Chris Sutton is convinced Ange Postecoglou won’t do a Brendan Rodgers by bolting at the business end of the season.
The Hoops boss was last night listed among the bookies favourites to land the Leeds job following the sacking of Jesse Marsch. Postecoglou is already on the radar of English clubs having been considered for managerial role at Southampton, Brighton and Everton already this season. Leeds are targeting a quickfire appointment with former gaffer Marcelo Bielsa’s former No.2 Carlos Corberan – now in charge of West Brom – and ex-Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino high in the frame. Postecoglou’s assistant coach at Celtic is Elland Road legend Harry Kewell.
Former Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is also among the front-runners – but Hoops hero Sutton doesn’t think history will repeat itself at Parkhead. Rodgers was worshiped by Celts fans but left under a cloud after his shock departure for Leicester in February 2018 – when his side were in the hunt for the treble Treble. Record Sport columnist Sutton said: “I have no doubt Postecoglou will manage in the Premier League.
“But I don’t think the time is now. Leeds are a big club and they have a lot of potential, even though they are in a difficult position right now.
"It might be a different proposition if the question came in the summer. But I just think Postecoglou will be mindful of what happened when Rodgers left.
“It left a bad taste in the mouths of supporters who had idolised him for two and a half years. There was a furious response.
"There was a feeling he left them in the lurch and he still hasn’t been forgiven in the eyes of a lot of supporters. But from what I get from Postecoglou’s comments he would want to finish the job he started.
“There’s a title to be retained, the Viaplay Cup Final around the corner and the Scottish Cup on the line as well. There’s also the Champions League again and that is something I think will be a big motivating factor for him.
“There was a bit of a feeling things were going a bit stale at the end of Rodgers’ reign but right now it’s like Celtic are still building something. Postecoglou has brought in a lot of players, some of them from the other side of the world, and I’d think he’d want to see it through.
“There will come a time when the Premier League comes calling, and I believe he will be a success at that level. But there is still work to be done at Celtic.”
Leeds bulleted Marsch after less than 12 months in charge in the wake of Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest. The American coach was also on a list of candidates for the Celtic job before Postecoglou was appointed.
