Editor’s Column: Dermot Desmond’s Celtic Influence And Hoops Next Boss

Celtic are looking for a new manager, two years after appointing Ange Postecoglou . This development comes on the heels of the departure of the Australian, who joined Tottenham, a mere three days after leading Celtic to a treble victory.

Postecoglou’s exit has now plunged the club into a fresh quest to find a fitting replacement, which is never a straightforward process.

Since the turn of the 21st century, every Celtic manager has needed the approval of majority shareholder, Dermot Desmond. This Irish billionaire has been largely hands-off when it comes to the day-to-day operations of the club.

He leaves these duties to trusted individuals who have been in charge for years. However, the selection of a new manager is one area where Desmond holds significant sway. He has been known to assert that he must personally assess any potential managerial appointments, ensuring they have the grit and determination required for the role.

Over the years, Desmond’s personal involvement in managerial selections has ranged from directly approaching candidates, as he did with Gordon Strachan when Martin O’Neill was preparing to step down, to having less involvement, such as with the appointment of Ronny Deila. The latter was primarily a choice of Peter Lawwell, the then-chief executive. In fact, before Deila’s appointment, Desmond had offered the job to Roy Keane who famously turned him down.

Despite Deila securing two titles, his tenure did not captivate the world, leading Desmond to view it as a failed experiment. The infamous anecdote of Celtic’s loss to lower-league Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final epitomises this sentiment. It is said that, in the aftermath, Desmond turned to Lawwell and demanded a more formidable manager.

Heeding this request, Brendan Rodgers was brought on board. The result was a tremendous period in Celtic’s history, with the club clinching four consecutive trebles kicked off by Brendan’s invincible side. Desmond also greenlit the appointment of Neil Lennon for his second spell.

However, the process has not been without its hiccups. After the pandemic-stricken season, when Lennon was moved on, Desmond expressed a strong interest in bringing Eddie Howe onboard. But when this plan dramatically fell through, Mark Lawwell, Peter’s son, suggested Ange Postecoglou, a proposal that was only accepted after Desmond had personally spoken to the Australian coach. The rest, as they say, is history. The city group link paying off big for Celtic.

As the club once again finds itself in the hunt for a new manager, the situation is complex. According to inside sources, Desmond is torn between the various options. Names such as Knutsen and Farke, thrown around by the media, are perceived by Desmond as akin to Deila. His preference is for a manager with gravitas, someone who can embody the spirit of the club.

The notion of experimenting with coaches like Enzo Maresca also makes Desmond uneasy. If Maresca, from Manchester City’s esteemed City Football Group, does get the nod, it will likely be due to the influence of the Lawwells. Regardless, no appointment will be made without Desmond being thoroughly convinced that the candidate is up to the task.

As an invested observer I must admit that none of the linked candidates quicken my pulse. There’s no shining beacon like an Eddie Howe or a Brendan Rodgers [The first time around], the kind of appointments that can really wet the appetite. No, it seems unlikely that we’ll see a box office unveiling this time around.

What we do have is an entire summer that will be rife with speculation, intrigue, and analysis. Rest assured, whoever eventually steps into the shoes of the Celtic manager will find every aspect of their footballing career dissected and scrutinised ed by eager supporters and discerning pundits. Each tactical decision, each transfer, each public statement will be sifted through a sieve of expectation and tradition.

Dermot Desmond, at the helm of this selection process, is known for his anti-populist stance when it comes to managerial appointments. He’s not one to follow the crowd or bend to popular demand. There’s always a possibility that he may court controversy and opt for a returning Brendan Rodgers. However, even this proposition feels somewhat uninspiring, a tepid repetition of past glories rather than a thrilling leap into uncharted waters.

We watch with intrigue.