Chris Sutton declared Eddie Howe as the man to revive Celtic in a rousing speech Ally McCoist likened to Winston Churchill.
The Parkhead legend admits he's not completely without concern as the former Bournemouth boss closes in on the job but believes he has all the tools to be a success.
Record Sport exclusively revealed on Thursday the 43-year-old had held advanced talks with the club after knocking back two offers from the Premier League.
Sutton was a fan of Howe's Bournemouth side and expects he'll bring a style of play fans will enjoy - insisting Rangers legend McCoist was running scared already.
He said on BT Sport's Scottish Football Extra : "I'm looking at McCoist right now and I can see fear, I can smell fear.
"What surprised me is Eddie Howe has been out of a job since the end of last season and wasn't put in place before now.
"It's absolutely baffling.
"Now, in terms of an appointment I believe Eddie Howe would be a good one. He's young, he's hungry, he's organised.
"His temperament, as we've seen over the years, he can handle himself. Bournemouth is a totally different kettle of fish to Celtic and he will be under intense pressure.
"What's slightly concerning is the fact John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan will still be there. I just wonder if it's better to have a clean sweep in that respect.
"Maybe Eddie Howe will bring his own team in but I think keeping that old guard in...
"It looks like Richard Hughes might come in as a director of football, he had a few caps for Scotland, former Bournemouth and Portsmouth player, Howe knows him well.
"The job Eddie Howe did at Bournemouth, keeping them in the football league and getting them up to the Premier League, and the job he did in the Premier League was exceptional. The brand of football will not be a problem, he likes to play front foot football and get after teams.
"Bournemouth were a breath of fresh air under Howe until the last season."
McCoist, never short of a comeback, poked fun at Sutton's address and joked he almost "broke down uncontrollably".
He shot back by claiming several of Celtic's top stars will leave the club and quipped "with any luck" Howe will hold on to the likes of Albian Ajeti, Vasilis Barkas and Shane Duffy.
"Well, contrary to what Winston Churchill was giving us there, I'm not exactly shaking in my shoes.
"The only thing missing from Sutton there was 'we'll fight them on the beaches', man. What was that all about?
"Anyway, I was heading for the Kleenex, I had a box of tissues there I nearly broke down uncontrollably, what a speech that was!
"Anyway, Edouard will go. There's every chance Christie might go. Ajer might go. McGregor might go.
"With any luck he might keep Barkas and Ajeti. There might be a south coast alliance and Eddie might keep Duffy!
"There's no shaking in my shoes up here. And as he says, bring it on!"
