DERMOT DESMOND has drawn up the identikit picture of the man he wants to succeed Gordon Strachan as Celtic manager.
DERMOT DESMOND has drawn up the identikit picture of the man he wants to succeed Gordon Strachan as Celtic manager.
Chief executive Peter Lawwell has been told to make it happen, and quickly, as the club's major shareholder recognises serious work has to begin now in preparation for next season when the Parkhead club kick off with a Champions League qualifier on July 28.
While the names in the frame to win the race to replace Strachan remain the subject of conjecture, the one thing which is certain is Desmond will be the man picking the winner.
If Tony Mowbray is his selection - and, as yet, no contact has been made - Celtic have been warned West Brom will demand more than £1million in compensation to release him from the final two years of his contract.
Desmond first flexed his muscle when over-ruling the directors who wanted to appoint Guus Hiddink in 2000 following the disastrous season under John Barnes and Kenny Dalglish.
Even though negotiations to bring in the Dutchman were well advanced, Martin O'Neill was Desmond's preferred choice, and he used his power to get his way.
By the time O'Neill was forced to quit to look after his ill wife in 2005, Desmond had secured more shares in the club and had lined up Strachan to take over before anyone at the club had any idea the seat was going to become vacant. Such a quick and seamless succession would be the preferred option again. But, specific boxes require to be ticked, and priorities may have changed in the four years since Strachan was identified as the man to carry on the trophy-winning run enjoyed by O'Neill.
And satisfying the expectations of the club's support at a time when their dissatisfaction has been manifested through empty seats and threats not to renew season tickets is more important than ever.
However, while taking this into account, Desmond will not simply go down a populist route in search of the new manager.
European experience is always a welcome addition on any CV presented to the Irish millionaire who wants Celtic to prove this season's early exit from the Champions League was a blip.
But it is not as important as having the ability to take Celtic back to the top of the SPL to ease their route back into the lucrative Champions League.
All of which the new man will have to prove he can achieve without the massive financial resources which were afforded O'Neill when Desmond backed his arrival at the club with a transfer war-chest in the region of £20million.
But Desmond knows that, to avoid any target fearing the manager's job has now become a poisoned chalice, funds to strengthen will have to be made available.
Lawwell wasted no time in raising the flag in the race to see who takes over the reins from Strachan, flying to London within hours of the message being received from the outgoing boss that he was calling it a day.
With contract issues concerning existing players, including Wolves target Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Paul Hartley, who is wanted by Hearts, plus decisions requiring to be made on previously identified signing targets such as Hamilton's James McCarthy and Hibs' Steven Fletcher, acquiring a new boss in days rather than weeks is essential.
The bookies have been quick out of the traps with their assessment of the front-runners in the race to succeed Strachan, and they are in no doubt there will be several from which Desmond will choose.
