Celtic's intention is to appoint a head coach rather than a manager as Neil Lennon's long-term replacement, Frank McAvennie has claimed in an interview with Football Insider.

Neil Lennon resigned in February as the club's title defence unravelled, with John Kennedy put in interim charge until the end of the season.

'Celtic bought players that had nothing to do with Lennon'

McAvennie has said that Celtic are keen to limit the responsibilities of the next man in the dugout to on-field matters. That would mean that transfer decisions would be made by the club's hierarchy.

The 61-year-old, who spent four years in Glasgow across two spells with the Hoops, claims that Neil Lennon was in this position and he made clear that he was against the model.

"I'm told Celtic want to make their new man a head coach, rather than a manager," McAvennie said.

"There's been players come into Celtic, players that have had nothing to do with Lennon, that's not right."

Transfer Tavern verdict

To speculate for a moment, you wonder if this may be an explanation for the silence around Eddie Howe's prospective appointment.

It was reported at the start of the month that Celtic were on the verge of bringing in the former Bournemouth manger, but nearly three weeks on, uncertainty persists.

Another Football Insider report claimed that Crystal Palace had opened talks with Howe in a bid to hijack the deal. If they offer Howe more control, they may have a decisive advantage in keeping the 43-year-old in England.

In other news, McAvennie has urged Celtic to prioritise this managerial candidate.