Robbie Keane outguns Martin O'Neill in Celtic next manager fight as double winning hero told to 'move on'

Martin O’Neill has been told he should “move on” - and Robbie Keane is the perfect man to step into his shoes as Celtic manager. The two Irishmen are scrapping for the Parkhead boss job and former Republic of Ireland international Andy Townsend has had his say. Townsend, capped 70 times including two World Cup Finals, appearances, believes his old team-mate Keane is an ideal fit for the job. O’Neill led the Hoops to a domestic double last season and is in the frame to remain in position as he holds talks with supremo Dermot Desmond.

But with O’Neill turning 75 next March, Townsend told OLBG that ex Ferencvaros boss Keane is the man Desmond should turn to. Desmond was instrumental in signing Keane as a player after a stunning loan move from Tottenham Hotspur in 2010. Record Sport told how Keane has already lined up Stephen Glass, his assistant in Hungary, and club legend Scott Brown and Jonny Hayes as part of his backroom team . And Townsend said: “I could see Robbie Keane being a success at Celtic, he’d bring all his energy in there and I could see him being a natural successor for Martin. “He’d be the best bet for them, he has a real appetite and a real excitement around him.

He oozes that determination to be a success and I could see that really working at Celtic. They could have a big call to make this summer but I think that would be the right one, should Martin O’Neill move on. “Robbie has really found excitement in management. He seems excited at the prospect of his future in football management because he had a very good career as a player, he's gonna get some exceptional opportunities come his way. He's put himself out there now, he's available.

There will be a lot of jobs available for him.” Ireland legend Roy Keane previously claimed he turned down the job and Townsend said: “ Roy Keane as the next Celtic manager? I think that ship has sailed for him now. I think he's very happy doing what he's doing with Sky, ITV, and his podcast stuff. “He’ll earn way more money doing what he's doing now than he ever would going back into management, with a fraction of the hassle. I don't see it happening.

I think there would always be a little fire burning away inside Roy that would suggest he's not done yet as a football manager, but I'm beginning to think that with every year that creeps on, it's less likely because he's very busy doing what he's doing. He's probably enjoying the time that he spends with his family and his grandchildren and stuff like that. So, I don't see that one happening now.” Regardless of lands the job this summer, Townsend said striker Evan Ferguson shouldn’t consider the move. The Brighton striker was on loan at Roma last season and scored at Parkhead in a Europa League clash.

Townsend said: “He shouldn't get distracted by dream links to clubs like Celtic right now. His priority must be a strong pre-season with Brighton to show he can handle a regular schedule. “Without a consistent body of work and proven fitness, top teams will remain hesitant to take him. I think for him right now, if he had to drop down into the Championship and go and play for a top Championship club like Wrexham and score 20 odd goals, that might be what he needs. There would be a lot of noise at Celtic. “Evan Ferguson is at a crossroads and needs to focus on getting his body fit.

Injuries have been a persistent issue and have really been preventing him from achieving his potential. For a player with his quality, when fit and confident, he is clearly a very useful asset, but constant unavailability causes managers to lose faith. “He needs a period of stability, he needs to play around 25 games next season to maintain fitness and avoid unnecessary injuries. He has a high ceiling of course but he has to prove he can stay healthy to have a successful career at the top level. “We’ve seen players who can’t fulfil their potential due to injury and I hope for Evan's sake, that's not going to be the case with him because I think when he's fit and when he's well and when he's confident, we can see that there's a very useful player there. “But when managers start to lose faith in you because they don't know whether they can turn to you when they need them, it can be a worrying time. And I think Evan's at a bit of a crossroads now. “If he cannot maintain fitness in the Premier League, he should be realistic and consider dropping to the Championship.

Playing 20-plus goals for a top Championship side while remaining fit would be better for his development than being a bit-part player elsewhere.”