Shrinking odds imply former Hoop is ready to fill Celtic hotseat
Published:
After a concentrated flurry of investment on Roy Keane replacing Ronny Deila as Celtic manager caused one Irish bookmaker to suspend their market, time could be dwindling for punters to cash in on the eventuality.
Keane, who is currently working under Martin O’Neill in the Irish national set up, is now as short as 4/5 with Ladbrokes to follow in the latter’s footsteps and take charge of the Bhoys.
Although the former Manchester United midfielder hung up his boots after only six months service as a Hoops player at the end of his career, Keane has remained a popular figure at Celtic Park.
In fact, with their fifth successive Scottish title in the bag it was only 48 hours later before Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon was talking up Keane’s prospects, having played under him at Sunderland.
“If he (Keane) was appointed, I’m sure he would do well and he would be successful,” said Gordon.
“I know how he liked things to run at Sunderland,” Gordon added. “He was an aggressive player, he wanted to win every match and, from what I’ve seen, he is exactly the same as a manager.”
Keane has obvious commitments to fulfil at the summer’s Euros for Ireland, having helped steer the Boys in Green to the tournament, but it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that something could be set in place with Celtic beforehand.
Although the former Sunderland and Ipswich manager is the strong favourite to be instated, Brendan Rodgers’ price of 5/2 is still an interesting one.
Firstly Keane has kept everyone guessing on his intentions post Euro 2016, while recent murmurings coming from Swansea suggest the club are now preparing to extend the contract of Francesco Guidolin owing to a strong finish to the season.
Rodgers was also believed to be a prime candidate to make a return to the Liberty Stadium this summer, but that’s now looking increasingly unlikely.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
