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Celtic Diary Friday May 30: Celtic Announce New Manager

Celtic have announced that they will  appoint a new manager. The new man will be expected to take the side through the three tricky qualifiers into the group stages of next seasons Champions League. He will also be expected to develop young talent and will oversee the clubs transfer dealings. It is thought that he will be expected to conduct training sessions and hopes are that he will bring new ideas and a certain freshness to proceedings.

Peter Lawwell, the CEO, was delighted with the decision to appoint someone;

” We have felt that since Neil Lennon was mutually consented that a new man should be given the job, and after many , many discussions, that is what we have decided to do. Several other top level European sides have also appointed managers and we feel that this is the way forward for Celtic PLC. ”

Reaction to the news throughout the sporting world was immediate, and supportive.

Former manager Martin O’Neill said ;

” Its a great move. We have seen Real Madrid win the Champions League this year, and they did it with a manager in place. ”

Henrik Larsson, once the idol of the Parkhead support agreed;

” Its very much the way forward for any club with serious ambitions. With a manager in place, Celtic can begin to reclaim its place at the top table ”

Captain Scott Brown was even more enthusiastic;

” I can’t wait to start work with the manager. It’ll be brilliant to have someone in charge. ”

 

Yeah, alright. I’m sick of it.

Celtic Quick News, where Peter Lawwell sends wee snippets in the hope someone will believe them, claim that no-one has been offered the job, and other sources mention a “number of other candidates ”

Exactly how low is this number ?

Since day one, its been either Moyes or Keane. Moyes has said no, due to contractual issues, Keane is thinking about it. That drunk who told me this last week wasn’t actually a drunk. I made that bit up. You’d be surprised at the people who collar me in bars…though not as surprised as I was when Hector Bandido actually pointed out to me who the guy was….Incidentally, Dermot Desmond and his cronies see Celtic as a sleeping giant, in European terms, and the impression I was given was that our Irish mogul wants to wake it up.

If that was the case, surely Owen Coyle should have got the job ? I’d certainly never fucking sleep again.

When Keane  eventually wrangles the deal-and budget-he wants out of Desmond, then he’ll be named as manager. Regardless of what Lawwell thinks. Peter has already , shall we say, refused to talk one guy into staying, and Dermot always gets the final word anyway.

Lawwell on Sky Sports says the club are talking to “between five and ten people ” for the post, but you get the idea he’s just paying them lip service. An idea those concerned have probably had for themselves by now.

The support are divided over Keane, despite him being a world class player-and he was the man who virtually single handedly dragged Manchester United from being a decent team to being European champions, with his drive and passion. Sure, they had one or two great players, but it was Keane who made them play.

And he’s never short of an opinion.

As a manger he has had his off days, just like anyone else, and fingers have been pointed at his inability to man manage.

This , remember, is an accusation being levelled at someone who on the park forced everyone up to his level.

So, why has he struggled to do this as a manager ?

Heres a clue.

 

sean fallon book

Jock Stein, by all accounts was a forceful personality. He would bully players, intimidate players and do whatever it took to get the best out of them. Opposite him was Sean Fallon, who put them back together if Stein broke them. He was the link between Stein and the players which meant that there was a protective barrier in between staff and management. It would prevent the worst excesses of Steins temper, and give players someone to talk to if they felt Stein was unapproachable.

When Keane gets the job, the choice of number two will decide whether he stands or falls.

With Martin O’ Neill, you knew Steve Walford and John Robertson weren’t far behind, Brian Clough had Peter Taylor, except at Leeds, where he made an arse of it, Billy McNeill had John Clark, and Lou Macari had Chic Bates.

OK, ignore the last one, but you get the idea.

Roy Keane doesn’t seem to have any friends, never mind a recognised assistant, and its unlikely Lawwell will hand the role to his dugs.

Paul Scholes would be ideal, but its unclear whether he and Keane get on. Ryan Giggs is assistant at Manchester Utd, and still has a few wives to work his way through.

Steve Clarke is probably the best option, but its unlikely he’d want to be a number two again.

There are no obvious candidates, so we’ll have to suggest one.

The number two would have to be strong. Standing up to Keane will be pretty much what he has to do every day. He’ll need to be a straight talker, not neccessarily with coaching experience, but he must have a successful enough playing -or coaching -career to earn a bit of respect from the players.

Perhaps a former team mate from his Celtic days-not that there were many of them-?

Du Wei ? Zurawski ? Daryl Murphy is a particular favourite, Keane having signed him a couple of times before.

Maybe Chris Sutton could do it.

