Eddie Howe waiting until the end of the season to receive a potential Bournemouth payout is unlikely to be a factor that delays him taking the Celtic job, according to Journalist Alan Nixon. 

The Englishman has been out of a job since leaving the Cherries after their relegation from the Premier League last season and remains available despite links to plenty of Championship roles over the past year.

It seems he could be set to take charge north of the border, however, as it is understood he is "a serious candidate" in the search for Neil Lennon's permanent successor at Celtic.

It's been more than a month since Lennon left the club and a new appointment is yet to be made but Nixon has calmed fears over further delays.

He has suggested that Howe waiting until the end of the season for a potential payout from Bournemouth is unlikely to be a factor.

A rebuild is needed at Celtic Park with the Hoops slipping far behind rivals Rangers this season as Steven Gerrard's side won the SPFL at a canter.

That would seem to make the 43-year-old coach a good fit, as he took the Cherries from League Two to being an established Premier League side, as well as installing an expansive and free-flowing style of football.

The Verdict

This is fantastic news and a real boost from a Celtic perspective.

Finding the right replacement for Lennon was key but it's now been more than a month and with a fair amount of work needed to ensure they can compete with Rangers next term, it would be frustrating if they were forced to wait until the end of the season to appoint Howe.

It seems he is a 'serious candidate' for the job and it could be a good fit, as he has experience building squads and playing attacking football at a high level.