Big Mick in Celtic sights after Lennon departure?
CARDIFF City manager Mick McCarthy is reportedly among the shortlist of candidates to replace Neil Lennon at Celtic.
McCarthy was appointed Bluebirds boss last month and has worked a miracle in his first eight games in charge, having gone unbeaten and won his last six games on the bounce.
It has seen the Bluebirds shoot from potential relegation candidates to the play-off spots under the new manager, who has won over the entirety of the Cardiff fan base in doing so.
However, Football Insider claim that Celtic are considering McCarthy as Lennon’s successor.
They claim that McCarthy’s short-term contract at Cardiff represents an attractive prospect for Celtic, with City not able to demand compensation if he is snapped up in the summer.
McCarthy’s pedigree as a manager for what he did with Wolves, Sunderland, Ipswich Town and the Republic of Ireland also speaks for itself.
But the former defender also has links with Celtic, having spent two years there as a player between 1987-1989, winning three trophies during that time.
He grew to become a fan favourite with the Celtic supporters and it is thought he would be a popular appointment, should that be the case.
However, Cardiff will no doubt be considering McCarthy’s longterm future. The Bluebirds have offered him a contract until the end of the season with a view to fresh terms if he does well.
While there are still 14 games to go in the Championship campaign, there is no doubt McCarthy has done a stellar job since taking the reins and conversations are likely being had behind the scenes about the manager’s longer-term future.
“I’m cool with [the length of the contract] and if I earn a longer-term deal out of it, then good for me. If I don’t, it’s my fault,” McCarthy said after taking the job last month.
“I guess I’ve got to earn that long-term deal with my performance and the performance of the players.”
On the evidence so far, he certainly appears to have earned a new deal. Whether that is forthcoming or not remains to be seen.