Finns will not release Stuart Baxter for part-time role at Celtic

THE Finnish FA has dismissed any notion of their head coach Stuart Baxter being released on a part-time basis to become a mentor for prospective new Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

• Baxter seen as a good candidate to assist Neil Lennon

Reports have suggested 56-year-old Baxter has been identified by the Celtic board as an ideal candidate to assist Lennon next season as they seek to install an experienced figure as part of their new managerial team.

It was claimed Baxter, English-born and raised in Scotland before embarking on a globetrotting career as a player and coach, is being sought by Celtic in a job sharing arrangement which would allow him to continue his work with Finland. The suggestion was given short shrift by the Finnish FA, however, who also insisted Celtic would have to pay full compensation for the remaining two years of Baxter's contract with them if they attempted to tempt him away on a full-time basis.

"Mr Baxter has not indicated to us he wishes to leave," Finnish FA spokesman Velimatti Sutela told The Scotsman last night. "We are aware of the stories linking him with Celtic but are surprised by them. We have had no contact from anyone at Celtic whatsoever. There was talk about Mr Baxter going to Celtic part-time but that would be totally unacceptable to us.

"He signed a new contract with us not so long ago which takes him through to the European Championship finals in 2012. We believe he is happy in his work with us and it is a full-time job. We acknowledge he is a highly regarded coach and there will be interest in him from elsewhere. But if Celtic or anyone else try to get him, it would have to be on a full-time basis and the payment of compensation to us would certainly be an issue."

Baxter, who succeeded Roy Hodgson as Finland coach two years ago, led the Scandinavian country to a respectable third-place finish behind Germany and Russia in their recent World Cup qualifying group, finishing ahead of Wales whom they defeated home and away.

Apart from a brief spell on the books of Dundee United in the mid-1970s, Baxter has never worked in Scottish football. His coaching career has seen him take up assignments in Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Japan and South Africa and it is understood his credentials have been talked up to the Celtic board by the club's former striker Henrik Larsson, who worked under him at Helsingborgs four years ago.

Baxter has emerged as the latest twist in the tale of Lennon's quest to take charge on a permanent basis following his nine games as interim manager last season. The former club captain remains a heavy odds-on favourite to be appointed and looks set to be joined by his former team-mate Alan Thompson who yesterday left his job as reserve team coach at Newcastle United. The 36-year-old, who won nine major honours as a midfield colleague of Lennon's at Celtic, is expected to join a backroom staff which already includes another of his former team-mates, Johan Mjallby. The Celtic first team squad are due to return to training on 1 July and Shaun Maloney, fully fit again after missing the last seven months of last season because of an Achilles injury, expressed his support for Lennon's candidacy.

"As a player, he might not have been that pretty on the eye, but he was a lot more intelligent as a player than he got credit for," said Maloney. "I'm sure that football intelligence would help him as a manager."