KEANE CAN COPE
O’Neill says Roy has the star quality to be Parkhead hit Larsson wants top job — MacLeod
MARTIN O’NEILL last night revealed he will give Dermot Desmond a glowing recommendation on Roy Keane’s credentials to become the next Celtic manager.
Keane is high on the list of potential targets to replace Neil Lennon and it’s understood the Hoops hierarchy will step up their bid to appoint a new boss in the next few days.
O’Neill won three titles in five years as Celtic manager and believes Keane, his assistant with the Republic of Ireland for the past five months, has the ability to follow in his footsteps.
Asked what kind of reference he would give to Desmond, Celtic’s majority shareholder, O’Neill said: ‘Roy will make a good manager. The experiences he had at Sunderland and Ipswich will stand him in good stead.
‘He had this opportunity to come with me as my assistant and I think this will be good for him. It gives Roy a chance to see different things and also to work with an experienced man like myself.
‘He will become a manager again. I wouldn’t stand in his way. I would speak to Roy about anything that arises. I don’t know how serious it is at the moment. I will deal with it when it comes — if it comes.’
It’s understood that Desmond craves an appointment that will bring the fans back to Celtic Park in the wake of a downturn in attendances.
Although Owen Coyle and Malky Mackay are among the strong favourites for the job, Keane would represent a boxoffice choice, which could perhaps only be trumped by the return of Henrik Larsson.
The Swede, a Celtic legend was the early bookmakers’ choice but, despite distancing himself from the post in the wake of Lennon’s resignation, he has told friends that he does indeed want the job.
Murdo MacLeod, Celtic’s assistant manager when Larsson joined the club from Feyenoord in 1997, helped launch his goal and trophyladen spell in Glasgow and remains in regular contact with the current Falkenbergs boss.
And MacLeod believes his friend would be the ideal fit. ‘I’m still in touch with Henrik and he would be up for it, 100 per cent,’ said the former Scotland international.
‘I think there is a good possibility it will happen because I don’t think there is another huge favourite for the job. Henrik would be my choice for the simple reason that he would lift the whole club.
‘A lot of fans are disappointed at seeing Neil leaving. Henrik would lift the place and the fans would return in droves.’