IF Roy Keane was destined to become the new Celtic manager then he should be in place now.
That’s the view of former Hoops striker Chris Sutton who reckons “it’s daft” that there is a delay with the Republic of Ireland and Manchester United great out of football at the moment.
Apart from media work, Keane has been up for grabs since his former Celtic team-mate Neil Lennon exited the club last month – but there has been no sign of announcement from the club, despite the 49- year-old former Sunderland and Ipswich Town chief being the overwhelming bookies’ favourite.
Club legend Martin O’Neill has already talked up the qualities of his ex-Irish international No.2, as CQN reported during the week, as the guessing game goes full tilt with John Kennedy still in inter charge until the end of the season.
Sutton said: “At this moment in time, I think Roy Keane, if he was appointed, would split Celtic fans.
“Celtic fans want somebody like a Brendan Rodgers, but when Brendan Rodgers moved to Celtic all the stars aligned for that.
“So, I think they want more of a coach-type manager, somebody who is going to organise the team. I’m not saying Roy Keane couldn’t do that, but are there better candidates out there who would?”
Sutton, speaking to BT Sport’s Scottish Football Extra, added: “Roy Keane isn’t in work at this moment in time – well, not in a manager’s job.
“So, if Roy Keane was going to get the job, why on earth wasn’t he put in place weeks ago?
“Because the mess Celtic are in, the planning which they’ve got to come, he could have a look at the younger players maybe with the thought of playing them next season.
“It doesn’t make any sense to me that somebody who, at this moment in time, isn’t in work isn’t in the Celtic job. It’s daft.”
