Celts have tracked Ange for months
Greek set to be the new Hoops manager this week
Celtic want to strike a deal for Ange Postecoglou to be their new boss this week – after tracking the Greek coach for MONTHS.
The Hoops have now turned to Plan B after top target Eddie Howe
Charlie Miller didn’t get enough time at Brisbane Roar to see if coach Ange Postecoglou lived up to his hype.
But the one thing he knows Celtic’s latest managerial target does have is BALLS.
Miller was part of an experienced group of pros at the A- League outfit when Postecoglou replaced the popular Frank Farina as gaffer.
Almost immediately, former Rangers skipper Craig Moore had a fall-out with the Greek – and that was the beginning of the end for Miller in Australia too.
Miller regrets not giving Postecoglou more of a chance to win him over.
But he has always been impressed by the ruthless nature that saw him make big and rapid calls on star players – and ship them out.
Miller, Moore, Bob Malcolm, Danny Tiatto and Liam Reddy were all shown the door by Postecoglou for not buying into his plans.
He launched a squad rebuild and, by the time he left three years later, he’d already led the club to successive A-League titles and qualification for the AFC Champions League.
Miller admits he might have got his old boss wrong.
He’s been impressed by Postecoglou’s career leaving Brisbane, particularly the job he did with the Socceroos in a four-year stint.
The former Ibrox midfielder is surprised his old boss has been lined up by Celtic following the failed attempt to land Eddie Howe.
But with the Parkhead side also needing major surgery this summer, Miller says if Postecoglou is appointed he won’t shirk any big decisions.
He told MailSport: “The way Ange got rid of us proves that he’s ruthless and not afraid to make big decisions.
“At that time, we were Frank Farina’s players and we did everything to keep him in the job.
“We were the older group of players who tried to help the younger ones. We ran the dressing-room for him.
“Myself, Craig, Bob and Danny had a lot of experience and we’d all played at a good level in Europe.
“Frank was a great guy, we’d known him for a few years and there was a real trust there. When he got sacked out of the blue, it was a shock for us. It would have been difficult for any manager coming in to work with us after Frank.
“We thought we wouldn’t get someone who was worthy of replacing him. That’s why we didn’t take to Postecoglou.
“But it turns out he was up to the job because he went on to do a good job at Brisbane then elsewhere.
“I should have given him more of a chance. He didn’t even want me to go.
“But Craig was my pal and I just followed him. When I look back, I should have given Postecoglou time.
“The problem was, I had made my mind up about him before he’d even arrived.
“But what he did showed me that there was something about him. He wasn’t scared to get rid of us and, back then, Craig and Danny were big- name Aus t ra l ian international players.
“He took on a big rebuild at Brisbane and it didn’t faze him. He didn’t beat about the bush, especially with Craig right away.
“Postecoglou showed some balls by doing that. “So if he goes to Celtic, that kind of thing won’t bother him. He’ll make big decisions and attempt to put his own stamp on it.
“He’ll get rid of who he wants out then decide who he wants to keep around.
“Before he came in, everyone thought he was going to be strict and a horrible guy to work with.
“But he actually wasn’t.
“He just had his own ideas and decided early on what players weren’t going to figure in his plans.
“If he goes to Celtic I don’t think it will bother him thatat he wasn’t first choiceoice for them.
“He’s not fazedzed by things like that.hat.
“He’s very muchuch his own man and
Ange took on a big rebuild and it didn’t faze him – he didn’t beat about the bush and he showed some balls
he’ll do his own thing and get the club in the shape he wants.”
Miller only had a few weeks on the training pitch with Postecoglou at Brisbane but former team-mates say he’s an impressive coach.
Currently in charge of Japanese side Yokohama Marinos, he could be installed as Neil Lennon’s permanent replacement this week, with talks still ongoing.
Celtic fans who wanted Howe in charge aren’t too enamoured by the prospect of Postecoglou taking over.
But Miller insists his philosophy of playing free-flowing, attacking football should go down well in Glasgow’s East End.
He said: “From what I’ve heard, he’s a very good coach.
“Craig gets on a lot better with him now and they speak to each other quite often.
“Matt McKay, who was at Brisbane and Rangers, also speaks very highly of him and I’ve heard other players say they really enjoyed working with him.
“By all accounts, he likes his teams to play attacking football and that’s what Celtic fans want to see.
“Obviously, a lot depends on what Celtic are going to do, whether they’re going to give him money to spend to rebuild the squad the way he wants. He’s got a task if they are going to compete with Rangers.
“But he’ll certainly get Celtic playing the way he wants them to play, which is expansive, attacking football.
“Listen, Ange’s success probably speaks for itself. He has done fairly well wherever he has been. He has won things and his record is very good.
“At Brisbane, I wasn’t with him long. When he fell out with Craig straight away I sided with my mate and wanted out.
“He came in and got rid of most of the older players at the club. I think he actually wanted to keep me initially.
“But because Craig was leaving, I wasn’t interested in what he had to say, which was the wrong thing to do.”