Premier League Brighton sacked Chris Hughton on Monday but could he now replace Neil Lennon at Scottish Premiership champions Celtic?
Stan Collymore believes Celtic should not stand idly by after Chris Hughton became available for hire on Monday, speaking to the Mirror (14 May, page 51).
The Hoops are still without a permanent manager and doubts persist about whether interim coach Neil Lennon is the right man for the job.
Lennon has lead Celtic to the verge of a third successive domestic treble but Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Old Firm rivals Rangers has led many to suggest that he would be a considerable downgrade on predecessor Brendan Rodgers.
Collymore, however, believes Celtic could do a lot worse than to turn to Hughton, who was sacked by Brighton and Hove Albion after five hugely successful years on the South Coast.
“If I was him I’d be looking to get myself to Celtic,” he said. “As an honest and respected football man, and a former Republic of Ireland international, he’d be adored there and there is nothing to stop him going and putting some silverware in his cabinet.
“Almost without exception, Hughton has left every club he has been at in a better position than he found them.”
The former Newcastle boss lead Brighton to the Premier League for the first time in 2017 and kept the club in the top flight over two seasons. The Seagulls also reached the FA Cup semi-final in April, losing to Manchester City at Wembley.
Whether Hughton’s rather pragmatic style of play would win over Celtic supporters, however, is another matter entirely.
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