McAvennie shares Celtic manager prediction as he names likely announcement date
Celtic could announce their new manager by Saturday of next week amid a major update in the club’s hunt for a new boss.
That’s according to former Hoops hitman Frank McAvennie, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the club’s hunt for Neil Lennon’s replacement.
Football Insider has revealed Sean Dyche is emerging as the frontrunner for the Crystal Palace job and that has opened the door for Celtic to close in on Eddie Howe.
It is understood Howe was on a three-man shortlist for the Palace job and held discussions with the club.
The former Bournemouth boss reached a verbal agreement to take over at Parkhead last month but then had second thoughts.
McAvennie insists the new Celtic boss won’t want anything to do with this season but expects an announcement around the time of the final fixture against Hibernian on 15th May.
“The new manager won’t want anything to do with this season,” McAvennie told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“Now they can be announced because the Rangers game has gone. That’s the season over.
“I don’t know for sure but it wouldn’t surprise me if there was an announcement before the end of the season, by Saturday of next week. There was no point in the new guy coming in because most of the players won’t be here soon.
“If he came in before, he’d be teaching those players for nothing. They won’t be here so what’s the point?
“The big games are out of the way now. They can announce it now and it won’t be associated with this season.”
Celtic lost 4-1 to Rangers on Sunday in what was their fourth Old Firm loss of the season.
The result leaves the Hoops 23 points behind Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.
In other news, Olivier Ntcham is tipped to dazzle at Celtic next season amid “huge” twist.