Celtic: 'It's going to be pretty difficult to identify a top-class replacement'

DAVIE PROVAN

commentator and former Celtic winger

"It's no surprise that Celtic have taken the action they have. Now it's just a matter of where they go from here. I think it's fair to say it's a job, at the moment, that does not hold the type of appeal that it had when Martin O'Neill came to Glasgow. As recently as the summer, you need to remember that both Owen Coyle and Roberto Martinez were approached to come to Celtic and neither wanted to take up the challenge. It's going to be pretty difficult for Celtic to identify a top-class manager to fill Tony Mowbray's position. I think it's going to be a difficult appointment for Celtic in terms of getting the right type of manager, given the expectations of the Celtic support. "

PAUL HARTLEY

former Celtic midfielder

"It's hard to find any positives. He got rid of too many players too quickly. The backbone of the side had been a lot of the Scottish lads but now there is no leadership on the park. The team looked desperate against St Mirren. Rangers haven't bought a player in 18 months and yet they could be 16 points clear if they win the games in hand."

BERTIE AULD

Lisbon Lion

"It looked as though it was on the cards, with the performances in the last few weeks and the inconsistency. Everybody knew he was under pressure. I thought he would have done a great job there, but he wouldn't change his ways. Everybody loves philosophy, but the players dictate the philosophy and the most important thing in his job was the results. Was it the right time for him to go? I just felt the boy, himself, wasn't enjoying it, he didn't look like he was getting any enjoyment from it."

CRAIG BROWN

Motherwell manager

"It's very disappointing to see any colleague lose his job, particularly a really good guy, a gentleman. We played them on Tuesday in a friendly at Lennoxtown and Tony was there with his colleagues Mark Venus and Peter Grant, super guys, and I'm very upset for them. I think it was a bit harsh, but it was becoming inevitable because of the distance between the old rivals, Rangers and Celtic. I think maybe they have to try to redress the balance and do something, and unfortunately usually the manager is the casualty."

FRANK McGARVEY

former Celtic striker

"I had given him the benefit of doubt, but that went in January against Kilmarnock when Scott Brown came on for Lee Naylor at left-back when Celtic needed a goal. That was such a strange decision and then we saw Aiden McGeady ending up playing left-back against St Mirren. I think he lost the dressing room and, when you do that, it's only a matter of time."

ANDY WALKER

commentator and former Celtic striker

"I understand completely that it was season of change and it seemed as though the Celtic board bought into that. They were willing to give Tony a bit of money to change it around. But it hasn't worked and I think, when you're so far behind Rangers, it's embarrassing. To lose to St Mirren is bad enough; to lose 4-0 is a bit of a humiliation. You saw the reaction of the supporters – scarves getting thrown on the pitch. When that happens, it's a bad sign."

JOHN HARTSON

former Celtic striker

"Why change it now with a few games to go in the season? "They are still in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup and I don't see much point. I don't really think that the board enjoy sacking managers. They would obviously rather have a successful manager so they don't have to go through all the rigmarole of sacking people all the time. But sometimes, when results are so bad like Hull's and West Ham's, everybody is expecting a change and sometimes that's how they do it."

PETER RAFFERTY

president of the Affiliation of Celtic Supporters' Clubs

"I don't suppose it has come as any great surprise unfortunately because of the way the results have been going. It's been a very topsy-turvy season for us so far. Wednesday's result was just one too many for the fans. The manner in which we were defeated didn't go down well at all. I don't know if there is ever a right time for a manager to go, especially when he hasn't been there that long. We are in the winning game and we like to play attractive, open football as well. Tony promised that to the fans but unfortunately there were so many changes for different reasons and that didn't materialise."