The Ronny Deila era at Celtic Park is over. After the club confirmed that the beleaguered Norwegian would leave Glasgow this summer, thoughts have immediately turned to who his successor would be.
As it turns out, a whole lot has already happened surrounding the next Celtic manager role, despite the news only becoming official on Wednesday morning.
The Glasgow Evening Times already had a fresh list of contenders ready in the aftermath of Celtic's Scottish Cup penalty-shootout defeat to Rangers on Sunday - and there are some very intriguing names. Together with the early odds with the bookmakers - it's clear who the Celtic board will be looking at.
Former Celtic defender David Moyes is the leader in the market, despite recent speculation that he is being looked at by Aston Villa. The Scot has lengthened with the Villa rumours, but is still odds on with some bookies. According to the Evening Times, Moyes is Celtic's no.1 target, and he recently gave an interview talking about his love for the club:
He gave an interview recently in which he stated his love for Celtic and refused to rule out taking the big job. This was no slip of the tongue. It was very deliberate.
It would be an interesting move for Moyes, to take a job in his home country - where it appears he hasn't been tarnished by events in Spain or Manchester.
The biggest mover in the market though is Roy Keane. A rather sizable bet was placed on the Republic of Ireland assistant manager that saw Keane move from 16/1 to 4/1. The Ireland assistant manager was the club's number one choice prior to Deila being appointed two years ago.
Of course, that move wouldn't necessarily be popular with Celtic fans:
The boards not going anywhere. No high profile manager will take the Celtic job now.
Roy Keane would be a disaster and poison.— docs (@docccs) April 19, 2016
Shortly after the announcement that Deila would be leaving Celtic, Keane - who was at an event in the Bord Gais Theatre - offered his response to speculation linked him to the job.
"I've two jobs, ITV and Ireland. No comment," says Roy Keane, when Alison Comyn asks him about Celtic
— Denis Hurley (@Denis_Hurley) April 20, 2016
Perhaps the most intriguing name to be linked is former Celtic boss Neil Lennon. Lennon has already come out and expressed an interest in the job since the news broke. It would represent quite a back-pedalling from the Northern Irishman after he walked out on the club in May 2014. Lennon is currently the second favourite with the bookies at 3/1.
Neil Lennon says he would be open to a return as Celtic manager in the summer and would be willing to speak to the club's board
— Richard Wilson (@Richwils0n) April 20, 2016
The other names linked with the role include Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill (12/1), Hibs manager Alan Stubbs (12/1) - who just guided the Edinburgh club to the final of the Scottish Cup - and former Liverpool and Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers (12/1).
There is the chance Celtic could promote from within - though it would be a meteoric rise through the ranks. Former Donegal manager Jim McGuinness is currently a performance consultant with the club. He is also studying for his coaching badges at the moment and took a number of sessions at the Celtic training ground under the stewardship of Ronny Deila. The likelihood of McGuinness becoming manager is reflected in the betting - he's 40/1.
And not forgetting, Alan Curbishley takes up his mandatory 66/1 shot to be the next Celtic boss.
See Also: Celtic Confirm Ronny Deila Is Leaving The Club
Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
