The search for Brendan Rodgers permanent successor is ramping up with the Premiership on hold for the international break
Stand-in boss Martin O’Neill has admitted he expects clarity on his Celtic future imminently as the search for a new permanent boss at Parkhead ramps up.
The 73-year-old led the Hoops into the international break with the 4-0 thumping of Kilmarnock that cut Hearts lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership to seven points.
And just hours later, Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen would throw open the door a move to Celtic Park.
The 57-year-old admits he faces an uncertain future when quizzed on interest from Celtic with just one game remaining in the Norwegian league season and his contract nearing an end.
Knutsen has now told Avisa Nordland he expects a decision on his future imminently: “We’ll see now if we can get things moving a bit. I don’t really have the energy to talk about it.
“I think we’ve had five matches in 13 days so there hasn’t been much time for contract matters. But we’re in control.”
He added: “I don’t have any plans to do that (leave Bodo/Glimt) but I hope you won’t throw me out either. We have to find the right balance. But I think we’ll get it settled quite soon.”
But Knutsen is not the only boss in the running with the the Hoops hunt for a new permanent boss after Brendan Rodgers‘ resignation ramping up with domestic action in cold storage.
UNAM Pumas boss Efrain Juarez emerged as a wildcard candidate for the hot seat – and left the door open after the win over Cruz Azul last weekend.
The former Hoops’ star said: “What will be will be. I have no expectations of those circumstances ever, whatever will happen will happen.
“But today I am very calm, happy, and excited about my club that opened its doors to me twenty years ago.”
Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen has previously refused to rule out becoming the next Celtic boss – but his attention currently appears to be elsewhere.
Brugge stumbled in the race for the Belgian title after a surprise defeat to Anderlecht – and the frustrated boss insisted he was determined to turn the campaign around.
The reflective boss said: ‘The tactical plan… Well, maybe I need to look at myself for that. Maybe I need to be more forceful in enforcing the tactics.”
“We did indeed lose the battle in midfield. But Anderlecht was ready. You could feel the electricity in the stadium even before the match.
“We gave the solution to the side, but it wasn’t executed. We need to be more alert and keep making progress.”
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
We’re also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Celtic community here.
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport’s newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks