CELTIC legend Henrik Larsson is ready to return to football within 48 hours.
And former Celtic title-winner Tommy Johnson is ready to join him at English League One outfit Southend United.
Larsson is poised to lead a new three-man management team – with ex-Liverpool ace Dirk Kuyt as his No.2 – at the struggling side that lost 4-1 to AFC Wimbledon at Roots Hall yesterday.
The Swede has watched the strugglers twice in recent weeks – as CQN reported – and chairman Ron Martin revealed in a club statement that an appointment is close to being made.
Larsson, 48, Kuyt, 39, and Johnson, 48, are expected to be unveiled as the new-look set-up at the start of the week.
The Hoops idol left Helsingborgs for the second time in his managerial career in August and cited personal abuse as the reason behind his decision to walk away from the club where he kicked off his playing career.
Kuyt has been coaching with Feyenoord Under-19s for a year.
Johnson, who was signed by Tommy Burns from Aston Villa in 1997, wrote himself into Celtic history when he scored the winning goal against St Mirren that clinched the first title in Martin O’Neill’s debut campaign in 2000/01.
Amazingly, the English frontman played under SIX managers during his four-year stay at Parkhead – Wim Jansen, Jozef Venglos, John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish as well as Burns and O’Neill.
Johnson and the former Republic of Ireland gaffer teamed up again with the ex-Celt landing a scouting position during O’Neill’s short stint at Nottingham Forest earlier this year.
