Celtic are thought to be targeting a manager who has drawn interesting comparisons to former Boys manager Ange Postecoglou.
Celtic suffer bad week, Boys think about future
With two home defeats in seven days and six points adrift at the top of the Scottish Premiership, any hopes of a Europa League exit have all but disappeared, with fans throwing tennis balls onto the pitch in protest at their club’s board.
It’s been a nightmare week at Celtic Park no matter how you look at it.
It started last Thursday when VfB Stuttgart arrived in Glasgow’s East End and departed with an impressive 4-1 win, ending Celtic’s dim hopes of progressing to the last 16 of the Europa League.
The match was stopped seconds into the game as supporters threw tennis balls onto the pitch in visible anger in the club’s boardroom.
In the second half, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was booed. Martin O’Neill tried to maintain a defiant demeanor in the post-match press conference, but still struggled to hide the magnitude of the setback.
Then Sunday came. Already licking their wounds, Celtic welcomed Hibs to Glasgow for a crucial Premiership game.
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O’Neill had been unbeaten domestically since returning to the club. That record is no longer there.
A red card for Auston Trusty midway through the second half changed the course of the game, and substitute Kai Andrews scored the winning goal late on in the 87th minute. Hibs’ first win at Parkhead in 16 years.
Celtic are currently six points behind league leaders Hearts and have a difficult series of games ahead, including an Old Firm derby with Ibrox.
Although the title has yet to be surpassed, the manner of both defeats, the domestic atmosphere and the widening rift between the board and supporters have created an environment that feels increasingly fragile.
Amid this chaotic situation, new information has emerged about who Celtic could turn to should they decide they need a new permanent manager.
Postecoglou has already been ruled out as a candidate to be Celtic’s next manager, but former players say they could turn to someone with similar tactics.
Celtic want Motherwell boss Jens Bertel Askou as their next manager
In fact, former Celtic midfielder Paul Slane shared some information about his interest in Motherwell manager Jens Barthel-Askou on the Open Goal podcast.
There was little room for ambiguity in Slane’s answer when Ferry asked him if he thought Askou had a chance of staying at Celtic.
“I think Celtic want him, I know that,” he said.
“I hear he’s their player, but I don’t know if they have any other options for that player. What’s going on with Celtic’s reinforcements? Something like that. Will that disappoint him? I don’t know. But if I were Celtic, I’d go and get him now.”
The Danish manager had an excellent season at Motherwell, leading the Steelmen to third place in the Premiership, one of the most impressive managerial performances in Scottish football in recent years.
No other team in Europe has kept as many clean sheets as Motherwell this season, with Andy Halliday even comparing his style of play to that of Big Ange.
“[It’s]unbelievable. And you know you guys are big football fans too,” Halliday told talkSPORT.
“For me, I haven’t seen any team in Scottish football, other than maybe Celtic in Anjou, playing the type of football that Motherwell are playing at the moment.”
His work at Fir Park has not gone unnoticed and Slane’s comments will only increase speculation about his future.
The irony is striking. Celtic are chasing a manager who made his name at a club just an hour away – at a club with a fraction of their financial resources – as their season threatens to collapse.
There is little doubt that Askou could be tempted by the prospect of a move to Celtic, but only time will tell whether the Hoops make a serious move.
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The hoop is in pole position.
