There is a feeling of anxiety amongst the Celtic fanbase as they await news on whether or not Ange Postecoglou is taking up the role of Tottenham manager.
The Aussie boss completed the domestic Treble on Saturday with a 3-1 Scottish Cup final victory over Inverness, his fifth trophy out of six available in Scotland since his arrival in 2021. Some mocked his appointment from Yokohama but those sceptics aren't laughing now as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy looks to bring him into one of England's Big Six.
After the Treble party concludes, thoughts will swiftly turn to whether or not their leader will stay. A selection of fans outside Hampden were in universal agreement that it would be a major blow to Celtic to lose Postecoglou after two seasons. For one group of four, there was a unison of one word that told the story; "definitely." But another wasn't so sure how warmly Postecoglou would be received in retrospect, citing the uneasy exit of Brendan Rodgers to Leicester City as an example.
They said: "It is too early. I just think he would like a crack in Europe but if I am wrong, then I think he is following in Brendan's footsteps. Hopefully Dermot has had a word, he stays at least one more season, has the crack at Europe and take it from there.
"It's probably why we need this cup," another in the party said. "We Treble it and we can say 'Ange, Treble next year?' If he goes, it is not a Brendan shot. It was the timing of Brendan and the way he did it, but he was fantastic for us. Ange has been so good and I would not deny anyone the chance to make 5, 6, 7 x the amount of money in the same period of time and sometimes that is the big pull."
The word "agree" was put forward by one punter when asked about the Rodgers footsteps comparison, but some could see the reasons why. And money again is a telling factor.
"I am not surprised it has been built up and you become used to it with Celtic, through the close season or build-up to finals that things come out in the media," they commented. "But the manager and the club have handled it well, and if he goes he goes with everyone's blessing as he has left at the right time."
One final fan knows that football is constantly changing. And they will be thankful to Postecoglou for the mantra he has installed in the club, and one that makes the Celtic managerial gig a more attractive prospect.
They added "Whatever happens now, him coming in and doing the job he has done over the last couple of years, playing the type of football we have been, we will attract if he does go - and I hope he doesn't - we will start attracting a better calibre of manager than we might have done if we hadn't had him and that is all you can hope for. Football keeps evolving and if he stays, brilliant. If he doesn't, we never stop."
