Former Celtic star and regular Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has warned the Hoops that appointing Neil Lennon as permanent manager could cause the club to stand still with a “massive” job lying ahead for whoever does take charge.
The Bhoys are well on their way to picking up not only their eighth consecutive league title but their third successive domestic treble, having already won the Scottish League Cup.
Nicholas insists this has got to be a summer of change for the Hoops on the pitch and admitted he would like to see that extend to the man in the dugout.
What has been said?
Nicholas, a regular pundit on Sky Sports‘ Soccer Saturday, admitted that he would not be too disheartened if Lennon were to be handed the full time position after replacing Brendan Rodgers earlier in the season, but insists that the aspirations from club chief Peter Lawwell have to be on the European stage.
He told the Daily Star: “I wouldn’t be upset if Neil did land the role. But there is a part of me that would like to see Celtic spread the net wider and go for a fresh approach. Mark my words – whoever gets the job has a massive job on his hands. Celtic need to look at bringing in six quality players to the starting eleven.
“That’s why I’d seriously consider casting the net wider to see if there’s a manager with a new approach. I want to see Celtic make bigger strides in Europe and for that I think they can broaden their horizons. If they build a team to put up a fight in Europe, that same team will continue to sweep the board in Scotland.”
Six new players for the starting line up is no easy task for any side and so Lawwell, not to mention whoever is sitting in the dugout, have got some serious work to do if they are to achieve what Nicholas wants.
What next for Celtic?
If Lawwell and the Celtic board want to remain where they are right now – that is to say comfortably ahead of the rest of the chasing pack in Scotland – then Lennon’s appointment is a no brainer.
He is a man who knows not only the club but the division and he would be able to recruit accordingly.
However, if Celtic want to launch themselves into a new chapter of their history and to make waves on the European stage, then Lawwell and the Hoops’ decision makers have got to push themselves out of their comfort zone and snap up someone with experience on the continent.
Will someone unproven in Scotland be a success? Brendan Rodgers certainly was and he took Celtic to this current successful chapter. A new face in the dugout can help the Bhoys hit new heights.