Rumours Continue To Swirl As A Big Name Candidate Is Ruled Out For Celtic

There is no certainty at Celtic right now except more uncertainty. For a while longer anyway. The rumours continue to fly, left and right. New names are plucked out of the air with startling rapidity. Some stories – like the mad one yesterday about Buckingham – flare just long enough to worry us that the board has taken leave of its senses.

Others, like Maresca, linger like a bad hangover, and you just wish that they would go away. His would be a dire, desperate choice and would confirm that our club’s very serious nepotism, cronyism problem had become a clear and present danger to us. Reports that Man City “won’t stand in his way2” aren’t the least bit surprising; he’s a mere coach, why would they?

Last night, one particular name was officially taken off the list; David Moyes is not going to be available. His club has finally given him the support he has long earned. A European semi-final last year, and a final, and the win, this year has restored Moyes’ reputation in England. He is not just out of reach for the time being but into the distant future. Thank God.

I have nothing against Moyes on a personal level. He likes Celtic without necessarily being in love with the club Lazy hacks link him to the vacancy every time it comes up, and every time it does he makes it clear that he sees his immediate future in England.

He talks of Celtic as a vague possibility somewhere down the line, perhaps when he’s 70 and has two teeth left in his head. There is zero prospect of us ever seeing him in the dugout as the Celtic boss and not only should last night be seen as a verdict on that possibility in the here and now but it should be the moment the subject is closed forevermore.

He suffered from what should have been the greatest moment of his career; his appointment to succeed Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Some have wondered if he wasn’t the right guy but at the wrong time. I understood the thinking behind the appointment at the time, but could never shake the idea that it had been a risky one that appeared doomed from the start.

I am not a great fan of his football. It’s workmanlike without being especially entertaining. I have no doubt he would get results, but you might be in danger of missing them by falling asleep. I long ago put my snobbery about his name aside – I was genuinely pleased for him last night – but I am glad that the risk of appointing him has been removed.

If only other dangers would recede the same way.