I got a chance to have a longish chat with Source A today, and I was reminded of when I spent a lot of time up the hill at Stormont in 1998.
During the negotiations that ultimately led to the signing of the Belfast Agreement, there was a mantra kicking around the huddled press pack:
“Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”
Ultimately all negotiations come to the point where there is a sticking point, and it is either resolved, or it is walking away time.
All it takes is one missing piece for the entire thing to fall apart.
Today my guy told me more of the specifics about the Eddie Howe interview, and I thought of that basic truth.
A lot of those details must stay private.
However, it is fair to say that the Ex-Bournemouth guy turned up to the interview for the Celtic job with an impressive knowledge of the current state of the Parkhead club.
It is no secret that Mr Desmond had another candidate in mind as he waited for Eddie to make his presentation.
Let’s just say it is a rare enough event when Don Dermot has his plan of action altered.
However, I think that might well have happened, and it speaks volumes about the quality that Eddie Howe brings to the table.
Of course, the devil will remain in the detail, and there are two parties to this potential coming together.
Piecing it together and taking a quick break from the Word Mines, I think that Howe made a major impression on the main man in the interview.
Consequently, it is probably his job to turn down at the time of writing.
The term that was used to be today was “verbally agreed”.
Obviously, the Hoops fraternity will be trying to piece it all together.
That’s a process rather than an event.
However, the new fella McKay is coming in next Monday.
Moreover, he knows just Howe he can make a first impression with the fans.
Nota bene
I know that there are a substantial amount of comments to be moderated. However, a manuscript deadline demands my attention, and that will be the state of affairs for the next few weeks.
In the meantime, please stay safe.
