Charlie Mulgrew and Kevin Thomson slam Celtic’s failure to appoint Jens Berthel Askou
Former Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew and Kevin Thomson believe the Hoops missed a major opportunity by failing to appoint Jens Berthel Askou as manager while retaining Martin O’Neill in a senior role.
The former Motherwell boss was heavily linked with the Celtic job following an impressive campaign at Fir Park, but the club ultimately opted to retain O’Neill after interviewing Robbie Keane.
Askou subsequently departed for French side Toulouse, while O’Neill has endured a difficult start to his first permanent campaign in charge of Celtic in two decades, winning just three of his opening ten matches.
Speaking on The Breakdown, Thomson suggested Celtic should have used O’Neill’s title-winning success as an opportunity to transition towards a new managerial structure.
He said: “It’s easy with hindsight looking back at it, but I did think with how dramatic the last day of the season was, [O’Neill] should’ve just upped sticks and left.
“I still felt like the club would be missing a trick. I think Martin would’ve been a brilliant foil. A mentor/sounding board. Somebody to confide in as part of whatever that looked like at Celtic for the new manager.
“But now he’s been the manager, and he’s had it for a longer period of time rather than just short-term, you know feel as if Martin O’Neill going upstairs just wouldn’t work because he’s just attached himself to being the manager again.”
Mulgrew agreed that Celtic could have retained O’Neill’s experience while handing the managerial reins to Askou.
He responded: “Aye. ‘Cause if he walked away then, Celtic still weighed him in with good money because he deserved that because of what he done with the title and stuff, and then gave it to a Berthel Askou and let Martin O’Neill be director of football or be on the board or whatever…”
Thomson then delivered his verdict on Celtic’s failure to pursue the Danish coach.
He said: “It’s the biggest trick Celtic have ever missed, not getting [Askou] in.”
Mulgrew replied: “That’s a big one, isn’t it. I think he would’ve been desperate for it. He was always at Celtic Park, wasn’t he?”
The former Hoops defender also believes Askou’s progressive approach could have provided Celtic with the closest stylistic replacement for Ange Postecoglou.
He added: “He would’ve been, aye. You think of the resources that he would’ve had at his disposal, and the type of players… obviously, it’s a totally different style, but I think it would’ve been as close to getting a replacement that the Celtic fans have been pining for since Ange Postecoglou.”
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