Andy Townsend has thrown his support behind Robbie Keane as the ideal candidate to take charge at Celtic if Martin O’Neill moves on this summer.
The two Irishmen are currently competing for the Parkhead hotseat, with O’Neill in talks with club supremo Dermot Desmond over his future.
Townsend, who earned 70 caps for the Republic of Ireland including two World Cup Finals appearances, believes his former international teammate is the right fit.
O’Neill guided Celtic to a domestic double last season and remains a strong contender to stay on as the club weighs its options.
With O’Neill set to turn 75 next March, Townsend told OLBG that ex-Ferencvaros boss Keane should be Desmond’s top target if the veteran steps aside.
Desmond was a key figure in bringing Keane to the club as a player during a loan move from Tottenham Hotspur back in 2010.
Keane has reportedly already assembled a potential backroom team including assistant Stephen Glass, who worked with him in Hungary, along with club legend Scott Brown and Jonny Hayes.
Townsend said: “I could see Robbie Keane being a success at Celtic, he’d bring all his energy in there and I could see him being a natural successor for Martin.”
He added: “He’d be the best bet for them, he has a real appetite and a real excitement around him. He oozes that determination to be a success and I could see that really working at Celtic.”
Townsend continued: “Robbie has really found excitement in management. He seems excited at the prospect of his future in football management because he had a very good career as a player, he’s gonna get some exceptional opportunities come his way.”
On the subject of Roy Keane, who previously claimed he turned down the Celtic job, Townsend was equally candid about the Ireland legend’s prospects of entering management.
Townsend said: “Roy Keane as the next Celtic manager? I think that ship has sailed for him now. I think he’s very happy doing what he’s doing with Sky, ITV, and his podcast stuff.”
He elaborated: “He’ll earn way more money doing what he’s doing now than he ever would going back into management, with a fraction of the hassle. I don’t see it happening.”
Townsend also addressed speculation linking Brighton striker Evan Ferguson with a move to Celtic, urging the young forward to focus elsewhere.
Ferguson spent last season on loan at Roma and scored at Parkhead in a Europa League fixture, prompting links with the Scottish giants.
Townsend said: “He shouldn’t get distracted by dream links to clubs like Celtic right now. His priority must be a strong pre-season with Brighton to show he can handle a regular schedule.”
He suggested a loan to a Championship club could benefit Ferguson, saying: “If he had to drop down into the Championship and go and play for a top Championship club like Wrexham and score 20 odd goals, that might be what he needs.”
Townsend pointed to Ferguson’s persistent injury record as the central obstacle standing between the striker and fulfilling his considerable potential.
He said: “Evan Ferguson is at a crossroads and needs to focus on getting his body fit. Injuries have been a persistent issue and have really been preventing him from achieving his potential.”
Townsend concluded: “We’ve seen players who can’t fulfil their potential due to injury and I hope for Evan’s sake, that’s not going to be the case with him because I think when he’s fit and when he’s well and when he’s confident, we can see that there’s a very useful player there.”
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