Sutton rates Keane;

” I don’t know Roy that well but I did share a dressing room with him when he came to Celtic after his glittering career with Manchester United.

Everything about him oozed professionalism. This wasn’t a man who was in Glasgow to simply see out his playing days.

Keane has never been about that. He is driven, he is focused and he demands the best of everyone around him.

That can manifest itself in different ways. If he isn’t happy with training facilities he will let people know.

If he feels the players around him aren’t performing to the standards of which they are capable he’d be in their faces.

He had a reputation of being confrontational before he came to Celtic but all we saw was a fairly quiet, normal guy.

That’s what Celtic will get if he is confirmed as their new manager. “

 I like the idea of sending this photo to the players who are on holiday, to give them something to look forward to.

Roy Keane shows his passion during his short stint with Celtic

 It certainly won’t be dull, if , as expected Roy Keane gets the job.

So strap yourself in, it should be a hell of a ride.

 Football is a passionate game when its at its best. We have a passionate support, and we could be about to have the most passionate manager of all.

There are stories it will be announced today, and the cynic in me has noted that today is the last day for renewals…

IF you’re a Celtic Season Ticket holder this is your time. We’ve had a tremendous response from fans so far, so make sure you don’t lose your seat for 2014/15 by renewing before the 5pm deadline tonight (Friday).

Remember that Season Tickets are available at the same reduced prices as last season. That means adult Season Tickets still have £100 off, kids under 13 can go for £50 – the equivalent of just £2.38 per match – and this season we’ve introduced a Student Season Ticket at £199.

Following today’s deadline, we will then enter our relocations phase, when fans who have renewed their 2014/15 Season Tickets have the opportunity to chose alternative seat from those available. They can do so tomorrow (Saturday) between 10am and 5pm to discuss the options available.

Then, our Priority List members will be given the chance to come to the Ticket Office on Monday (9.30 am – 5pm) to choose their seat from those remaining for the coming season. After this time tickets will be on general sale.

 

 Elsewhere, striker Anthony Stokes was in court yesterday, and he’s got to go back again. According to the Irish Independent;

The DPP had directed “summary disposal” meaning the district court would be a suitable trial venue, however Judge Gibbons did not agree.

After he heard a summary of the allegations and reading medical reports on the complainant’s injuries, he held yesterday that the case was too serious to be dealt with at district court level which, on conviction, can impose a maximum sentence of 12 months for the alleged offence.

This means Stokes could now be facing trial before a judge and jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, which has tougher sentencing powers. “

Stokes, who it is alleged beat up an elvis impersonator, which apparently is a crime, could face jail,because:

“another unknown individual spilled a drink on the injured party and it is alleged Mr Stokes intervened and head-butted the injured party”.

Two medical reports were then handed into court for the judge to inspect.

Refusing jurisdiction Judge Gibbons then said: “I have to say to you that based on these medical reports I do not think it is a minor offence.”

The details of the man’s injuries were not read out in court but the judge said that if they were such as described in the reports, “to my mind this is not a suitable case for the district court”.

Can you imagine the damage if he was a Cliff Richard impersonator ?

This on the back of Leigh Griffiths being under police investigation and you wonder where people are coming from when they say Roy Keane has a bad boy rep .

We’ve ignored the kerfuffle over at the other side of the city for a week or so, but its only fair to mention them when they are about to do something particularly stupid.

It looks like their very own William Wallace, former player John Brown, is going to lead another protest at the gates of Ibrox today-or this weekend. Truth be told i wasn’t paying that much attention, so good luck to him with whatever he’s moaning about.

Meanwhile, here’s a picture of a man bolting a stable door after the horse has bolted;

stable door

The internet provides us with an outlet for some great writers, some who perhaps have been unable to reach a mainstream audience, through no fault of their own, but the vast global network allows sometimes previously unknown scribes to portray their thoughts to the masses, and show them what they are missing.

Chris Graham is not one of them.

chris1

chris2

chris3

Thats his thoughts on Neil Lennon. You should read them. Somewhere, inside Chris is a whole heap of bitterness and hatred. This is what you get when it comes out.

Theres a whole seminar could be built around that by mental health professionals.

Mind you, it made me laugh.

The picture of Davie Moyes yesterday may have prevented one or two of you from sleeping with the lights off last night, and its surprising what you can dig up from the past where players are concerned. moyes, in that picture, does indeed look as though he has just been dug up, and if the perpetrators haven’t taken the shovel back yet, may i suggest they put him back where they found him ?

Then we have the opposite, what they look like now…

payton

Who is it ?

