Talks 'advanced' for key Celtic figure to join Championship side
Read more:
He has been headhunted down south, though, and Swansea are said to be close to reaching an agreement with Celtic for the Irishman to become assistant manager to new boss Alan Sheehan. Talks are at an advanced stage, claims Sky Sports' Anthony Joseph.
UPDATE: Swansea City are close to an agreement to appoint Celtic pathways manager Darren O'Dea as their new assistant boss at the end of the season.
The 38yo is wanted by Swansea to be new boss Alan Sheehan's No2.
Talks have reached an advanced stage and an agreement is close. https://t.co/ICRcacDCEg — Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) May 13, 2025
O'Dea was previously in charge of Celtic's B team. He took up the Player Pathway role in April of last year.
Addressing his potential exit last week, first team boss Brendan Rodgers said: "I spoke to Darren yesterday on that.
"He came to see me and get my thoughts on what that would be, what it would look like.
"Obviously, I know Swansea as a club and a city better than most.
"So, yes, I think that there may well be a possibility of him to go as a coach. I think in his heart, he still sees himself as that.
"Probably the role he's in now is probably only do-able at a club like Celtic. But I think his heart is in coaching and maybe the possibility to manage later on."
"So, yes, he just asked my opinion on it. And, yes, so we'll see what happens on that."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
4 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Alistair Johnston stresses Celtic can't waste a single minute in quest for Champions League comfort
Brendan Rodgers squad face a gruelling second leg trip and Canadian wants to press home advantage upon Kairat Almaty Alistair Johnston insists Celtic will be going out all guns blazing to get off to a Champions League first leg flier. The Hoops face FC Kairat in Glasgow on Wednesday before the 7,000 mile return trek to Kazakhstan the following week. And Johnston is determined to make it as comfortable a journey as possible. Parkhead chiefs are working around the clock to bring in reinforcements ahead of the clash – including long-term targets Mikel-Angel Balikwisha at Anderlecht and Slovan Bratislava striker David Strelec. But Johnston's focus is on building the perfect platform in Glasgow before sealing the deal on the road and securing a return to the group stage. The rampaging full back – who notched in the Bairns bashing – said: 'I think it's massive. But at the same time I've talked to the guys and they played another team in Kazakhstan against Astana a few years back. "They had a pretty comfortable lead going into that second leg and before you know it, it can get really difficult out there. 'That travel, the time changes, all of it. It's not an easy away day at all, so you need to make sure that you're taking full advantage at home when you have the conditions in your favour, we have the crowd on our side. 'I don't think that's something that's lost on us. "Being a two-legged affair and us being at home first, that's going to be something in the mentality where, okay, if you get one, you got to keep pushing and pushing. 'It's going to have to be 90 minutes and don't waste a single minute of it. I think we actually showed that against Falkirk – we were really good right from the start. I think we need to bring that intensity again in midweek.' Johnston insisted Celtic are hitting top gear ahead of the tie on the back of their unbeaten start to the campaign. Brendan Rodgers's men have taken care of St Mirren and Aberdeen in the Premiership and made short work of Falkirk despite the boss making several changes. Johnston said: 'When you rotate six bodies, it's always a good opportunity. 'Some people look at it and think, okay, what's going to happen here? Is there a guy who's going to be out of rhythm? 'But we have such good quality off the bench as well. We raised the game when the subs came on and that's the sign of a healthy team and a healthy squad. 'Falkirk are a tricky opponent. I think a lot of people are going to be caught kind of by surprise by them. They play some good football and if you're not right at it, they can cause some damage. 'So we did a good job limiting them. Obviously, they had some chances in the first half but in the second half, we were a bit more aggressive, got that second goal and kind of kicked on from there, and killed the game. It was a good performance and it leads us into a really big week.' Johnston was thrilled to open his goal account for the term – especially against former Hoops keeper Scott Bain. He said: 'It was nice. I think more importantly is just that to start that second-half as it was actually a bit of an edgy game. I thought they played pretty well in the first half so it was important for us to come out, get an early goal to try and kill the game. 'Obviously as a fullback it's not really my role, but whenever I can chip in with something like that, it's nice. It was kind of just a left-foot swing of the pendulum and I think I caught Bainy by surprise. 'I don't think I've ever actually taken a shot with my left foot before! 'I'll definitely be giving him a little bit. He deserves it. He was having a go at my garden saying that my grass was all patchy!'
