{"id":5125,"date":"2014-06-03T10:05:58","date_gmt":"2014-06-03T09:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etims.net\/?p=5125"},"modified":"2014-06-03T10:06:47","modified_gmt":"2014-06-03T09:06:47","slug":"celtic-diary-tuesday-june-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etims.net\/?p=5125","title":{"rendered":"Celtic Diary Tuesday June 3: Life in the Slow Lane"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, the sleeping giant stirred, stretched its arms for a bit, and promptly went back to sleep.<\/p>\n

Roy Keane, having decided that although Edinburgh is a nice enough place to live as long as you don’t go outside or mix with the natives, told Celtic yesterday that he did not wish to be considered for the managers job.<\/p>\n

Before it became the major news story at lunchtime, when all other outlets were telling us that Keane would be announced as the new man , the Irish Examiner was already on the case…<\/p>\n

Not so fast. None of this happens without Keane saying yes and signing the contract. Over the weekend, some things have emerged that have muddied the waters. One, Keane may lose ‘his’ keeper Fraser Forster to a Premier League side. Two, the nett transfer funds available from Celtic to reshape his squad are pittance in market terms, a couple of million, certainly no more than \u00a35m according to well placed sources.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The article then went on to mention an English club, with strong Irish links, who were going to offer Keane an assistant manager post, and allow him to stay on with Ireland, something that Celtic would not-or could not-do.<\/p>\n

There is a third, very important element. A Premier League club (one that has had a strong Irish tinge in the past – no, not Man Utd!) is also keen on his services as assistant to the manager. And that club has no major issue with the possibility of Keane double-jobbing and staying in his role with the Republic of Ireland.<\/span><\/em>

Logically, this appears Keane’s best option, even if it isn’t the most direct route back into front line management. Celtic offers him that, but if the Glasgow club don’t make the group stages of the Champions League – and their squad isn’t best equipped to negotiate the hurdles of the pre-qualifying lottery – it could be a long winter for Keane in Scotland.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

On Friday, at least two well placed sources were advising me that the Keane to Celtic talks were coming to a positive conclusion. Now I’m not so sure. Even at that point I found it difficult to reconcile Keane leaving the Republic for the Celtic job, if only because the SPL couldn’t realistically satisfy his competitive nature. Now with another offer in the pipeline, and O’Neill agreeable to the job-share arrangement with the unnamed PL club, that scenario may trump Paradise.<\/em>The timetable on this is tight. Indeed, one would anticipate clarify by close of play Monday. Keane is due to appear at a sell-out business engagement in London with O’Neill on Tuesday – a further manifestation of the commercial Midas the Cork man has become for the FAI. If he keeps that appointment and boards the flight to New York on Wednesday, his immediate future lies somewhere a bit south of Glasgow.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0Well, today it transpires that the club in England was Aston Villa, and talks have been going on since before Dermot Desmond contacted Keane. Villa, remember, sacked their previous assistant manager amidst allegations of bullying. So they obviously want Roy Keane in to do the job properly.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0Keane may have been dismayed by a lack of ambition from the Celtic board, which may explain why he’s reportedly mulling over offers from Stevenage and Burton Albion.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\u00a0Which begs the question, if one part of the article is correct, what about this bit ?:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

\u00a0Keane may lose ‘his’ keeper Fraser Forster to a Premier League side. Two, the nett transfer funds available from Celtic to reshape his squad are pittance in market terms, a couple of million, certainly no more than \u00a35m according to well placed sources.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Now, on paper, whatever he raises plus \u00a35m is not bad, certainly compared to what Neil Lennon was allowed to spend, but in reality, its like whooping with joy when the value of your house goes up, but when you sell it you find you need to spend the profits buying another one.<\/p>\n

Martin O’ Neill once said that we ( Celtic fans ) had better get used to life in the slow lane, and frankly, at the moment it looks like we’ve pulled over onto the hard shoulder.<\/p>\n

