Bookies Paddy Power have closed the market on Eddie Howe becoming the next manager of Celtic.
The former Bournemouth boss has been available at odds of 1/5 all week with speculation rife over the future of incumbent boss Neil Lennon.
The Irishman insisted on Wednesday in the wake of his side's 2-2 draw with Hibs that he would not walk away from the team he loves.
But his side remain winless in 2021 after that result followed up home draws against the Lions and Hibs and a derby defeat on January 2.
Celtic are currently undertaking a review over Lennon's performance with the Hoops a staggering 20 points behind rivals Rangers and their 10 In A Row dreams in tatters.
The potential results of that cross-examination are not yet known but the manager has been bullish since returning from a period of self-isolation on Monday.
Howe has been touted as a potential successor and the Irish-based bookmakers decision on Thursday to call time on a market where there isn't even a vacancy is set to raise intrigue after the 43-year-old's odds crashed to 1/10.
The betting company announced their decision with a trademark tongue-in-cheek quip.
Paddy Power said: “Howe’s your luck? You go on the record saying you’re going nowhere, and within hours your club’s lined up a younger, better looking model. I know the feeling.
“The Celtic board brought Neil Lennon back to the club to be a kind of steady Eddie – now it looks like they’ve gone for the real deal instead.”
Howe is regarded as one of the finest young British managers and was lauded for his wildly successful spell with Bournemouth where he led them from League One to the Premier League.
But he's now out of work after leaving the Cherries following the club's relegation last season.
