Eddie Howe to Celtic OFF as Parkhead manager pursuit ends in failure after three months

Celtic's talks with Eddie Howe have dramatically collapsed as the Parkhead club are forced to look elsewhere.

The former Bournemouth boss was established as the clear front-runner for the job but no announcement had been made.

As the wait dragged on Celtic admitted when launching their season ticket campaign that they had hoped to appoint the new manager before now.

And it's understood that talks with Howe have now completely fallen through close to three months after Neil Lennon left his role.

The Englishman held talks with Celtic chief Dermot Desmond in London two months ago and was expected to take over for the new season.

Eddie Howe will not be taking over at Celtic (Getty Images)

But the Premiership giants have been forced into a rethink by the bombshell news on Friday afternoon.

Previously linked bosses have already taken jobs elsewhere, with Jesse Marsch going to RB Leipzig and Enzo Maresca taking the Parma job.

And Celtic will now have to move quickly to appoint their new manager with the start of the season only a few weeks away.

New director of football Fergal Harkin is on the cusp of coming in but the summer rebuild has now been set back significantly.