Celtic get surprise manager recommendation from ex-Newcastle United and Sheffield Wednesday man
The PNE boss has managed north of the border once
Preston North End’s manager would be a good fit for Celtic in the eyes of one former England international.
That is Chris Waddle, who has suggested Paul Heckingbottom as a good option for the Parkhead club this summer.
Celtic won the league under Martin O’Neill last season but it remains to be seen whether the 74-year-old carries on in the role.
Robbie Keane is favourite with the bookies but Waddle is a big fan of Heckingbottom’s, and believes PNE must support him in the upcoming transfer window.
“Paul Heckingbottom is a very good manager, a very good coach and a very good fit for Celtic,” Waddle told Boyle Sports. “I think he’s very underrated. He’s done a great job at Preston North End working with a really small budget.
“He gets good loans in and the way he plays gets the most out of his players. If he could bring in three or four good players he could take Preston into the play-offs quite easily, but will he be allowed to do that?
“I think he’ll eventually end up getting the sack because the club will think, ‘We’re not going anywhere’. But you can only go as far as your budget allows and let’s be honest, Preston’s budget is not massive.
“There’ll be a lot of clubs watching how things develop. He’s done a good job at Preston and there’ll be other clubs interested. Celtic should be looking at him because he works with a small budget, gets good players in and gets the most out of his squad.
“I think he plays nice football too. Preston are well-organised, well-drilled and he’s an open-minded coach. I think he could do well at a bigger club but I’m not saying he should leave Preston.
“Preston just need to let him bring in three or four really good players for that level and I think they would be a team that makes it into the play-offs next season.”
Heckingbottom’s one job in Scotland was at Hibernian. He made the move there in early 2019 - after spells at Barnsley and Leeds United - and lasted nine months in the role. He then went on to Sheffield United and took them into the Premier League.