CELTIC remain on the hunt for a new manager.
And Craig Bellamy‘s boss has been directly quizzed on the Wales manager’s link to the Parkhead hotseat.
It’s been just over a week since Brendan Rodgers quit as Celtic boss, sending shockwaves throughout Scottish football.
Hoops legend Martin O’Neill was quickly appointed as interim manager and made a stunning return to the Parkhead dugout.
O’Neill, 73, oversaw a 4-0 league win over Falkirk barely 48 hours later before leading Celtic to the Premier Sports Cup Final after beating city rivals Rangers at Hampden on Sunday.
O’Neill has continued to insist he’s only there for the short-term but did admit at the weekend that he WOULD be open to talks with Celts supremo Dermot Desmond regarding a potentially longer stint in charge.
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Asked if he’d be willing to have further talks, he said: “The very obvious answer would be yes, I would do. But I genuinely don’t know what to expect.”
O’Neill has also hinted he expects movement on the permanent manager situation with the international break right around the corner.
Several candidates have been linked with the Celtic vacancy.
SunSport exclusively revealed that Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna was a contender while we also told you that ex-Hoops boss Ange Postecoglou is likely to be taking a break from football.
Robbie Keane, Lee Carsley and Wilfried Nancy are other names who have been in the frame.
Another is former Celtic striker Craig Bellamy.
The 46-year old is currently in charge of the Wales national team and he’s been enjoying a successful time of it since being appointed to the role in July last year.
The role is Bellamy’s first as a manager but he has had plenty of coaching experience since retiring as a player 12 years ago.
He worked at home town club Cardiff, Anderlecht and as an assistant to Vincent Kompany at Burnley.
Bellamy went unbeaten in his first eight matches as Wales and has his side in a good position to secure a play-off spot through the World Cup qualifying process.
Wales are already guaranteed a play-off spot by virtue of their impressive Nations League showing last year.
Bellamy had a loan spell at Celtic from Newcastle back in 2005 and was popular with the Hoops fans during that brief six-month stint.
Now, his boss at the FA of Wales has had his say on Bellamy’s links to the Celtic job.
FAW CEO Noel Mooney has insisted that Bellamy is “absolutely focused” on leading Wales to the World Cup.
Their final two qualifying matches take place this month with a play-off happening early next year.
Mooney admitted he isn’t surprised to see Bellamy being linked with other roles.
In a bold claim, the chief also reckons will go on to take charge of best teams in the WORLD in the future..
Mooney told S4C: “Craig’s done a terrific job with Wales, he’s built an identity with us and a style of playing that has really got us all excited.
“He’s a year and a bit into the job of a four-year contract and we’re completely focused on going to the World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico next year.
“Two massive matches in November that he’s absolutely focused on.
“Look, when you do well in any job I think you’ll get linked to other jobs.
“Celtic is a massive football club, we got to see the Old Firm game yesterday for example which they won of course to get through to the final of the League Cup.
“He’s going to get linked with roles, as I say he’s an exciting coach who has really captured the imagination of a lot of people.
“He will go from strength to strength with Wales and I’m sure after us he’ll go on to manage the best teams in the world, I have no doubt about that.
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“But for now, we’re completely focused on getting to the World Cup, all of us, we say together stronger at the FAW and Craig is right at the heart of that.
“Six points in November is our goal, on to the play-offs and then on to the World Cup we go.”
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