Celtic to offer post to O'Leary

David O'Leary will be approached by Celtic next week and offered the post of manager at Parkhead. The 42-year-old Leeds United manager, in only his first full season at Elland Road, has made a huge impression with both the style and strength he has displayed in the short time since he succeeded George Graham in September 1998.

Given the turmoil at Leeds caused by the deaths of two of their fans before the UEFA Cup semi-final first leg in Istanbul, Celtic's plans may be put on hold because of the insensitivity of the timing. But there is no doubt that O'Leary has emerged as the Celtic board's choice to succeed John Barnes.

It is two and a half months since Celtic sacked Barnes following a run of poor performances and results and while Kenny Dalglish has filled in as Celtic coach he has done so reluctantly.

While Dalglish's commitment to Celtic is not in question he has never said outright that he wants the manager's job. Dalglish appears more keen to return to the broader post of director of football as soon as possible.

Leeds will strive to keep O'Leary, regarded by Alex Ferguson as the best young manager in the country and mooted by Ferguson as a future manager at Old Trafford, and O'Leary has said that he wants to build an empire at Elland Road. O'Leary went straight to the spontaneous shrine erected at the gates of the ground yesterday after flying home from Turkey on Thursday night. There is no doubting his affinity with the Leeds fans.

Whether Celtic's renowned fan power could tempt O'Leary to relinquish the Leeds job is debatable. However, O'Leary's brother Pierse did play for Celtic and in O'Leary's testimonial at Arsenal the opposition were Celtic. It was a match for which the Glasgow club waived their normal fee and almost 20,000 Celtic fans travelled to Highbury for the game.

Yet O'Leary inherited the most promising group of young players in England from Graham and may feel his task at Leeds is only beginning. He has made a great start despite all the problems the club has had off the pitch. Celtic are in need of a similar reconstruction on and off the park.