Is Keane the right fit for Celtic?

Article by e-Celtic's Darren Conway

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With Roy Keane (as predicted in my last article) expected to be announced this week as the new Celtic manager, I ask the question whether the club are simply downsizing with the Bhoys realising they can go no further than has been achieved in the last few years or are they indeed ready to throw money at chasing a longer run in European football?

It would appear that Neil Lennon left Celtic feeling he had reached a glass ceiling with no prospect of the club guaranteeing that top players such as Virgil and Forster would not be sold to help with the balance sheet.

Celtic are apparently on sound financial footing so why do they not invest in quality player signings or indeed a top drawer coach?

My belief is that the FC are far from as wealthy as some would suggest. They only get £2 million from TV revenue and season tickets (again contrary to reports) will again be down this year with no Rangers as competition. The money the club gain from qualification to the group stages of the Champions League is money to keep the club going. Hence the fact that if Celtic can sell players for a tidy profit, then that is the only real profit and big money that they can make. Reinvestment in the team or stadium improvement costs, extending players contracts etc will be met.

Some believe that D Desmond (Celtic owner) has pledged to give Keane a large transfer budget. Why else would Roy take the job?

Others believe that Keane, like so many before him, see the job as a stepping stone before once again getting a bigger post in England. The latter being the most likely.

He is a fan of the club and will see this as being an exciting challenge. His European experience will no doubt be of huge benefit to everyone especially when trying to negotiate the potentially hazardous qualifiers.

My conclusion is that, as stated in an earlier article, I am delighted that Roy Keane looks to be the new manager of Celtic FC, with exciting times, good and bad lying ahead. However, long gone are the days when Celtic will pay more than £1 - £2 million on a player and indeed no one will be on more than £25k a week wages. With that in mind they will continue to cost cut but occasionally (as is the case with Keane) receive a gift from a certain Irish billionaire to keep things ticking over for another few years.

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