CHARLIE NICHOLAS has urged Celtic to offer manager Ange Postecoglou a new bumper deal as soon as possible.
The Aussie gaffer moved to Glasgow in the summer as a total unknown after a horror campaign for the Hoops ended in Neil Lennon leaving the club.
Postecoglou has worked wonders during his first campaign, by rebuilding the Celtic squad and landing the League Cup trophy.
He now looks set to land the Premiership crown too after a dominant campaign by Rangers last term, and Nicholas insists he must be rewarded for this success.
He told the Daily Express: "Never mind potential summer transfer targets, Celtic's number one priority over the coming weeks should be rewarding Ange Postecoglou with a new contract.
"The Australian joined last June on a 12-month rolling deal, but the club would be absolutely crazy if talks haven't already started or been scheduled with their manager.
"Given what he has achieved in his first season in Scottish football - the league title all but sewn up to go with the Premier Sports Cup trophy bagged in December - Postecoglou merits a long-term arrangement.
"Parkhead chiefs need to get him tied up because he is at the heart of everything good that Celtic are doing and have done.
"Postecoglou's reputation is growing.There is no doubt other big clubs will be looking at him, so Dermot Desmond's top priority at the club should be rewarding his manager.
"The Parkhead supremo kept topping up Brendan Rodgers' contract when he was manager and eventually got £8.8million in compensation when Leicester snagged him and his backroom staff in 2019.
"I don't think Postecoglou will be pushing for a pay rise but it would be thoroughly deserved for the remarkable job he has done so far.
"Not only will Celts make tens of millions from Champions League group stage football next season, he has also built a squad of genuine value.
"It's also worth remembering he has done it while working with the coaching team that was already in place - John Kennedy, Stephen McManus and Gavin Strachan.
"Postecoglou just got on with the task in hand and as long as people do their jobs well then the Aussie has shown he will be loyal to them.
"The 56-year-old has already won top-flight titles in Australia and Japan - and Scotland will be next if Celtic take a point from Dundee United at Tannadice tomorrow.
"Given how dominant Rangers were last season, I doubt many Hoops supporters would have predicted their team would be on the verge of a double when Postecoglou walked in the door.
"I have to hold my hands up and admit I was unsure. I think Postecoglou was unsure as well.
"It felt like he had to hit the ground running but his first three matches saw Celtic go out of the Champions League at the first qualifying hurdle and lose to Hearts at Tynecastle in their Premiership opener.
"Postecoglou hasn't really made a poor signing and handing Callum McGregor the captain's armband was bang-on.
"I loved Postecoglou from his first interview. When Celtic did a lap of honour last weekend, he was about 20 yards behind the players on his own, applauding the Celtic support and his team. His humility is wonderfully refreshing.
"I have loved every minute of his reign and I think things are going to get even better."