By the way, I  hear Roy Hodgson wants to get England playing like Liverpool. Good luck with that. He couldn’t even get Liverpool playing like Liverpool.

Perhaps he means they’ll bottle it at the crucial moment. No change there then.

 

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Bhramblejelly
9 years ago

Is it Fred Flintstone or Andy Payton?

9 years ago

Is it the love child of Rudi Vata and Jackie McNamara?

London celtic
9 years ago

I believe Roy Keane would be a brilliant appointment. We need a strong character to take the job on from neil. A Celtic manager needs to be a man with the a strong personality, and Roy certainly has that. Tony Mowbray was a good man but couldn’t cope with the pressures of the Celtic hot seat. I wouldn’t read to much into his time at Ipswich, it was the wrong club for him. I’d ask all Celtic fans to give him time, and get fully behind our team. I’d love to see Willie Mc stay as his number two. Keane and Mc stay, there’s gonna be fireworks hail hail.

Aldo
9 years ago
Reply to  Ralph Malph

JC john collins

Martin
9 years ago

Ex Celtic player to be Keane’s assistant with some experience as a manager……Mick McCarthy?

Devoy45
9 years ago

Keane is a big gamble. Larsson would be too but for different reasons. Both players command respect from players and fans but both have had no managerial success—yet.Also, can great players tease out the best from players who aren’t great—just good or better than average? Keane makes me nervous. Moyes would have been my first choice. How about Keane with Larsson as his right hand man? Keane will also become frustrated pretty quickly with The Great Biscuit Tin mentality of Desmond and Lawwell. I’m pretty sure Lawwell forced Kenny Miller out as well as Ledley, Samaras and probably Lennon.

Martin
9 years ago

We could do worse than Keane (Coyle, Larsson, Petrescu) but I’d still prefer Clarke or Laudrup.

I was reading a few comments from Sunderland fans last night and the vast majority of them backed Keane and said he did a great job for them. Made interesting reading.

Getting the right number 2 would be critical.

Dennis Irwin? Easy going personality, knows a lot about football, Keane respects him a lot.

deadhead67
9 years ago

Keans managerial record is piss poor no way

gerardbutlersabs
9 years ago

My choice would still be Steve Clarke for all the reasons tweeted by your good selves at eTims,but agree it looks like Keane and a dose of kill or cure

Declan Forde
9 years ago

There is no way that Denis Irwin could work with Roy Keane.They are both Corkmen and in Cork the two big hurling rivals are Glen Rovers and St.Finbsrr’s.Keane supports the Glens and Irwin supports the Barrs.So no way could they gel as a team.! ! ! !

John Murray
9 years ago

That’s Andy Peyton. I remember him scoring the winner against the Huns in the dark days of 1993.

Talking of dark days, that’s all I can see for us if we appoint Keane. How unimaginative are our Board\Majority Shareholder?

The drip, drip, drip of news regarding ‘chat’ with Keane is designed to soften us up for when they confirm his appointment.”He’s played here, he’s a Celtic supporter, he’s a first class guy…..”. Yes, that may be true Mr Lawwell but you’re overlooking the fact that he’s a disaster as a manager!

I’m surprised we haven’t sounded out Joe Kinnear, Dave O’Leary and other assorted non-entities who just happen to be Irish, available and cheap.

Run Sammy Run
9 years ago
Reply to  John Murray

…I’d even take Roy Kinnear before Keane

GaryBhoy
9 years ago

If Keane gets the job Stokes and Griffiths would be as well getting down the Jobcentre

Run Sammy Run
9 years ago
Reply to  GaryBhoy

Totally agree and I think Commons would be for the off within a year also. Isn’t he one of those guys who doesn’t do well with bully boy manager tactics? I’m sure he had had issues with that at other clubs and if that’s the case then…I see him being for the off around Jan time.

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  GaryBhoy

Ralph,as always,the voice of reason.Too many opinions on here
follow like sheep.For fans to PRE-JUDGE Keano is ludicrous.
God,let’s wait and see.If it goes TITS UP,then the board are
accountable for this BIG BOOB.
Ralph,a number 2,for Keano,none other than Chocy McClair.
Renowed coach at Man U’s academy,knows the game inside
out.Has the respect of Roy,and knows what Celtic’s all about.

