Charlie Nicholas reckons the Celtic support are sick to death of the club hierarchy and will direct their rage at the board if Ange Postecoglou endures a slow start.

The Greek-born Australian head coach takes over as new Hoops boss after first choice Eddie Howe rejected terms after lengthy discussions.

Celtic confirmed as much but revealed after Postecoglou was announced that they had tracked the boss for a number of years. But fans were less than convinced and continued to complain - including the Green Brigade who recently unfurled a banner outside Parkhead describing the board as 'unfit for purpose'.

That's why Nicholas believes the board will be the ones to get it in the neck for allowing things to go so long without bringing in a manager and, as the retired striker puts it, leaving Postecoglou in an awkward position before he has even started, with such an overhaul of the squad expected this summer.

“The manager has got no time at all. I see this guy as being someone who is already in a really awkward position,” Nicholas said. “I know they’re currently looking at different players, but it is getting them in the door – and also getting the ones who don’t want to be at Celtic Park out. Unfortunately, the ownership tends to wait until they sell before they buy.

"He needs to get players in, he needs to get a shape right, and also he’s got tremendously difficult away ties. So it is going to be a testing and difficult time for the new Celtic manager, but it is a challenge.

“If you have not got the players in that you want, I would still expect to see your team having shape, I would expect to see attacking football, so if he gets off to a good start, who know where it could take us?”

The former Hoops attacker added: "I think the Celtic fans will be fair to (their manager), but they are sick to death of the ownership at the top level,” he added to PA Sports. "They want representation and voices heard and they’re not being heard, they haven’t for a while now. If is a slightly slow start for Celtic with the new manager, then I don’t see him getting a real awkward time, I think it will all be directed at the ownership.

“Some players have been there for a while and have not been performing well, so they will be getting the flack also. The Celtic supporters will accept that they didn’t really pick this guy, but he is here. They will support him strongly – but you have to get something out of the team.”

Charlie Nicholas will be supporting Jeff Stelling as he walks four marathons in four days through the north-east, Yorkshire, Merseyside and London during his fourth March for Men for Prostate Cancer UK later this summer. To find out more, visit https://prostatecanceruk.org/jeffsmarch