Lee Carsley as next Celtic manager is both depressing and worrying

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·1. November 2025

Lee Carsley as next Celtic manager is both depressing and worrying

Conall McGinty has this morning on The Celtic Star explained the reasons why so many Irish Celtic supporters would find Robbie Keane an unacceptable choice as Celtic manager and that opinion would undoubtedly have plenty of support in the wider Celtic family outside of Ireland.

September 25th, 2018, Cork, Ireland – Robbie Keane leaving the tunnel to warm up on the Pairc Ui Chaoimh pitch, for the Liam Miller Tribute match between Ireland and Celtic XI vs Manchester United XI. Photo IMAGO / Depositphotos

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There’s another candidate that Celtic should avoid in my opinion and unlike Robbie Keane this one is all for football reasons. The rumoured candidate I’m referring to is Lee Carsley as I reckon appointing him would be would be a massive mistake.

It a link that to me has Desmond Desmond’s fingerprints all over it.

Lee Carsley is one the latest names to be linked with the Celtic managerial position and that is underwhelming to say the least. A report in The Scottish Sun after various WhatsApp rumours claims that Carsley has already held talks with the club over the vacant position.

As I said, this was a rumour doing the rounds on the WhatsApp circuit hours before The Scottish Sun had published their ‘exclusive’, which they always seem to regard as meaning the first newspaper to pick up on any story. There’s been numerous stories on The Celtic Star that the day after we’ve posted appear as ‘exclusives’ in the Sun, as the first newspaper to go with a story. At least when they get the information from here they know it’s going to be accurate!

Head coach Lee Carsley of U21 England reacts on the sideline during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Final match between England and Germany at National Football stadium on June 28, 2025 in Bratislava, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)

Appointing Carsley as the next Celtic manager, in my view would be a massive mistake, and I can’t emphasise that enough. Devoid of any real top level club experience as a number one, the Irishman is more notably known for his work with the England under 20 and 21 sides, with a short caretaker spell in charge of the senior side also on his CV.

Head coach Lee Carsley of U21 England reacts on the sideline during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Quarter-Final match between Spain and England at A. Malatinsky Stadium on June 21, 2025 in Trnava, Slovakia. (Photo by Christian Hofer/Getty Images)

He should be nowhere near the list of candidates in contention to take over from Brendan Rodgers. Even interviewing him is concerning, the sheer thought of him being appointed is enough to give us the collective fear.

Celtic Chairman Peter Lawwell, Dermot Desmond, largest shareholder and Michael Nicholson CEO are seen during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

This to me has Desmond’s fingerprints all over it. If he is indeed serious, then he should think again. Lee Carsley is nowhere near good enough to even be considered as the next manager of Celtic Football Club. There are literally dozens of better candidates, maybe even hundreds that would be ahead of him and I’d even include Neil Lennon in that category, but if you’re reading this Dermot don’t be getting any ideas on that one.

Incidentally, why is a minority shareholder and NED, selecting the Celtic manager – the most important role at the football club – and not the Celtic executive board led by our CEO?

Brendan Rodgers shakes hands with Scott Brown, whilst Neil Lennon pats him on the back Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Cup, Quarter Final, Football, Celtic Park on 9 March 2025. Photo: Stuart Wallace Shutterstock

There’s also a theory that by throwing a number of unattractive and unacceptable names into the mix that softens the support up or the eventual choice – Neil Lennon, Ronny Deila, Neil Lennon even Ange Postecoglou who few know much about back in May 2021. Then you say, ‘well at least it’s not X, Y of Lee Carsley’.

Incidentally if Celtic were to bring Carsley in to manage the Celtic Academy then there would be merit in that idea but I doubt he’d fancy operating in the Lowland league fiasco.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, signed copies by Danny McGrain available from celticstarbooks.com

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books