Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has been urged by Andy Walker and Pat Nevin to stay at Parkhead and reject any potential advances from Leeds United – despite being ready for a switch to the Premier League.
The Whites sacked American boss Jesse Marsch on Monday afternoon after a run of just two Premier League wins in 17 matches left them dangling over the relegation zone on goal difference. With the Yorkshire outfit aiming to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle for the second year running, they dismissed Marsch despite staving off relegation last season and have since sought a replacement.
Postecoglou has been one of those linked with a move to Elland Road alongside other candidates Andoni Iraola and Arne Slot, though any impending moves to appoint a new boss have yet to be expanded upon. And, with Postecoglou enjoying incredible job security as his Celtic side romp to the Scottish Premiership summit, Walker and Nevin have both pushed for him to stay at the club - with the notion that Leeds are unstable and he may not be ready for the turbulence that lies ahead.
Nevin reckons that Postecoglou is by far and away good enough to be a Premier League boss, though he urged the Australian boss to stay put as he is "perfect for Celtic". He told Football Betting Online: "Ange Postecoglou is good enough to be a Premier League manager, but I hope he does not go because I speak for every Celtic fan in the world, they all love Postecoglou, he's perfect for Celtic.
"But he'll want to go to the Premier League at some point, he has to. I would love to see his style in the English game, but he'll need time. Whatever team he takes will need building up because he won't get the chance to manage one of the top teams yet, a team like Leeds will have to give him time. He'll be checked out by Leeds and other Premier League clubs, but I hope he can stay at Celtic."
And Walker agreed with that sentiment as he told Sky Sports: "It's no surprise. He's been linked with other jobs before, the one at Everton recently. He has a lot of unfinished work to do in Glasgow before he'd make the next step to the Premier League. He wants to rack up titles and trophies, they're in pole position to get to the title again next year, and that gives them direct access to the Champions League.
"That's where he would like to put tougher a team that could get some notable victories because the financial gap with Celtic and the big boys is pretty big, but without getting a lot this season, they have competed really well so I think that's where his focus is.
"I just think the timing isn't tight. He's pretty focused on what he wants to do in Glasgow and was given a marvellous opportunity to turn Celtic around. Fans have recognised the transformation of the team has been remarkable. Season ticket holders are getting value for money, enjoying the football they're watching, and I think Postecoglou at this point wouldn't be interested in going to Leeds - I don't think he was interested in going to Everton. These clubs are really struggling for stability. I think once he's done a few years in Glasgow with more experience in Europe and a couple of victories there, then he might take his next step. You know what it's like, mangers tend to stay three or four years before they go to that stepped up bigger league.
"I don't think he needs to (release a statement if he was to stay). He is committed. Brendan Rodgers had done a lot here, he went through a season where he was Invincible. He had racked up titles and trophies, he had developed players. The board fell out with Brendan; they were signing players he wasn't wanting, it was time for him to leave. He was being left out. He went to Leicester, he's won a title there, he's the type of manager who could manage any of the top six clubs.
"It would be huge blow (if Ange left). Celtic needed a new direction after Neil Lennon left because Rangers had stopped Celtic from winning the ten. Ange Postecoglou, in all honesty, had not been heard of. We were all in the dark as to what the personality and qualities of people in the Australian leagues and Japanese leagues [were]. The transformation in Celtic, not just winning, but it's the style of football the Celtic supporters are seeing that they're really enjoying."
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