Martin O’Neill is in charge on an interim basis after the sudden departure of Brendan Rodgers earlier this week
Gordon Strachan on ‘The Warm Up’ podcast
Former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan understands that the man the club want to replace Brendan Rodgers won’t be available until December.
That is according to Tam Cowan – who made the claim after speaking to Strachan while co-hosting an event at Blackfriars pub in Glasgow‘s Merchant City earlier this week.
As it stands, Martin O’Neill is holding down the fort in the wake of Rodgers‘ bombshell exit – and oversaw his first game in charge of the Hoops on an interim basis as Celtic ran out 4-0 winners over Falkirk.
The legendary Parkhead boss will lead the club into the Premier Sports Cup semi-final clash with Rangers on Sunday as the club ramp up their search for a new permanent boss.
Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen is on the list of targets to replace Rodgers permanently, with Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy, England U21 boss Lee Carsley and Ferencvaros gaffer Robbie Keane also under consideration.
But Strachan’s revelation could hint that two other names are high on the Parkhead wishlist.
Cowan told BBC’s Off the Ball: “This was on the Tuesday night, Gordon is a bit of a Celtic legend, knows all the main characters in this story on the board.
“He’s been the former Celtic manager and his son Gavin has apparently survived the nuclear bomb that went off.
“So Gordon is clearly in the know, he’s one of the most outspoken people in football that I know, particularly at a ‘private event’. Even then, he was ever so slightly cagey.
“But he won’t mind me sharing this because he did with the audience… according to Gordon Strachan, the guy Celtic are after they won’t be able to get him until December.
Craig Bellamy(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
“Now joining the dots with that, the closest that we all came to was Craig Bellamy, an international manager just now, in terms of when the qualifiers finish although there could be playoffs after that.”
Reports had suggested that Bellamy would not walk away from the Wales job in the midst of a World Cup qualification campaign.
The nation currently sit third in the standings – three points behind North Macedonia, who occupy the playoff spot.
Should Wales fail to make the top two, their bid for the tournament would come to an end later this month. However, if they land a playoff spot, those games would take place in March 2026.
Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen name was also flagged with Cowan replying: “We could be warm.”
The Norwegian league season will come to an end for Bodo on November 30 – with the league leaders aiming to secure another title under Knutsen.
Celtic Fans Voice Their Opinions on Brendan Rodgers Resignation As Martin O’Neill Checks In At Celtic Park
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