Steve Clarke has done a ‘terrific’ job with Scotland and Kilmarnock but he’s not the answer to Celtic’s problems, according to John Collins.
The Scotland boss is one of the favourites for the Hoops job following Neil Lennon’s resignation earlier this week.
Clarke, 57, has a wealth of experience and his stock is very high at the moment having guided Scotland to Euro 2020, the first major tournament the nation has qualified for since the 1998 World Cup.
But former Celtic star Collins, who was also the club’s assistant manager from 2014-16, doesn’t believe Clarke fits the mould to become their new manager, citing his playing style being at odds with one you’d usually associate with the Glasgow giants.
“To be the manager of Celtic you need experience, you’ve got to play a certain brand of football and be successful with it,” Collins told talkSPORT Breakfast.
“The manager of Celtic needs to be an offensive, attack-minded coach. The fans want victories but they also want winning in style.
“Stevie Clarke has done a terrific job with Scotland and Kilmarnock. Has he produced attacking, entertaining football? The answer would be probably not.
“His teams are organised, hard to break down, they defend deep. That’s not really a weekly basis with Celtic, they’re looking for three or four goals and victories with style.
“I think Stevie Clarke has done a brilliant job for Scotland and Kilmarnock but I don’t think he fits the profile for Celtic.”
talkSPORT’s Ally McCoist labelled Celtic’s season as an ‘unmitigated disaster’ and Collins believes the club needs a stronger spine.
He also says it’s vital they find a replacement for captain Scott Brown, who’s been with the club since 2007.
“Good football teams start with a spine, starting with a goalkeeper. The goalkeeper makes saves, communicates with the back four and gives them confidence,” Collins added.
“Fraser Forster was lined up, near enough done but the deal fell through at the last minute so they had to go out and get another keeper, they brought in a goalkeeper from Greece [Vasilis Barkas]. He never made saves every time a team had a shot on target so he got dropped. They moved to no.2 goalkeeper and then no.3….
“Odsonne Edouard had COVID but he wanted a move, he wasn’t working hard enough.
“Scott Brown has been a great servant for Celtic, I sold him from Hibs, but at 35 years of age his legs have gone. Not completely but from a no.6 I think we need legs and power and energy and for a decade no one could run away from him. We need to replace him.”