Steve Clark has now moved into the pole position, which is at best underwhelming. Clarke was sacked from a club where the fans are so used to inconsistent \u00a0performances that they sing “Boing Boing Baggies” as a reference to the ups and downs of life at West Bromwich Albion, so if he couldn’t hang on to a job there, he must have been particularly unimpressive.<\/p>\n

So, where are we up to ?<\/p>\n

Neil Lennon was mutually consented after complaining about his budget and Peter Lawwells interference. Henrik Larsson was contacted about the job, he rang his former team mates, Lennon and Johann Mjallby , to ask how the land lay. Then he remembered he was under contract until November.<\/p>\n

Then Roy Keane said it wasn’t for him-for reasons that are as yet unclear, but are unlikely to be far removed from those in the Examiner article.<\/p>\n

Clarke is now favourite with the bookies, who have had nearly every unemployed manager in Europe in pole position at some time, so its probably safe to say they have no idea. Apparently, Kenny Dalglish has recommended him for the job.<\/p>\n

\"barnes<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Morten Weighorst has taken a job at Aarhus, which is Danish for “My Place ” ( I’ll get my coat ), Oscar Garcia is off to Tel Aviv, and Paolo di Canio is off his head.<\/p>\n

That leaves Malky Mackay and Owen Coyle to battle it out with Clarke for what was once one of the biggest and most prestigious jobs in European football.<\/p>\n

Slow Lane ? I think we’ve decided to walk.<\/p>\n

Dermot Desmond has told his pals that he wanted Davie Moyes, that was his first choice. Moyes has been quiet about all of this, and so therefore cannot, despite the problems with agents and accountants, be entirely discounted.<\/p>\n

Could the fuss over Keane have been a bit of a red herring, designed to take the publicity away from the real candidate ? \u00a0Lawwell and Celtic are well known to keep their business away from the press, and often surprise us with the conclusion of their work.<\/p>\n

You really have to hope thats the case this time, because I have this recurring nightmare where John Park is installed as Director of Football, with Peter Houston as Head Coach.<\/p>\n

On a temporary basis, until November, when Larsson will be ” suggested ” s taking over, but then we will be told that Houston and Park aren’t doing to badly, and deserve a crack at it.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Depressing, and I don’t want to think about it anymore.<\/p>\n

Gary Hooper has decided he’s had enough of Norwich, and is after a move. Before we get into a should we forgive and forget argument, its worth remembering that unless he’s prepared to work for minimum wage and a bit of a bonus at Christmas, he’ll go to QPR.<\/p>\n

Robert Snodgrass , reportedly one of the reasons why Neil Lennon fell out with Peter Lawwell, \u00a0could end up at Hull. Lets face it, as soon as he asked for a decent wedge, he was never going to get his phone calls answered.<\/p>\n

Peter Lawwell has done a sterling job to stabilise the clubs finances, and he is well worth the sixty or so bus loads of season book holders it takes to pay his salary.<\/p>\n

Sixty ?<\/p>\n

Every year ?<\/p>\n

Those buses won’t be full for very long if he doesn’t show a little ambition. If he doesn’t get this next appointment right, and back the new man with a reasonable budget (no-one is asking for silly money ) then Celtic Park will be the place to go to next season if you fancy a bit of peace and quiet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"jolly\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Its enough to drive you to the drink. but although this place is a nice enough looking bar,<\/p>\n

\"Former<\/p>\n

its probably best that those of us worried about what manager we get in stay away from it , at least for now. Have you seen where it is ?<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The 1965 cup winning side were pictured in yesterdays diary, and today, to cheer us up a wee bit, heres another from the \u00a0twitter page of “colourizer ” Barry McGonigle.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Embedded<\/p>\n

Todays question is how do we get back to being the club we used to be ? Answers to<\/p>\n

P. Lawwell,<\/p>\n

Celtic Park,<\/p>\n

Glasgow.<\/p>\n

Who knows, he might even read some of them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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