Lambert new favourite for Celtic hotseat

PAUL LAMBERT was last night installed as the odds-on favourite to become the next Celtic manager after confirming he will quit Blackburn Rovers this summer. A former Parkhead captain, Lambert will activate a release clause in the two-and-a-half-year contract he signed in November following the final Sky Bet Championship clash with Reading on May 7. And bookmakers immediately made the 40-times capped ex-Scotland international a shorter price than former favourite David Moyes to replace Ronny Deila. Celtic’s board are currently working on a shortlist consisting of top targets Moyes, Brendan Rodgers and Roy Keane. A second, longer list incorporating the

likes of Lambert, Neil Lennon, Michael O’Neill and Malky Mackay will come into play should the club fail to lure a crowd-pleasing managerial big beast north. First-choice Moyes has yet to turn the job down formally. A return to Everton is the Glaswegian’s first choice despite reports south of the border suggesting Mark Hughes is now the top target of the Goodison club. Rodgers is also odds-on to make a return to Swansea following his Liverpool sacking. Keane turned the Celtic job down two years ago, but has yet to sign a new contract as Republic of Ireland assistant manager after admitting he wants to return to frontline club management after the Euro 2016 Finals. However, Lambert will also be carefully considered after enjoying a strong start to his managerial career, leading Norwich to the Barclays Premier League after back-toback promotions. His career has since stuttered during difficult times at Aston Villa and Ewood Park, both hampered by off-field and financial difficulties. Last night he diplomatically sidestepped a question asking if he’d be interested in talking to the Parkhead powerbrokers about the vacancy, but admitted the times he spent in Glasgow’s East End between 1997 and 2005 were among the best of his career. ‘I’d eight great years there — a brilliant time and I’ve so much respect for the players as I know it’s a hard club to play for,’ Lambert said. ‘You’ve got to carry a level of expectation. I was lucky to play with some great players there when the club was absolutely flying. ‘It’s a great club with a fantastic fan-base. I’ll never criticise anyone who’s in that job or whoever gets it. ‘Whoever gets it is going to a great club. I think Ronny has done ever so well. I think the Champions League is important to the football club and Scotland as a whole. ‘It’s important to qualify for that. But I’m not in a position to sit and say: “I’ll go for the Celtic job.” ‘I’m not like that as a person. I’m not in a position to do anything other than win two games for Blackburn. I know all the speculation will probably start but at this moment I think Ronny is doing a good job and hopefully they go on and win that league.’