Roy Keane has won the backing of fellow Corkman and ex Irish international midfielder David Meyler for the Celtic job.
Speculation is growing that Keane is involved in the deliberations in Glasgow, even as just-sacked Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is emerging as the odds-on favourite.
However, there are rumours that relegation-haunted Newcastle United are now looking at Wilder as a summer replacement for Steve Bruce. The Magpies had considered Wilder in 2019 only to opt to replace Rafa Benitez with Bruce.
Now a growing number of pundits are raising the possibility of a sensational return to Glasgow for Keane once the latest managerial merry-go-round finishes.
Former Sunderland, Hull and Ireland midfielder Meyler, whose dad John managed the Cork hurlers from 2017-19, says he sees Keane as the 'perfect' man for Celtic to challenge newly-crowned Scottish champions Rangers.
“The old barstool managers will say that he is out of touch with the modern game, but Celtic have had a very disappointing year," Meyler told Off The Ball AM.
“I think if Roy was to go in there, he would bring that winning mentality. If you look at the impact that he had at Sunderland. Roy has that winning mentality, he has that hunger.”
Meyler is convinced Keane would immediately lift the spirits and mentality at the club that has missed on out a historic 10-in-a-row - to their most deadly rivals.
“Celtic will be low. Rangers have blown them out of the water this year, which is unheard of," he said. “I would love to see Roy take over Celtic. I think he would turn them around next season and I think they’d be challenging, and I think they’d beat Rangers.
“He would quickly iron out a few problems that have dragged on throughout this season. I definitely would expect them to win the Scottish Premiership next season.
“He is better tactically than [he is given] credit for,” Meyler said. “There is always this thing where people say that they are dinosaurs, they don’t know what they are doing.
“Most managers played the game, they understand it, they have gone through the eras where things have changed."
