Paul Merson says it’s ‘very worrying’ after seeing list of contenders for Celtic’s next manager
A new era is set to begin at Celtic following Brendan Rodgers’ exit.
Everyone saw this coming, but perhaps not in the manner in which it all unfolded on Monday evening when Rodgers resigned from his post.
Rodgers didn’t leave Celtic Park with flowers in his hands and a box of chocolates, but left to stand in the rain on his own after being verbally savaged by Dermot Desmond.
But while all of that continues to be a talking point, who will be Celtic’s next manager?
Paul Merson on the contenders for Celtic’s next manager
When Sky Sports brought up the issue, ahead of Celtic’s League Cup semi-final clash against Rangers.
Paul Merson wanted to make the point that managers who have got clubs relegated have been treated with more respect than Rodgers was shown by Desmond.
That’s when Merson saw the list of contenders for the job, and how the bookies don’t really have anyone as favourites, with Kieran McKenna joint favourite alongside Martin O’Neill.
Either way, Merson thinks it’s ‘very worrying’, as there doesn’t seem to be a clear candidate days after Rodgers’ exit.
“I’ve seen managers get football clubs relegated, and when they have left, they haven’t been talked about like that,” said Merson on Desmond’s statement on Rodgers.
On seeing the contenders for the possible Celtic job: “Wow,” stated Merson. “They don’t know. Wow. That’s worrying. Very worrying.”
It has to be noted that it’s speculation, but in some cases, the usual names have been put on the table, such as former managers or ex-players, who are now in coaching.
MON’s name will continue to get a mention because of his status and as long as he is still wearing the colours, even if it’s very unlikely to happen.
But here are some of the names being thrown about to become Celtic’s next manager:
- Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town boss)
- Martin O’Neill
- Ange Postecoglou
- Lee Carsley (England U21’s coach)
- Nicky Hayen (Club Brugge coach)
- Robbie Keane (Ferencváros coach)
- Craig Bellamy (Wales coach)
- Scott Brown (Ayr United coach)
- Damien Duff
- Ruud van Nistelrooy
- Wilfried Nancy (Columbus Crew coach)
- Shaun Maloney
- Stephen Robinson (St Mirren coach)
Chris Sutton says Celtic duo in ‘head-scratching’ situations, as he questions Dermot Desmond’s claim
It has been a pretty eventful week at Celtic.
Everyone has had their say, from the usually quiet Dermot Desmond to the pretty outspoken Celtic hero, Chris Sutton.
The takeaway from Brendan Rodgers’ brutal exit this week was that statement from Desmond, and how he went about verbally savaging the departed Celtic coach.
Sutton wanted to pick through what Desmond had to say in his statement, as he tried to defend Rodgers’ corner when it came to that abject 2025 summer transfer window
Chris Sutton on Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Hayato Inamura’s situations at Celtic
Two players signed this summer were Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, on loan from Manchester City, and Hayato Inamura, who came in from the J-League.
Speaking to Sky Sports Football, Sutton wanted to point out that Desmond claimed that Rodgers had ‘total control’ when it came to transfers.
Yet, he questioned just how much Rodgers wanted to sign players like Simpson-Pusey and Inamura because they have been ‘head-scratching’ situations.
“If we deal with the details, so the contract situation (between Rodgers and the board), you can see both sides,” said Sutton.
“I think with the signing policy. The wording with that was pretty strong. It was pretty emphatic, in terms of Dermot saying, ‘Brendan has total control.’
“But Brendan didn’t get what he wanted. So, the players that Celtic signed over the summer, Brendan was very vocal. We saw in the earlier clip, on August 1, I think it was, him coming out and a message to the board that he needed players to come in.
“There we are, ‘every player signed and sold was done with Brendan’s full knowledge, approval and endorsement. Any insinuation otherwise is absolutely false.’
“But Brendan will say, ‘I didn’t replace the quality with the quality I desired.’”
Eilidh Barbour: “So, he perhaps endorsed the signings that came in, but was looking for more.”
Sutton: “Some may be development players. You look at the type of players coming in – then there are the Inamura and Simpson-Pusey situations. They are head-scratching situations.
“I don’t think anybody can make head or tail of it. Over the years, there have been massive issues with Celtic’s strategy. Nobody has ever got to the bottom of it. It’s a mess. I don’t know whether they have a strategy.”
