Celtic target Howe won’t take any job until summer

EDDIE HOWE’S representatives last night confirmed the former Burnley and Bournemouth manager has attracted “significant interest” – but stressed he has no intention of returning to football until the summer.

Howe has emerged as the favourite to take over from Neil Lennon at Celtic on a permanent basis in recent days after holding talks with the Parkhead club about the vacancy.

The Englishman has been out of football since parting company with the Vitality Stadium club at the end of last season when they were relegated from the Premier League.

The 43-year-old has been linked with several clubs in the top flight down south – including at Crystal Palace, Newcastle United and Sheffield United and was this week reported to have held talks with the former.

The former centre-half led Bournemouth to three promotions and into the top flight in his two spells in charge of the Dorset club and was named Football League Manager of the Decade.

However, suggestions he has agreed in principle to take over from Lennon pending the recruitment of Richard Hughes as his technical director would appear to be premature.

His representative yesterday revealed that Howe was considering his options and had no intention of comitting himself to any project before the 2020/21 campaign are premature.

“There has been significant interest in Eddie from a number of clubs,” a spokesman said. “However, talks of any deal being close are extremely premature. His plan remains not to return to management until the summer at the earliest.”

John Kennedy replaced Lennon on an interim basis until the end of the 2020/21 season when Lennon resigned following a defeat to bottomplaced Premiership club Ross County in Dingwall in February.

Kennedy will be in the dugout for the league game against Livingston at Parkhead on Saturday.

Incoming Celtic chief executive Dominic McKay has left the SRU and will take up his position at Parkhead on April 19.