Quincy Charles
Ange Postecoglou may have to go if the rebuilding task at Celtic is as difficult as Charlie Nicholas claims.
The Australian had a bad start to life at Celtic Park since he was sent crashing out of the Champions League and then suffered a defeat on the opening day of the Premiership season to Hearts.
The analyst and former Parkhead player refused to blame the manager for the disappointing early results and he says knew that these gains would be short-lived.
He thinks that having a threadbare squad will force the Australian manager to quit.
Nicholas argues that supporters should be patient and provide the 55-year-old manager time to rebuild the team, but is fearful of the potential stumbling blocks.
He wrote in The Express: ” John Kennedy and Gavin Strachan in Ange Postecoglou ‘s backroom staff should have been straight with the Aussie when he arrived about the team’s major weaknesses at goalkeeper and right-back.
“The Australian needed a month to get his team up and running but I wouldn’t be surprised if he still hasn’t unpacked his suitcase given the scale of the problems at the club.
” Celtic are out of the Champions League at the first hurdle and lost their Premiership opener to Hearts last weekend.
“If this malaise goes on for much longer then it’ll only be a matter of time before the manager starts to take the blame.
“Postecoglou is vulnerable because he hasn’t got his own people around him.
“He must force the issue now otherwise all the other staff will sit behind him and say that it’s not working in six months’ time.
“Celtic need to build and they need to do it now. If they don’t then it could become another Tony Mowbray situation.
“If it got to that stage, I am not convinced Postecoglou would stick around. He seems like the type of guy who might just walk.
“A rebuild is an absolute priority. I can take a bit of suffering in the short term because if the youngsters are going to be good enough then they will come through.
“As things stand they are not ready. They need to be developed for when the time comes. It is going to be slow and painful again this season but it must be done.
“Postecoglou didn’t hit the ground running at his other jobs and it will take him a year or two here – if he is given the time.
“But the club needs to put a structure in place that can help him become a success.
“I am prepared to give it until October or November before making a proper judgment. A lot of Celtic fans won’t be able to wait that long because that is the reality of being at a massive club. But Postecoglou must be given at least a full season.”
