READY, WILLING AND THE PERFECT CHOICE

Larsson definitely wants the job, 100 per cent, and his appointment would give the club a huge lift

MURDO MacLEOD last night insisted that close friend Henrik Larsson

does want the Celtic job and challenged the doubters who claim the Swede is ill-prepared to succeed Neil Lennon.

Since news broke of Lennon’s resignation on Thursday, Larsson has been doing his own version of the hokey-cokey, ruling himself in and out of the running, all the while pledging loyalty to his current club Falkenbergs.

MacLeod (below), Celtic’s assistant manager when Wim Jansen brought Larsson to Scotland in 1997, is still a confidant of the 42-year-old and insists there is no question that he craves a crack at the job.

Initially the hot favourite to take over, Larsson’s name has been overtaken by those of David Moyes, Malky Mackay and Owen Coyle in the bookmakers’ eyes but, ultimately, the decision will be made by Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.

With a fourth successive league title a near certainty, it’s understood that Desmond craves an appointment which can attract back those supporters who have drifted away from the club in recent seasons.

The fact that the deadline for Parkhead season ticket renewals was extended yesterday serves only to highlight how pressing an issue this is for Celtic and, i n that regard, MacLeod strongly believes there is only one appointment that makes sense.

‘I’m still in touch with Henrik and he would be up for it, 100 per cent,’ said MacLeod. ‘I believe there is a good possibility it will happen because I don’t think there is another huge favourite for the job.

‘There is Malky, Owen and another few you could mention, but I would go for Henrik.

‘He would be my choice for the simple reason that he would lift the whole club. A lot of Celtic fans are disappointed that Neil has left and Henrik would lift the place.’

Larsson has insisted that he wants to continue operating on the rolling contract he has with Allsvenskan outfit Falkenbergs but MacLeod does not see that being an obstacle to a club with Celtic’s financial clout.

He added. ‘If Celtic want him, go and get him. If it takes a transfer fee, then pay it.’

Larsson is only 11 games into his tenure at Falkenbergs, his second managerial posting. His first, with second-string club Landskrona, was hardly laden with success — unable to guide the team to promotion, he departed after three seasons.

A proven goalscorer at European and international level as a player, the Swede’s status as a Celtic legend is unquestionable, but there’s nothing on his CV to suggest his talents have translated to the coaching pitch.

MacLeod, however, reckons the potential is there and believes Rangers’ absence from the Scottish top flight for at least another season will give him the chance to bed in.

‘I don’t think it would be a risk,’ he insisted. ‘People think Henrik is just a name. They don’t associate him with being a coach, but I’ve seen him up close.

‘I went to watch him at Landskrona. He has earned the right to be at a big club like Celtic because he has worked hard at it.

‘He always wanted to come back to the club at some point but he wanted to earn it. Henrik is so focused on what he wants to achieve that he will not accept second best.

‘He is still fit enough to join in, so he is out on the training pitch all the time, advising the strikers, telling them where to be.

‘I disagree with anyone who says he does not have enough experience — Neil Lennon came in without any at all and turned into a top coach. This is probably the last year Rangers will not be in the league, so Henrik would have a chance to win a title, win cups and to qualify for the Champions League without that added pressure being on him.’

Domestically, the pressure of a title race may not be there but the imperative of getting Celtic into the Champions League remains.

Lennon managed it two years on the bounce but harboured concerns he would be able to repeat that feat.

MacLeod believes it is essential the club add at least another couple of players — and do everything they can to hang onto prize assets Virgil van Dijk and Fraser Forster.

‘Celtic are a strong side but that doesn’t matter — the Champions League qualifiers will always be tough and, no matter how well you have done the previous season, teams always need fresh faces.

‘Two or three early doors will be the priority for the new manager but it’s no use for him to come in and the club lets its best players go.

‘Celtic must do all it can to keep van Dijk and Forster at the club.’

MURDO MacLEOD was speaking at the inaugural Scottish Footgolf Open at Cowal Golf Club, Dunoon.

He is focused on what he wants to achieve and won’t accept second best. If Celtic want him, go get him. If it takes a transfer fee, then pay it