Eddie Howe 'perfect fit' for Celtic according to Hoops legend who shared UEFA course with Parkhead frontrunner

Alan Thompson has seen Eddie Howe’s coaching knowledge first-hand and has backed the former Bournemouth boss to be a Celtic Park success.

Thompson spent seven years as a Celtic player, winning silverware eight times, and would later assist Neil Lennon for a further two in the dug-out at Parkhead.

And in gaining his coaching badges for that role Thompson witnessed Howe at work, which gives him confidence – if the Englishman takes over at the helm.

"I know Eddie well, I did my UEFA pro licence with him so I think he'd be a perfect fit for the job,” Thompson said.

“He's young, he's enthusiastic, he's very much cut from the same cloth as Brendan Rodgers with a great philosophy on the game.

“If Eddie was to get the job I think he plays a style of football and recruits the type of players that Celtic fans would really enjoy watching."

A move for Howe was thought to be edging closer this week with reports a backroom team is being finalised for the incoming manager’s appointment.

It is two months since Neil Lennon vacated the top job but Howe has been a consistent name linked with the post – even as far back as November.

Celtic would be a perfect fit for Eddie Howe, says Alan Thompson (Picture: SNS)

Sources close to the boss have suggested he would wait until the summer before revealing his next move, and former Celtic boss John Barnes believed that was a good idea on his part – but Thomspon is surprised at the timing.

"I thought they might have brought a manager in before now to give him a chance to reassess the situation, reassess the players, to see what he needs to do, because it's a massive rebuild that needs done,” he told Sky Sports News.

"It's a huge summer from the top - from the new chief executive down to the new manager. The sooner they bring someone in, whether it's John Kennedy, Eddie Howe or Rafa Benitez, it's a massive job because next season they need to be competitive. They haven't been competitive this season which isn't good enough. Second in Glasgow is nothing."

Celtic head to Rangers under John Kennedy’s interim stewardship for the final Old Firm encounter of the season on Sunday.

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