Celtic's plans to appoint Craig Bellamy 'ruined' by Brendan Rodgers

Celtic’s search for a new manager is underway.

The Hoops were forced into action by the shock resignation of Brendan Rodgers on Monday, which came completely from the blue.

Most Hoops fans expected him to leave at the end of the season rather than resigning on the spot… to be replaced on an interim basis by Martin O’Neill.

The search for his permanent successor could take days, weeks or, knowing Celtic, months. O’Neill has said that he expects Dermot Desmond to hire a ‘young, upcoming’ coach in his place.

And one candidate who fits that bill is ex-Hoops striker Craig Bellamy, who has impressed in his spell in charge of Wales. But the Hoops’ interest in him has reportedly been complicated.

Why Brendan Rodgers has ‘ruined Celtic’s’ pursuit of Craig Bellamy

67 Hail Hail learned on Wednesday that Bellamy has not applied for the vacant Celtic role, despite admiration from the decision-makers at Celtic Park.

His name has been in the frame and linked by various media outlets.

READ MORE: Chris Sutton predicts ‘triumph or disaster’ semi-final for Martin O’Neill’s Celtic vs Rangers

The Wales role is Bellamy’s first manager job in senior football, and he impressively went unbeaten in his first nine matches at the helm of his country.

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And according to TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook, this had caught the eye of Celtic with a view to potentially discussing appointment for next season.

With hope fading over Rodgers extending his contract beyond 2026, the Hoops were sounding out future candidates – but his shock resignation has scuppered their chances of getting Bellamy.

With Wales still firmly in contention to qualify for next summer’s World Cup, the 46-year-old is not willing to walk away mid-season.

This leaves the Hoops’ chances of appointing him dead in the water – unless, of course, O’Neill is given the job until the end of the season.

If the Hoops’ comfortable 4-0 win against Falkirk is anything to go by, then there could be a bigger chance than O’Neill expected.

But Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers is a much bigger test of how much the Celtic squad needs a new permanent manager.

Two-and-a-half days on from Rodgers’ departure, managerial candidates are coming and going for Celtic.

Ange Postecoglou was seen as the immediate favourite, given his recent sacking from Nottingham Forest. Multiple reports now suggest that a sensational return for Big Ange is unlikely.

Kieran McKenna is a realistic option for Celtic and is being widely discussed, but he wouldn’t come cheap and Ipswich will fight to keep him.

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