Howe’s the Bhoy for Celtic as talks progress
CELTIC are closing in on an agreement to name Eddie Howe as the club’s new manager early next week. And the former Bournemouth boss wants Cherries technical director Richard Hughes to join him in Glasgow. Howe held face-to-face talks with the club’s major shareholder Dermot Desmond in London this week. And the 43-year-old is now ready to commit to a move to Glasgow if the Parkhead hierarchy agree to the structural changes he wants put in place.
Sportsmail understands Howe is prepared to stick with current first-team coaches John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan, but wants former Scotland midfielder Hughes to oversee a restructuring of the football operations. Former Celtic striker Mark Burchill - now a Bournemouth scout - is also in line for a scouting job after head of football operations Nick Hammond quit his post on Wednesday. Howe left Bournemouth by mutual consent in August after the club were relegated from the Premier League following five seasons in the
top flight. Touted for the Crystal Palace job if Roy Hodgson departs, a move to Glasgow now looks more likely for Howe (below) after Desmond provided assurances over funds to rebuild the playing squad and a revamp of football operations. Big decisions also loom over the futures of key first-team players including Leicester target Odsonne Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer, Olivier Ntcham, Ryan Christie and loan signings Shane Duffy, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Diego Laxalt. Captain Scott Brown has already announced his departure to join Aberdeen as a playercoach. Celtic have appointed the Scottish Rugby Union’s Dominic McKay to succeed retiring chief executive Peter Lawwell on July 1, while Hammond left the club to ‘pursue new opportunities’. Neil Lennon’s resignation on February 24 triggered discussions with a wide range of managerial candidates in Britain and overseas. Brown yesterday admitted that the the lack of certainty surrounding the club was a factor in his decision to turn down the offer of a one-year deal and accept an offer from new Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass instead. Brown said: ‘It is a hard situation just now because it would have to be sitting waiting to the end of the season to see who comes in. ‘For me, to have that fresh start with someone I know, trust and respect fully, and maybe sitting in at Celtic to the end of the season not sure what to do or who is coming in — I think that played on my mind as well.’