Former Celtic midfielder Paul Hartley says the Parkhead faithful expect a big name boss to replace Neil Lennon in the dugout - and claims Roy Keane is exactly the kind of “box office” recruit that will reignite the club’s fanbase.
Interim boss John Kennedy remains the favourite to take over from the former Hoops skipper after he stood down following defeat to Ross County, but Hartley believes owner Dermot Desmond and incoming chief executive Dominic McKay may have to do something more drastic to ensure supporters continue backing the club.
Keane has not managed any club since leaving Ipswich in 2011, but has held coaching roles with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and the Irish national side.
Hartley admitted concerns over the Irishman’s famously abrasive style with the current generation of Hoops stars, but he also acknowledged the need for a huge overhaul of the club.
And he admitted Scottish football would be unable to resist the opportunity to see the Manchester United legend renew rivalries with Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard in the Rangers dugout.
He told the Celtic Huddle podcast: "I think Roy Keane is passionate. I love hearing him, I loved watching him as a player, would he be the next Celtic manager? There is a possibility, but players are different now.
"He would be box office, and if Steven Gerrard is still at Rangers next year that would be tasty if Roy Keane came to Celtic. I think if he was offered the job I definitely think he would take it.
"I do think the Celtic fans expect a marquee manager now.
"To go and say to the Celtic fans give us your season ticket money, without them knowing who the manager’s going to be, it’s going to be very difficult. I think they’ve maybe lost the trust in the board.
"And I think to get them back onside I think Dermot Desmond will have to go and get a marquee manager in. Now, that’s not easy.
“For me, if Celtic are going to go and get a marquee manager, it will probably be someone out of a job. I think the fans have been fed up this season, the criticism the squad’s had, I think they expect a big marquee name in the summer.”
