Frank McAvennie claims Celtic missed out on Jens Berthel Askou because the club moved too late to make their approach.
The Motherwell manager has emerged as one of the most highly-rated coaches in Scottish football after guiding the Fir Park side to a fourth-place finish and European qualification during his first season in charge.
Askou’s work also attracted serious interest from France, with Toulouse moving quickly to position themselves for his signature.
Now former Celtic striker McAvennie believes the Hoops attempted to enter the race only after Askou had already effectively committed himself elsewhere.
Speaking about the situation, McAvennie claimed there had been genuine interest from Askou’s side in potentially taking the Celtic job, but by the time the Hoops moved, it was too late.
He said on the Let Me Be Frank podcast:
“Honestly, from a big, big source at the weekend, Celtic got a call once he had done the deal.
“He went to Toulouse, agreed to go to Toulouse, and then Celtic come in.
“Now, I know what his agent’s been asking about…
“I know his agent’s at Celtic, wanting to speak to him, because he wanted to go to Celtic.
“They never spoke to him, and when he went, he’s an honourable man, he says, ‘I’ve already made my deal. I’ve given him my word.’
“And I’m thinking, why are you leaving it that late?”
If accurate, the claims will likely only intensify scrutiny around Celtic’s handling of the managerial search this summer.
Slow to act and have to react rather than be proactive in the transfer market. Not a great look heading into the summer after the last season of much of the same.
Martin O’Neill delivered a domestic double after rescuing the club twice during a chaotic campaign, but uncertainty still surrounds whether the 74-year-old will remain in charge permanently.
Meanwhile, several names continue to circulate externally as Celtic weigh up the next long-term direction of the club.
