Eddie Howe right to wait until summer for move, says ex-Celtic boss Barnes

John Barnes believes Eddie Howe is right to wait until the summer before assessing his next managerial move.

John Barnes (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

The former Burnley and Bournemouth boss is a man in demand and believed to be Celtic’s number one candidate to take over from Neil Lennon permanently.

However representatives close to the Englishman last week denied a deal was done and revealed he would be waiting until the summer before deciding on his next career move.

Barnes, who managed Celtic for eight months in season 1999-2000, agrees with the timescale and said: “Eddie Howe coming in now will serve absolutely no purpose!

“You've got two games a week between now and the end of the season, so you can't have a long-term plan. Looking at how things are, should Eddie Howe take over now, and start losing games, his tenure wouldn't start off particularly positively.

“Whereas at the start of the season, he's got two months to bring in players, to bring your staff in, to work with the players so that they know what you are and that will help to create team spirit and, hopefully, consistency within the team. So pre-season is the best time for him to start.”

Crystal Palace and Newcastle have also been linked with Howe, but Barnes is confident that the former Bournemouth man would be a success at Parkhead – if he takes over.

Speaking to bonuscodebets.co.uk, Barnes added: “I think he definitely can be [successful]. But it’ll depend on whether he’ll be given money to spend to buy his own players, the players that he actually wants.

“I think it's been so easy for them up until this last season that they've probably got a bit complacent unconsciously. Players have been comfortable and have not been tested. So I think they need a new challenge - and a big change. They really need to look at the squad that they’ve got and then start to get new players in.

“And if they give Eddie Howe that responsibility, they can’t tell him to work with the team they’ve got as it’s been made very clear that some of the players in the team just now are not motivated enough. I think they do need an injection of fresh blood.”

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