Does Lennon have serious competition

Mark Hughes' No 2 when he was at Manchester City, Mark Bowen has hinted the former Blackburn and Wales boss could be interested in the permanent Celtic managers job. Neil Lennon is in the hot seat for now and made a good start to his managerial career when his side won 3-0 over Kilmarnock on Saturday. Hughes could take up the job anytime and there would not have to be any compensation paid as Hughes was sacked by the Eastlands club in December. The Hughes coaching team has been biding their time for the right opportunity to come along according to Bowen, and he is flattered Hughes has been linked with the vacant Parkhead post. Bowen insists Hughes is not looking to make easy money somewhere before leaving the club in the lurch and that he is keen to stamp his authority on a team in the long term.

Bowen said: "We're not in the business of just going in and getting a fat cheque and thinking 'Well, if things go wrong we'll be out in a year's time and we'll go somewhere else'. Mark has always said it has to be the right vehicle, the right situation. He's always been a manager or coach who wants to go in and build a place and make a difference long term. It's what we did with Wales and Blackburn and we were in the process of doing at Manchester City. It seems to be the natural thing at the moment that Mark is linked with any vacant manager's position. His talents are widely recognised and since City we've been waiting for the right opportunity. In that sense, I suppose we were expecting this speculation and it's a pleasant expectation to see that he's been linked with the Celtic post. Mark's credentials are there for all to see."