Eddie Howe fits the Celtic “criteria” according to Stephen Welsh and the defender is excited about his potential appointment.
Howe is expected to be announced as the Parkhead club’s new boss this week after protracted negotiations.
Welsh is patiently waiting for an announcement but is enthused by the type of football Howe’s Bournemouth team played.
But he’ll have to combine style with substance in order to close the 25 point gap Rangers finished ahead of their rivals in the Premiership this season.
But Welsh is convinced he’ll fit right in in Glasgow’s east end due to the way he likes the game to be played.
He said: “Obviously Eddie Howe was a fantastic manager for Bournemouth over the last few years. He fits the criteria. He plays good football from what I saw so it’s exciting more than anything.”
It’s been a time consuming process identifying Howe as the number one choice and an even longer one thrashing out the details around the negotiating table.
But Welsh is adamant it hasn’t affected the players, who have remained calm while fans understandably questioned what was taking so long.
He added: “We’re all pretty calm about it. The club will deal with it they way they should. We’re positive about what the future holds regardless if it's a new manager and coaches, whatever, we’ll be ready to work hard for them and do well.
“I think it’s natural to think they will be watching if you have an idea a new face is coming in. You want to go out and prove how good you are, prove you should be in the team next season.
“That’s all you can do as a player.”
Interim boss John Kennedy could be kept on as part of Howe’s set up but regardless, he expects Celtic to be back where they belong next season.
He said: “We’ve had a rough season this year so it’s almost like you have to close that, draw the line, hit the reset button and get Celtic back to where we belong which is at the top of the tree.”
