Three potential replacements should Celtic and Neil Lennon decide to part ways

Don’t get me wrong, we all want Neil Lennon to do well. A man who has won absolutely everything at Celtic Football Club, both as a player and a manager – including being the first to win a treble in both roles – and for this, he truly is a club legend.

However, all good things must come to an end at some point, in all walks of life. This isn’t to say that I do want Lennon to leave; he’s done an amazing job for the club inside and out, and it would be with remorse if the Lurgan-born boss left on bad terms. However, after a dismal season and with many potential outgoing being rumoured, maybe it is time to start afresh in the dugout – some fans certainly agree.

I just need to put it out here btw… NEIL LENNON cost us 10 in a row, not Nir Bitton. Nir Bitton cost us the game today but the manager who failed to find a winning formula until a UEL dead rubber in December and has us 19 behind by January 2nd is to blame for losing 10IAR.

— Kieran Smyth (@kieransmyth97) January 2, 2021

The Express have picked out three potential replacements for Lennon, should he lose his job – but are they any better than Lennon?

Their first guess is Martin O’Neill. Obviously, a man who knows the club inside and out is always a part of these lists, and it is no surprise to see the former Bhoys’ manager on this list. O’Neill did wonders in his managerial spell at Celtic Park, winning three Premier Leagues’, three Scottish Cups and one League Cup in just a five-year spell, with the two league titles he didn’t win being by a single point and a single goal, in 2002-03.. He further wrote himself into Celtic folklore by winning seven consecutive Glasgow Derbies, which is still a record.

By doing this, Martin was the most successful manager since Jock Stein, and his involvements in the UEFA Cup shouldn’t have gone unnoticed, too; defeating Stuttgart, Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool on the way, O’Neill didn’t win the actual trophy but came the closest to European honours since Stein himself.The real question now is whether O’Neill still has it. A successful stint at Aston Villa was followed by mediocre ones as the boss of Republic of Ireland’s national team, and an uninspiring spell as Nottingham Forest manager – in which he hasn’t had a job since.

Their second rumour is Eddie Howe, the youngest of the three candidates. Known for his attacking prowess as a manager, Eddie was the forefront of AFC Bournemouth’s charge to the Premier League from the doldrums of the English Football League. Taking over the club when they were on -17 points in the fourth tier, he embarked the ‘Cherries’ on a magical journey which culminated with the south-coast side enjoying six years in the Premier League, before eventually being relegated at the end of last year’s COVID-stricken season.

The big advantage for Howe is his attacking coaching; no more drab 0-0’s, 1-1 at home to St Johnstone type results – genuinely flair and demeanour in the same way Brendan brought it to the club. However, his downside is that he hasn’t been known to set his teams’ up exceptionally well defensively – conceding 65 goals in their relegation season – and so much will allude as to whether he is actually better than Lennon or not, given both managers’ defensive woes.

Slaven Bilic is the Express’s final guess at becoming the Bhoys’ Boss. Bilic is the least decorated member of this trio, but that isn’t to say his name should be sneered at. Starting his coaching career at Hadjuk Split as a 33-year old fledgling, he was quickly instated as his countries’ national team manager just five years later; recording a 65% win percentage in his tenure as Vatreni boss. From here, he left for Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas, West Ham United and Al-Ittihad, before winding up as West Bromwich Albion manager. He won promotion back to the Premier League in his first term, but after taking just seven points from 13 games in the top-flight, was sent packing with his bags.

Slav’s biggest asset is his ability to do well in various countries and competitions; as seen by his successes on the international, continental and British stage. However, his best accolade as a coach is simply 2nd spot as West Bromwich Albion boss; and so the Croat would be vastly untried and tested – something Celtic cannot afford to gamble upon.