On the blackjack desk of Scottish soccer, having already misplaced a £40m Champions League qualifying gamble, the Celtic board are actually confronted with a dilemma: stick or twist?
As they ramp up the seek for Brendan Rodgers’ successor, they’re sitting with a reasonably respectable hand already.
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Interim boss Martin O’Neill has achieved what was requested of him: regular the ship, stem the move of losses, carry the squad out of their torpor.
It has labored, on the home entrance not less than. Two league wins and the gold-dust of a cup semi-final defeat of Rangers.
Developing quick towards the most effective aspect within the Europa League, on present standings – and on their very own patch – would not set off too many alarm bells, no matter how poor Celtic had been within the first half in Denmark final week.
So what to do? Preserve O’Neill till not less than the Premier Sports activities Cup ultimate he steered the aspect into? Probably maintain him till the January switch window, which might be the primary alternative for any new coach to inject recent blood into the place?
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Would the Parkhead blazers even ponder protecting O’Neill till the top of the season, to present the everlasting incomer a clear slate and summer time rebuild?
It might all come right down to which candidate Celtic plump for, and their availability.
Kjetil Knutsen of Bodo/Glimt has been linked with the job a number of occasions throughout a few years. He is about to complete his season in Norway however there’s the complication of Bodo’s Champions League involvement to contemplate as properly.
They wrap up the Norwegian Eliteserien at house to Fredrikstad on 30 November. They seem to be a level off leaders Viking with two video games to go.
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Bodo’s season does not finish there, although. They will not be completed in Europe’s elite competitors till a visit to Atletico Madrid on the finish of January.
Previous to that, Knutsen’s males have glamour video games towards Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Manchester Metropolis. Would the in-demand coach, having taken the aspect to the Champions League correct for the primary time of their historical past, actually need to forgo the prospect to check himself towards Pep Guardiola and co?
Ought to he need to see out the season in full, he would not be accessible till February.
The opposite identify gathering plenty of chatter for the Celtic job is Thierry Henry’s former assistant at Montreal, Wilfried Nancy.
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The previous centre-back from France’s second tier has been making waves with Columbus Crew in America’s MLS. His assistant Kwame Ampadu has ties with Celtic’s head of soccer operations Paul Tisdale from their time collectively at Exeter Metropolis. The season has ended for Columbus, so the pair can be accessible instantly.
Which brings us again to stay or twist. Preserve O’Neill for a couple of extra weeks or months? Preserve him till Knutsen’s availability kicks in sooner or later? Or gamble on Nancy, whose status is rising however is untested in European soccer?
It is going to be fascinating to see the place the chips fall.
[BBC]
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