FORMER Celtic star Shaun Maloney has told the Hoops hierarchy to speed up their appointment of Neil Lennon’s successor.
The ex-Scotland midfielder was one of the names on the wanted list back in February when John Kennedy stepped up to take over in an interim capacity.
Maloney and his Belgian international chief Roberto Martinez were linked with the role, but the spotlight has now settled on one-time Bournemouth gaffer Eddie Howe.
The Hoops crashed out of the Scottish Cup following an appalling shot-shy performance at Ibrox yesterday where misfiring Odsonne Edouard even failed to convert a penalty-kick with a puny effort from the spot that was pushed away by a grateful Allan McGregor. The Parkhead men will complete a miserable campaign without silverware for the first time in 11 years.
Dominic McKay arrived at the club today to take up his job as chief executive while Peter Lawwell, who held the post for 18 years, will leave at the end of June.
Maloney reckons his old club need to get a manager in place as swiftly as possible to prepare the team for a crucial new term.
The highly-rated coach told BBC Sportscene: “It’s difficult to judge from the outside, but I think with the new chief executive coming in, and that being brought forward, it feels that they are trying to accelerate the process.
“They have to really because next season’s planning should already be done.
“The technical director, the coach, these things are linked. The director has to be linked with whoever the head coach is.
“I think the process has to begin pretty quickly.”
EDOUARD AND HOOPS PAY THE PENALTY IN IBROX CALAMITY
