Perhaps we can suspend our torment until December

In partnership with

The Celtic Star

·01 de novembro de 2025

Perhaps we can suspend our torment until December

Perhaps we can suspend our torment until December…

That seems to be the suggestion from Gordon Strachan, relayed this morning on Off the Ball by Tam Cowan, leaving Celtic fans wondering why our manager search has turned into a suspense thriller. But apparently some folk already know the ending.

Gordon Strachan manager of Scotland looks on prior to the EURO 2016 Group D Qualifier match between Scotland and Republic of Ireland at Celtic Park on November 14, 2014. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Vídeos OneFootball

Cowan described it like this –

“It’s Gordon Strachan, who’s a great draw. This was on the Tuesday night… Gordon is a bit of a Celtic legend, knows all the main characters in this story on the board. He’s been the former Celtic manager, and his son Gavin has apparently survived the nuclear bomb that went off. So, Gordon is clearly in the know; he’s one of the most outspoken people in football that I know, particularly at a ‘private event’. Even then, he was ever so slightly cagey. But he won’t mind me sharing this because he did with the audience… according to Gordon Strachan, the guy Celtic are after, they won’t be able to get him until December.”

Gavin Strachan. Photo for The Celtic Star by Vagelis Georgariou

And that raises the question, why does Strachan, former manager and father-of-an-insider, seem to know more than the fans, who can’t even get a halfway decent update on the timeline?

Fans instead, are left to stew in speculation, and, let’s be honest, a little self-inflicted torment, while he casually drops “December” like it’s a spoiler from a Netflix series.

So, top of the rumour list, with the advantage now of the timescale, but in the absence of name of the candidate, is perhaps Kjetil Knutsen.

Kjetil Knutsen, Head Coach of Bodo/Glimt looks on during the UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round First Leg match between Linfield and Bodo/Glimt at Windsor Park on July 19, 2022 in Belfast. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Bodo/Glimt’s Norwegian wizard’s contract expires in December, but as Conor Spence of this parish mentioned this afternoon on our Celtic Star WhatsApp, with Champions League matches against Atletico Madrid and Manchester City in January, his schedule could scupper Celtic’s plans before they’ve even begun. Should Bodo/Glimt remain in contention, perhaps we should expect a short-term contract extension to throw a spanner in the works.

Money may not be the main motivator for Knutsen, he’s reportedly turned down multiple European clubs in recent years, but Celtic could sweeten the deal with a very competitive salary. Brendan Rodgers’ reported £2 million package shows the club isn’t afraid to spend on the right candidate.

Of course, Knutsen also apparently earns a cut of player sales at Bodo/Glimt, so he’s not exactly desperate, but if Celtic’s pitch is good enough, then who knows?

Wilfred Nancy head coach of the Columbus Crew speaks at a press conference during a MLS media day event at the Miami Convention Center on January 11, 2024 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

If it’s not Knutsen, keep an eye on Wilfred Nancy, finishing his MLS season in December. Less conventional? Absolutely. But he ticks the box for a modern, ambitious manager, the kind Martin O’Neill hinted at in his first press conference before Wednesday’s win over Falkirk. Nancy might just be the surprise package few saw coming.

Victory coach Kevin Muscat talks to socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou before the round 13 A-League match between the Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park on January 4, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Other names circulating – remarkably enough – include Kevin Muscat. His Chinese season wraps up next month, though his brief stint at theRangers might ruffle a few feathers among the support.

And then there’s the politics, if Dermot Desmond’s past comments on manager searches are anything to go by, Celtic’s may have two competing shortlists, one from Peter Lawwell, one from Desmond himself.

But is Lawwell still in the loop, still in the circle of trust?

Rumours this week suggest Paul Tisdale, Celtic’s self-styled ‘football doctor’ and Head of Football Operations, may also now have a hand in the process, adding yet another layer to the unknowns, and the intrigue.

And while we wait, it wouldn’t hurt if Celtic opened up just a little. Supporters aren’t asking for boardroom secrets, just a hint of how the recruitment process is operating. Like, who is leading it? Is there a timeline? Is it just the ‘football doctor’ himself, drawing up the shortlist in isolation, or is Desmond, Lawwell, or someone else shaping the process too?

But even offering some assurances of a process seems beyond Celtic. It’s almost as if they don’t like us!

Communicate, offer a little transparency. It would go a long way to calming fans’ nerves and stopping the speculation from spinning.

It would be low hanging fruit for a club charged by supporters as lacking in their communication skills, and this on the back of the club complaining about media speculation in the summer transfer window too. Instead, we get a timeline, third hand, via Tam Cowan!

Do other clubs operate like this? Treat fans like mushrooms, keep them in the dark and feed them, well, you know what. Only, we don’t even get fed. The communication void is total. While Strachan, judging by Tam Cowan’s story, is quite happy to share it after dessert, for an audience.

Celtic interim manager Martin O’Neill arrives at the stadium prior to the match between Celtic and Falkirk at Celtic Park on October 29, 2025(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

In the meantime, Celtic can trust Martin O’Neill to hold the fort. At least based on the midweek performance against Falkirk, the team looks steady enough to survive the managerial limbo… for now.

So, for supporters, it seems, December may finally bring clarity to Celtic’s next managerial chapter. Perhaps after his next after dinner experience Tam might even have a name for us.

Niall J

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

Don’t miss the chance to purchase the late, great Celtic historian David Potter’s final book. All remaining copies have been signed by the legendary Celtic captain Danny McGrain PLUS you’ll also receive a FREE copy of David Potter’s Willie Fernie biography – Putting on the Style, and you’ll only be charged for postage on one book. Order from Celtic Star Books HERE.

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