Ange Postecoglou is closing in on the Celtic job - with the club holding no fears over his coaching qualifications.
The 55-year-old became the club’s preferred option at the end of last week after Eddie Howe baulked at taking on the job.
Record Sport understands the Englishman officially turned Celtic down during a lengthy discussion with Peter Lawwell on Friday. Howe blamed the late U-turn on the reluctance of his preferred backroom team to join him in Glasgow but he also raised security concerns after a recent fire-bomb attack on Lawwell’s family home.
The 11th hour decision shocked Lawwell and incoming successor Dominic McKay, both of whom had been convinced that the deal for Howe was all but done. They had expected to unveil Howe at Celtic Park last week.
But Howe’s cold feet triggered a rapid move for Postecoglou who is held in high regard by Manchester City’s parent company, City Football Group after his success at their Japanese outfit, Yokohama F. Marinos.
Lawwell used his long established links with the City Group to open talks with Postecoglou and it’s understood a deal was thrashed out and agreed by both parties over the weekend.
Recent reports claimed the move for Postecoglou was in doubt over his lack of coaching badges but Record Sport understand Celtic have no concerns over the experienced Aussie’s qualifications.
But Celtic will have to wait for Yokohama to nail down a replacement before the former Socceroos boss will be granted permission to fly to Scotland and begin a ten day period of isolation before putting pen to paper on a contract.
