Celtic accused of stalling deal with Mowbray over sacking

Mowbray had been in charge for less than a year when he and assistants Mark Venus and Peter Grant were axed at the end of March.

Mowbray and Grant are being represented by the LMA in negotiations with Celtic over a pay-off, which reportedly could be as much as 1.4million.

The precise terms of Mowbray's contract are unclear, with some reports stating he was on a 12-month rolling deal and others suggesting it was one lasting up to four years.

"We're acting on behalf of Tony Mowbray and Peter Grant on this issue and are dealing with Celtic. Technically, they are currently on gardening leave from the club," said LMA chief executive Richard Bevan. "In the majority of cases, settlements are reached for members of coaching staff within two to three weeks. You would need to speak to Celtic about their motives in the delay.

"The reason we're representing Tony and Peter is that they are members of the LMA. It isn't the case that clubs have to have settled with previous employees before they appoint new managers – every contract is different and I can't comment on individual ones."

Meanwhile, former Celtic player and manager Lou Macari reckons midfielder Aiden McGeady will only prove his doubters wrong if he makes the move to the Premier League.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish could make another bid for McGeady after failing to land him in January but, in contrast, former Republic of Ireland team-mate Lee Carsley expressed doubts about the wisdom of the move for both parties.

Midfielder Carsley said: "I think Aiden would find it a bit more difficult than he does in Scotland. I mean, defenders are just as fast as the forwards."

Macari, who successfully made the transition from the Scottish top flight to England when he joined Manchester United from Celtic in 1973, said a move south could confound McGeady's critics. "Those doubts will never be answered until he goes there, he said. "I don't think anyone believes he will go there and set the place alight but I'm surprised that no-one has taken a chance on him yet.

"To be fair, lots of players who you think they will be a rip-roaring success when they go to the Premier League don't do it and vice versa – some have crept in and raised a few eyebrows. The big test is by going there."

Macari once manager West Ham as well, and he believes there are bigger worries for the Scottish game than whether McGeady can cut it in the Premier League.

"Any Scottish player worth his salt would want to play at the top level. There are plenty of Scots in the Championship but it is one thing making an impact in the Championship and lower leagues but you have to look at the top league and look at the Scots who are making an impact there," Macari explained.

"Whether Walter Smith stays as Rangers manager or Neil Lennon gets the Celtic job is irrelevant when we look at the lack of players coming out of Scotland.

"There are not enough good players and that is the big worry. There should be an inquiry into that."

Elsewhere, young Celtic midfielder Simon Ferry insists it would be "a waste of time" returning to the club from Swindon this summer.

The 22-year-old could be a Coca-Cola Championship player next term if the Robins win Saturday's League One play-off final.

But that is only if managerless Celtic agree to extend his loan deal or sell him to the Wiltshire club.

Ferry, who has not made a single first-team appearance for Celtic, said: "To be honest, if Swindon want to keep me then I'd be more than happy to stay, especially if the new Celtic manager comes in and tells me I just have to fight for the chance to get a game.

"If a manager like Danny Wilson wants to buy me then I would rather come back to Swindon and play for him and play somewhere I'm wanted.

"I can't really see myself getting a chance at Celtic and I don't think it would matter who the new manager is because there are so many players ahead of me there, so it would be a waste of time going back really."