Jim Craig makes shock claim about Celtic key man

Tue 17 October 2017 16:55, UK

By James Black

Celtic legend Jim Craig is convinced that Brendan Rodgers can manage Celtic and Scotland at the same time – but admits that the Celtic boss wanting to take on the dual-role is “another matter.”

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan left the national team post last week after a second successive failure to reach a major finals.

Lisbon Lion Craig would like to see Rodgers take on the job as part of a stunning dual job responsibility.

Rodgers has been tipped as a future England boss and it’s unlikely the Northern Irishman would want to take over the Scotland job as he competes at in Europe and domestically with Celtic.

Craig believes whoever takes over needs to qualify for Euro 2020 as, with games being played at Glasgow’s Hampden Park, it would be “hellish” not to have Scotland involved on the pitch.

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“Big Jock (Stein) combined both jobs in 1965 but it’s a different generation, although I think he (Rodgers) could do it.”

Rodgers’ faces a hectic week for Celtic with Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday up next before a Hampden semi-final against Hibs in the League Cup.

Craig made 239 appearances for Celtic before leaving the Hoops in 1972 and won one cap for Scotland.

Former Celtic defender Malky Mackay has been named interim Scotland boss to face Holland in a friendly at Pittodrie next next month.

Scotland’s next qualfication campaign doesn’t start for another 12 months to there is no rush for the Scottish FA to find the best candidate to replace Strachan and qualify for the country’s first tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.

In other Celtic news, this Bayern Munich star recalls his previous painful meeting against the Hoops.

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