WRIGHT STUFF
Rodgers backs Saints boss for the big time
BRENDAN RODGERS believes Tommy Wright would be a worthy c o nt e nder for t he Rangers job — as he backed him to succeed Michael O’Neill at Northern Ireland.
Sportsmail understands that Irish FA chiefs will allow O’Neill to hold talks over becoming the new Scotland manager after the SFA made an approach on Wednesday.
A successful conclusion to those discussions, likely to take place next week, would l eave St Johnstone boss Wright as favourite to take charge of his country.
Celtic manager Rodgers feels that would be a wise appointment and argues that his compatriot is deserving of a more prominent position f ollowing f our successful
years in Perth. Indeed, while Aberdeen’s Derek McInnes remains the frontrunner for the Rangers vacancy three weeks after Pedro Caixinha’s sacking, the Parkhead boss feels 48-year-old Wright should also be in the Ibrox frame. ‘Tommy would be perfect for Northern Ireland if Michael moved on,’ said Rodgers. ‘He’s certainly earned his stripes at St Johnstone in terms of the work he has done there to make them competitive. I think he’d be perfect for Northern Ireland’s job. For me, with the Rangers job, the likes of Derek and him would be obvious standouts. I hope he gets the chance, given the work he has done, to do it on a bigger stage, wherever that is.’ Sunderland were also keen to speak to O’Neill, but have been told the Edinburgh resident is not interested in joining the English Championship club. While a rival approach could yet emerge from the USA, Rodgers believes Scotland have enough quality in their squad for O’Neill to deliver success if he stayed in the UK. ‘There are a number of candidates who can do the job but it is about what Michael wants to do,’ said Rodgers. ‘He has spent six years or so at Northern Ireland, has done a European Championship and just missed out on a World Cup. ‘Their top players over the next few years will move on. Michael will be disappointed at missing out on the World Cup but, if you look at Scotland, it is an exciting group. ‘If he can pull them together and develop them then he would maybe have a chance of getting them to their first championship in 20-odd years and then maybe on to a World Cup after that. I am sure it is one that he will think about.’ Meanwhile, Dorus de Vries has signed a one-year contract extension that ties him to Celtic until the summer of 2019. The 36-year-old keeper arrived in August last year from Nottingham Forest, having previously worked with Rodgers at Swansea City. The Dutchman, understudy to Craig Gordon, was used sparingly in the Treble-winning campaign and has featured just once this season, in a 1-0 win over Dundee.