Stuart Baxter's Celtic role a casual one

STUART Baxter has clarified that his role as consultant to Celtic is to be a casual arrangement at the behest of his current employers, the Finnish Football Association.

Neil Lennon confirmed over the weekend that the man who has managed Finland, South Africa and a host of clubs had agreed to accept the advisory role. Baxter, 56, watched Celtic in action against Lyon and Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium over the weekend and spoke to Lennon and his management team.

He is delighted that, after long negotiations with the Finnish FA, the deal has been given the green light. "It is not going to be the official connection we would have liked it to be," said Baxter. "The Finnish FA were very keen to distance themselves from that one. But the connection has been made between myself and Celtic. I am in contact with them as a consultant, in inverted commas."