There has been various reasons touted as to why Celtic haven’t yet announced Eddie Howe as their new manager. From contractual obligations, taking a break from football to assessing his options in the English Premier League first before committing to the Hoops.
The latest, and most used reason, is that Howe was waiting until Bournemouth had finalised their EPL Play off destiny so that the young Englishman could then approach the backroom team he wanted to help with the massive rebuild required at Celtic Park.
With Bournemouth now resigned to another season in the English Championship after losing 3-1 to Brentford this afternoon, there are now no excuses left to not make the announcement and start moving forward.
The Celtic supporters have been in a state of suspended animation for the last 12 weeks waiting, wondering, wishing even, on the day that the board reveal who their new man in the dugout is.
Long has been the day since the speculation of Howe becoming the manager started when it was first revealed that Dermot Desmond had held private talks with Howe in his London home, and it has been three months of torture for the Celtic fans watching their team limp from game to game like an injured animal (or lame duck) until the misery was ended with the final game of the season last weekend.
If it is Howe. It is time to announce him. Not tomorrow. Not Monday. But now. No more waiting. It is time for the board to show their hand and make their move.
With the Champions League qualifiers kicking of from the 22nd June and the departure of many first team players predicted, the clock is ticking for Howe to assemble his team and make his assault not only on the domestic campaign, but Europe too.