviewed, along with Morton’s Dougie Imrie, but the article seems to suggest that McAllister is the frontrunner for the gig. This would be good news for Celtic as O’Dea is highly-rated within the club for the work that he does with the B Team.
The Irishman came through the ranks at Celtic before making 59 appearances for the first team but there were loan spells to Reading, Ipswich and Leeds United in that time. He had a career that took him to America, Ukraine and India before retiring from professional football in 2019 and beginning coaching with Motherwell.
Celtic recognised in O’Dea a leader and sought to bring him back to Lennoxtown and they succeeded in doing so. The 36-year-old has the brief, along with Stephen McManus, of bringing through youngsters with a pathway towards the first team. You wouldn’t be surprised if the player fancies a move to become a manager in his own right in due course, especially given the fact that he is currently a lowland league coach at present.
