Celtic admire 'rising star' as possible next manager as 'strange twist' emerges amid Middlesbrough interest
The next Celtic manager race has witnessed several faces being linked to the post.
A new name has emerged when it comes to Celtic management contention - but there could be a challenge from Middlesbrough.
The Hoops defeated Kilmarnock 4-0 in the Premiership on Sunday under the guidance of interim gaffer Martin O’Neill. There is now an international fortnight for the champions to get their new permanent boss in charge and one new name that has been mentioned is Brian Barry-Murphy.
He has impressed at Cardiff City this season at League One level and is known to Celtic through his connections with the City Group, a network of clubs headed by Manchester City. Barry-Murphy is viewed as someone Celtic admire but any moves could come with challenge from Middlesbrough, who look set to be hunting a new leader with Rob Edwards heading for Wolves, and ex-Hoops boss Tony Mowbray ruled out as a possible stop-gap.
Celtic next manager update
Reporter Alan Nixon has claimed via his Patreon: “Boro are hurriedly looking round for candidates and have put Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy on their hit list to replace Rob Edwards - but may face a fight with Celtic. Irishman Barry-Murphy is the new name on their radar after making the step up to being a number one with the Welsh side and proving a success.
“Barry-Murphy is the kind of rising star Boro are looking for as they plan to build on a good start to the campaign despite the Edwards ‘blip.’ The highly rated coach started at Rochdale and then joined Manchester City and Leicester City on the coaching side. Barry-Murphy took on the Cardiff challenge after they dropped into League One and he has shown real promise - with a Carabao Cup run thrown in.
“Edwards’s departure for Wolves will bring in compensation but Boro would also have to pay out to bring in Barry-Murphy as his replacement. The only strange twist in the Barry-Murphy interest is that Scottish giants Celtic also admire the Irishman and may come in too. Barry-Murphy worked for the City Group and is liked by them. Celtic have strong links with the City Group too and use them for background information on coaches.”
What Martin O’Neill has said about next Celtic manager
Providing his latest on the situation, interim boss O’Neill said: “I would say, right, so you’re pinning me down now, aren’t you? I have to go back down to London again, I’m going to go into a darkened room and come out on Thursday and think 'has this really happened?'
“So I should imagine at some stage or another during the course of the next week, whether it be tomorrow, whether it be Saturday or Sunday of next week, that somebody will let me know what’s happening.
“No, I genuinely don’t know. But if they make an announcement in, let’s say, in the next week or something about a new manager, I will take this fortnight and I was nearly going to say rather morbidly, to my grave, but hang about. Well you never know, but it’s been fantastic.”