Anthony Joseph has dropped a double update on the Celtic managerial situation involving Robbie Keane and Martin O'Neill.
It looks like the Celtic managerial race has come down to two remaining contenders. At least that is what it appears to be from the media coverage over the last few days.
Who are these two? Well, one of them is Martin O'Neill. The Northern Irishman would be the popular choice, thanks to his legacy at the club as well as the fact that he took a weak squad and won a double with them.
If the Hoops had stuck with him throughout and not gone with Wilfried Nancy in the middle of the campaign, a run that lasted all of 33 days, they probably would have ended up winning a treble.
It remains to be seen if O'Neill ends up getting the job. He is 74 years old and would not be a long-term solution.
The other name on the list is Robbie Keane. He played for the club, albeit on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
Keane has shown a lot of promise early on in his managerial career, winning silverware at both clubs he has been at so far.
He recently left Ferencvaros, meaning that Celtic's path is clear when it comes to making a move for Keane this summer.
According to Anthony Joseph, Celtic have held constructive talks with Keane over the club's managerial vacancy. Further discussions are scheduled.
Dermot Desmond is also due to gauge O’Neill’s appetite for remaining at the club in some capacity.
Obviously, those are two very different types of profiles. On one hand, you have the experience and proven success rate of O'Neill. On the other hand, you have the potential and youth of Keane.
Going for O'Neill would be the safer choice. It is also intriguing what he could achieve with a stronger squad and with time to implement fresh ideas in pre-season.
Any contract would be a short-term one though for a manager who is 74 years old and has admitted time and again that managing does take a toll on him.
He was expected to step down at the end of the season but it looks like the interim run has given him a second wind, which is why he did not close the door completely on continuing.
Keane would be the long-term choice. But Celtic need to be completely certain that he is the right one. They cannot afford another Nancy situation. There is only so many times O'Neill can come in and save the club.
Then again, is there anything such as long-term at Celtic? If you are successful, financially stronger clubs are going to swoop in within a year or two. If you are unsuccessful, it is hard to imagine you would last too long at Parkhead.
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