Sky Sports pundit wants Ange Postecoglou to leave Celtic for Leeds United, but not for the benefit of Rangers
Kris Boyd would like to see Ange Postecoglou leave Celtic for Leeds United but not because it would benefit Rangers at the top of the league.
The Australian has been linked to the vacant position at Elland Road since Jesse Marsch was sacked last week (6 February) but has largely ignored the speculation.
Boyd has joined the ranks of pundits who don’t believe the 57-year-old would leave Celtic Park with his team nine points clear in their title defence, but would be happy to see him move to a bigger league because it reflects well on the Scottish game, rather than because it would give Rangers an opening to overturn the Hoops.
Speaking live on Sky Sports News on Wednesday (15 February) Boyd was asked by Pete Graves as “a former Rangers man” whether he’d like to see Postecoglou head to Leeds.
“Yeah I would, but not for the reasons that you would think Pete, in terms of ‘get him out the door so that Celtic wouldn’t put in the performances that they’ve put in’,” he replied.
“For me, I think it would be a sign of where Scottish football is. Sometimes it gets overlooked, especially for the talented footballers its got in it, and there’s no doubt that Ange Postecoglou’s a talented manager. His time will come when he does move away from Celtic… I don’t think it will be to Leeds any time soon.
“There’s no doubt the job he has done has been unbelievable.”
Not yet
Plenty of Gers fans wouldn’t be sad to see Postecoglou leave the SPFL because he has established a formidable outfit across Glasgow, one that Giovanni van Bronckhorst was unable to overcome.
However, Michael Beale looks to be well on the way to competing for supremacy again, although starting nine points back has made it a virtually un-winnable battle this season.
Whether his opposite number goes or not the Ibrox boss is sure to have his eye on the title next season, based on the unbeaten record he has produced since his arrival.
A late equaliser from the visitors on 2 January prevented that being a 100% record, but the first derby on his tenure showed the new regime has enough to go toe to toe with the league leaders when starting from the same position.
The League Cup final at Hampden on 26 February is also the first opportunity for him to win some silverware, and against the Old Firm rivals.
All indications are that Postecoglou will be the man in the opposite dug out for that, even as Leeds struggle to fill their vacancy.
The two sides of Glasgow being more even domestically is sure to only boost the profiles of both managers, but while the Hoops’ are likely to become increasingly wary of outside interest in theirs, Beale looks like being in place for some time to come.
In other Rangers news, Chris Sutton had a message for one Ibrox player he has accused of being angry.