Bill
9 years ago

I was hoping Roy H meant defensively :-). For me it was Keane that made united, in the days before chelski it was only when Roy missed chunks of the season that arsenal took the title. As a manager though I need convincing

holy sea
9 years ago
Reply to  Bill

Ralph,as always,the voice of reason.Too many opinions on here
follow like sheep.For fans to PRE-JUDGE Keano is ludicrous.
God,let’s wait and see.If it goes TITS UP,then the board are
accountable for this BIG BOOB.
Ralph,a number 2,for Keano,none other than Chocy McClair.
Renowed coach at Man U’s academy,knows the game inside
out.Has the respect of Roy,and knows what Celtic’s all about.

London celtic
9 years ago

John Murray my fellow celt have faith my good man. I remember some Celtic fans saying the same about o Neill when he was being linked to the Celtic job, about Celtic going down the Irish route. For every Liam Brady there’s a Sean Fallon, Martin o Neill and a Neil Lennon, haven’t done so bad so far. Look what Roy Keane done with a poor Sunderland side he rammed through the championship in his first season, he’s won more than Davie motors, forget about Ipswich there weren’t the right club for him. Keane is actually what Celtic need now. Remember he had the choice of any club when he left United, and I mean any club, he chose Celtic. In all his time as a pundit he’s always spoken up for Celtic never said a bad word. It’s great to see Hartley, Mcnamara, and pressely doing well and there men for the future, but now’s the time for Roy. Further more I’d be delighted if we took Hooper Home.

London celtic
9 years ago

Sorry typo there Davie moyles not Davie motors. If not Roy then davies the man.

Celtic125
9 years ago

blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

John Murray
9 years ago

London celtic: Davy Moyles!!??

I also recall fellow supporters doubting O’Neill’s appointment and I was happy to tell them where they were wrong. O’Neill was already a proven manager who worked his way up from the bottom and won two League Cups, was beaten finalist in another and managed to gain promotion in a much shorter time than Keane did. He was ready for us in 2000 and he was just what we needed then. He was a man in demand. He had proven himself worthy. Keane doesn’t offer anything like that level of experience or expertise. Unlike O’Neill, he also doesn’t have loyal, experienced, valued associates to bring along either. He’s a loner. Not a great trait to have as a manager.

And if you think I’m arguing that a Celtic manager shouldn’t be Irish you are mistaken. I’m saying that the Board or Desmond think that by appointing an Irishman that the fans will swallow it without complaint. How patronising and lazy is that? We suffered from a similar, blinkered approach to appointing managers back in the 80’s when the only names in the frame were ex-Celts. When we eventually broke with tradition, we appointed an Irishman – Liam Brady!

What I’d like to see is a bit more effort to explore possibilities outside the obvious parameters or being and ‘Ex-Celt’ or ‘Irish’ or both. Football is a global game these days – we’re told this often enough by the Board – so let them get their blinkers off and look a bit further afield. We scout for young playing talent in foreign leagues so why don’t we have a list of coaches or managers that we’re keeping tabs on too?

daviebhoy
9 years ago

Fantasist diary, as always.
Firstly I must say, I do not want Roy, however if Desmond decides that he is the man, and Roy decides that this is the job for him, it can only be assumed that the right budget to buy players is in place. If that is the case then we may be heading in the right direction.
Hai hail

Celtic125
9 years ago

Can’t post

Celtic125
9 years ago

Obviously I’ve got it all wrong again, just call me Dougal, but I thought we were looking for another coach like Lennon. Are we really going to start changing the structure?

Celtic125
9 years ago

I thought the job specifics were taking the training, picking the team and tactics and dealing wae the meeja. Resources like facilities and players are organised by the suits.

Phaco
9 years ago

I think cwis gayham is a shilly man.( and a cunt). Has anyone spotted any half intelligent huns recentlly Me neither. Hh

1888fc
9 years ago

Maybe in the minority but have a feeling celtic could be a treat fit for Keane to succeed as a manager

holy sea
9 years ago

Meant to add,for the doubting Thomas’s on here,how many did
NOT WANT Gordon Strachan ? Tell me how that worked out
again.Keep the Faith !!

Charlie Saiz
9 years ago

Wee would need a No2 who both knows what the Club is all about,has instant respect from the fans and could handle the social hand grenade that is Roy Keane.
Only one man for that job.

Roy Aitken.

Dan The Man
9 years ago

Keane is a red herring, for the MSM to feed on .his involvement has become too public for him to be a serious candidate.

Bill Hancock
9 years ago

KEANE NO!

I would rather have John Collins, Oscar Garcia or Michael Laudrup.
Hopefully Keane is a red herring and we get a manager with a bit of class, who isn’t a bully and can pick up good players (Laudrup), Oscar Garcia who plays out kind of football or John Collins who is a hard task master and will may sure the player are 100% fit.

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