ANGE POSTECOGLOU will leave Celtic at the end of the season – that’s the sensational report from Australia.
A veteran Melbourne sports journalist insisted his sources are adamant that this will be the manager’s “last year” at the Parkhead club.
The so-called in-the-know sports host Andy Maher believes Postecoglou, who took over as Hoops gaffer in June 2021, will be on his way with Leeds United “most likely” to be his destination.
There’s the usual hoo-ha over the story from Down Under and it’s the last thing the 57-year-old former Australia World Cup chief – or anyone at Celtic – needs as he prepares for Sunday’s Viaplay League Cup Final against Michael Beale’s Ibrox side.
HEARD IT ALL BEFORE…Ange Postecoglou at the media conference last week.
The reports could be plucked from thin air for all we know, but the stories are hitting the headlines in the other part of the globe and will be all over the place in the UK throughout the day as more information is urgently sought.
Maher, the media man who kicked off the speculation as reported in Fox Sports, told SEN’s The Run Homesports show: “I’ve got a snout who’s quite hooked into Australian soccer.
“He’s given me a steer here and there and on enough occasions he’s been right.
“Gives me a call this morning adamant that this will be Ange Postecoglou’s last year at Celtic and he will be leaving at the end of the year.
“And that he will be, it depends on survival in the Premier League, he will be taking one of two positions.
NO HIDING PLACE…Ange Postecoglou continues to be linked with a move away from Celtic.
“But, predominantly and most likely, it will be the position at Leeds.
“Peter Lowy, son of Frank, bought into Leeds [in late 2021]. One of his assistant coaches at Celtic is Harry Kewell, of course a celebrated Leeds player.
“Huge club, massive upside, struggling to hold onto their position in the Premier League. The temptation of being the manager to restore Leeds to Champions League-type contention and top-four, top-six status in the Premier League would be appealing to anyone.
“This snout is telling me, watch this space, at the end of the season – it’s going to happen.”
The Elland Road club were immediately linked with Postecoglou after the sacking Jesse Marsch at the start of last week.
After 23 games, they are in the midst of a dogfight for survival as they languish second bottom of the Premier League one point above Southampton, one adrift of Davie Moyes’ West Ham and two away from Everton and Bournemouth.
STRUCK DUMB…Ange Postecoglou has continually been asked to respond to speculation. Images: Celtic TV.
The troubled Yorkshire club are reportedly in talks with former Watford and Valencia coach Javi Gracia, while veteran Rafa Benitez is apparently also being considered, along with current caretaker Michael Skubala.
But if Leeds stay up they loom as a potential home for Postecoglou, according to Maher.
There are a lot of ifs in this story as it unfolds. If the club do manage to remain in the top flight ,the manager who achieved the feat would expect to continue in the post to gear up for the future.
What sort of contract would any coach sign as successor to Marsch? A short-term deal with provisos built in would hardly be attractive, especially if the campaign ends in failure.
Intriguingly, Maher reported another club interested in Postecoglou were Nottingham Forest due to the “strong Greek connection” through owner Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Olympiakos.
No doubt the well-respected Aussie broadcaster believes in his sources, but, as we all know, two and two in football can often add up to 22.
