CRAIG GORDON is a man who normally occupies himslef by focusing on clean sheets.

But the Celtic goalkeeper confesses it is the prospect of a clean slate that is occupying his mind going into the summer break.

The Scotland internationalist signed off in style on Sunday with a 7-0 victory over Motherwell knowing the game would also signify the last match to be played under now departed Hoops boss Ronny Deila.

Time is now ticking for the Parkhead club to name the Norwegian’s successor, especially with the attention of supporters already turning to July’s Champions League qualifiers.

For Gordon, it is not a period of uncertainty while Peter Lawwell conducts his recruitment drive, but an exciting few weeks that he reckons should invigorate the Celtic dressing room for the campaign ahead.

“I don’t think it will take too long,” said the Parkhead No.1 “We’re looking forward to reporting back for training and finding out what the new manager wants from us, how he wants us to play.

“The flip side of the uncertainty is that it’s exciting. There will be a new style of play and there will be different roles for certain players and others, who have been angry or upset about being left out, will have a fresh start.

“Equally, the boys who have been playing regularly will now have to prove themselves all over again so this can lift everybody.

“One the one hand, you might say that we’re in limbo but I think it’s the opposite of that – I believe we’ll all come back for the pre-season sessions really hungry.

“Then we can set our sights on the targets for the new campaign and push on from there.”

Deila has taken the brunt of the criticism aimed towards Celtic for the way they have laboured at times this season, something that Gordon doesn’t agree with.

“From the players’ point of view, we wanted to go out there and do our best but, for whatever reason, we’ve not really performed as well as we should have done,” he said.

“I don’t think you can lay the entire blame for that at one person’s door – or even two people’s doors – because it’s a collective thing.

“There were mistakes made along the way – by coaches, players, all of us at times and they’ve all contributed towards us not doing as well as we should have done.”

Gordon has already spoken about one man who is still one of the frontrunners to succeed Deila in the coming days and weeks.

The pair previously worked together at Sunderland and the former Hearts goalie admits he is a hard but fair manager to work under.

Despite previously being linked with the job two years ago with it believed the ex-Manchester United man turned the post down, Gordon doesn’t believe Celtic will get a similar response if they ask the question again.

“Obviously, I’ve worked with Roy in the past and I’m sure that, if he was offered the challenge of leading the club, he would accept it,” he said.”

“He’s a hard-but-fair manager and he did a great job to keep Sunderland in the Premier League in that first season after winning promotion and probably didn’t get the credit he deserved for keeping a pretty average team up.

“Off the park, he likes things to be organised and he demands that from everyone on the staff; he expects certain standards to be maintained and, if they aren’t, he’ll certainly let you know about it.

“But if you’re giving 100% and doing all you can then he’s going to be all right with you. He’s a good manager in that sense.”