Daily Record
4 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Celtic globetrotters used to brutal journeys even if first world problems get lost in the shuffle
Alistair Johnston isn't the only member of Brendan Rodgers' squad who regularly racks up the air miles in between matches It's the longest journey possible in European football to a city that's a hop and a skip away from China. But Alistair Johnston insists the mammoth trek to the far end of Kazakhstan will be a walk in the park for Celtic' s regular globetrotters. The Hoops are determined to go far in the Champions League but this wasn't quite what they had in mind. Brendan Rodgers men will face FC Kairat in Glasgow on Wednesday night for the first leg of their £40m play-off showdown. And they'll need to finish the job the following week more than 3,500 miles from home – before returning to take on Rangers at Ibrox. If the Celts went that far in the other direction they'd end up in Chicago. Johnston knows what's up ahead and he admits it's going to be BRUTAL. But there are plenty of Hoops stars who know what it takes to do the business on the pitch after going long haul. The defender – who will be 7000 miles from his Vancouver home – said: 'We've quite a few guys that do it pretty regularly. Obviously, the Japanese boys, myself, (USA aces) Auston Trusty and Cameron Carter-Vickers. 'It's not fun, I'll tell you that much. It's pretty brutal, it'll be a bit of an eye opener to the European boys who are used to a little hour or two's flight away. 'When you're crossing an ocean or going through five to eight different time zones, it really adds up and makes it difficult. 'I'm curious exactly what the plan's going to be with the travel, but ideally as you try and get there a little bit earlier, acclimate and just get ready to go. But then at the same time right after that you're coming back and it's going to be a really difficult test away at Ibrox. 'So, there's things like that where you need to be able to plan and rely on the squad. 'It's a big couple weeks here for us. But all of us international boys who are used to those long distance travels obviously will try and help out with some tips for the other guys. 'The longest I've travelled? Japan was a brutal one. I don't think people understand how far that is. 'It's like an 8-hour flight from here to Dubai then another 8 hour flight from Dubai to Japan. 'With Canada, anything on the West Coast is really difficult for us. We've had some travel days that have probably added up to about 24 hours and you come back a little groggy, then you're right back into the facility the next day to get training. 'You get used to just keeping the wheels going and getting back on the horse. 'Sometimes you can have a match on a Tuesday night for example, you can't fly out until the Wednesday, you land whatever time it is Thursday. And often I've come in on the Friday morning, trained then got on a bus up to Ross County and played Saturday morning. 'It's stuff like that that I think gets lost a little bit in the shuffle. But at the same time, we get paid pretty well to deal with that stuff. 'And it's definitely a first world issue so it's not something we complain about too much.' Johnston's not going to lose any sleep over the jaunt – it's all about the journey to the Champions League. And he's convinced Celtic are in top shape going into the first leg after an unbeaten start to the domestic season and a sizzling show against Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup win on Friday. Johnston – who notched a stunning second goal in the 4-1 stroll – said: 'I think that that was exactly what we needed. Obviously, it was the first time playing under the lights at Celtic Park, It's a bit of a different atmosphere, a bit of a different feel with a night game. "I think it reminded everyone that this is what it's going to feel like. It prepared us well for what's to come. 'The pressure is going to come with it, it's a massive two-legged tie. We know everything is in the balance but we're excited for it and there's nothing more you could ask for than other guys getting a good performance, getting some more minutes into some of guys' legs. 'From guys who have played big minutes already so far this year and guys that came in, everyone's in a pretty positive note with their performances. We're in a really good place right now.' Johnston has been hooked on the Champions League since he landed at Parkhead and he reckons the Hoops new boys are in for a treat. He said: 'For the new guys that have come to the squad, there's that hunger. They're not really understanding what it is, they've heard of it but they haven't felt it. 'It's a great moment whenever you get to play at Celtic Park under the lights on a Champions League night. So that's something that is now our task over these next week and a half – to go out and make sure we get guaranteed a whole group stage of it.'
Daily Record
34 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Jayden Meghoma to Rangers loan transfer agreed as details of Jefte deal revealed
A replacement for the Brazilian has already been found with the Brentford man heading north Rangers have agreed a loan deal for Brentford's Jayden Meghoma. The England youth international is travelling north to complete his move. The Light Blues made their move for the 19-year-old, as they are set to sell Jefte to Brazilian club Palmeiras. The deal is expected to be confirmed in the next 24 to 48 hours and will allow Rangers to name him as a wildcard signing for their Champions League play-off with Club Brugge. Sporting director Kevin Thelwell had Meghoma high on his left-back options. Brentford have high hopes for Meghoma, who they signed from Southampton last year. The Bees sent him on-loan to Preston North End and believe a move to the Scottish Premiership, where he will get European exposure is the next move. The left-back has been a problem position for Russell Martin having to switch the likes of Max Aarons over to the opposite side. Rangers are set to sell Jefte for a £6million fee with another six figures in add-ons to Palmeiras. The move will see Rangers make a ten-fold profit on the fee they paid to get him last summer to buyout APOEL's option, where he had been on loan from Fluminese. It sees Rangers make major money on a player brought to the club by former technical director Nils Koppen. The Ibrox side also have a 17.5% sell-on as part of the Jefte deal. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
