Gavin Strachan will be in the Celtic dug-out on Sunday with the team under new management.
Recruited in the summer of 2020 to replace Damien Duff, Gavin is a great ‘survivor’. Initially he shared his i-Pad with Neil Lennon. Since then he has been beside Ange Postecoglou, Brendan Rodgers and now it is the turn of Wilfried Nancy to work alongside Gordon’s laddie.
Gavin actually managed Celtic for two matches in January 2021, post-Dubai. Celtic drew with Hibs and Livingston.
It is hard to imagine that Nancy decided off his own bat that he wanted the insight of Strachan as part of his backroom team. After being involved with Martin O’Neill three coaches have stepped aside. Shaun Maloney, Stephen McManus and Mark Fotheringham won’t be involved against Hearts despite steering the club to five successive victories in the SPFL Premiership.
STRACHAN JUNIOR- THE SURVIVOR
How does Gavin survive?
How did his Dad know enough to tell Tam Cowan that the next Celtic manager won’t be appointed until December, more than 5 weeks after Brendan Rodgers resigned. Four coaches left at the same time including John Kennedy, Gavin survived.
There is of course another Strachan on the Celtic payroll. Craig Strachan previously ran a golf shop but since 2008 he has been Celtic’s little known Chief UK and European scout. Craig has recently deleted his Linked-in profile.
Rodgers resigned late on the 27th of October. The announcement was quickly followed by a scathing statement from Non-executive Director Dermot Desmond.
TAM COWAN CONNECTION
The next night Tam Cowan was hosting a Q and A with Gordon Strachan in Blackfriars in the Merchant City. Bizarrely there appears to be a market of people willing to pay money for this sort of thing.
Naturally the resignation of Rodgers was one of the subjects brought up. Four days later Cowan decided to discuss the issue on Off The Ball with Stuart Cosgrove, tellingly he revealed that Gordon Strachan expected a December appointment.
At the time that seemed farfetched. O’Neill came in as interim manager, there were four matches before the November international break which seemed the logical time to bring in a new management team.
Celtic ignored logic, on December 3, an hour before facing Dundee Celtic announced the appointment of Nancy. There was no mention of his backroom staff. It wasn’t the greatest surprise to see Gavin in Friday’s training ground pictures.
Typo on this, it was 28th October, the day after Brendan Rodgers resigned* https://t.co/rmgA1J0fiL
— Celtic Curio (@Celticcurio) December 6, 2025
There is no obvious skill-set that Gavin brings to Celtic. He played almost all of his football in the lower divisions in England. After managing Iikeston he was assistant manager at Doncaster Rovers and Peterborough.
There are dozens of coaches in England with a similar background. There doesn’t appear to be any clubs coming in with offers to tempt him away from Celtic.
FAMILY CLUB?
Most supporters can come to the obvious conclusion why he has survived five years at Celtic, and about to start working with a fifth different manager.
John Kennedy has been name checked by players in interviews. Wingers have commented on Duff and Harry Kewell.
I can’t think of any instance in his five years, bar the two matches that he managed in that any player has referenced Gavin Strachan’s input. And yet he survives. Constantly
Celtic often like to describe themselves as a family club, #celticfamily is even used in club communications.
The Green Brigade and other malcontents know how hollow a boast that is.
It used to be the surname Kelly or White provided you with a life time of freeloading. Now it is Desmond, Lawwell or Strachan.
Strachan jnr? Who coincidentally got kept on.
— Gotta Have Faith (@Suzghf) December 6, 2025
Another point why did we have to wait couldn’t this have been tied up after the international break
— David turnbull (@Davidtu16699681) December 6, 2025
Currently employed by another spl club
— Me Lovely Mayo Mammy (@mayo_mammy) December 6, 2025
Cos him and his sons are in with the bricks when it comes to Desmonds and lawwell
Can’t fuckin stand them
— ☘️THE 🟢 FOX☘️ (@jg2394044) December 6, 2025
A massive thank you to Gordon Strachan for supporting us tonight, and for keeping us all entertained with his stories! 🎤😁@CelticFC | #LondonGala2025 pic.twitter.com/ipGairAAsS
— Celtic FC Foundation (@FoundationCFC) October 10, 2025
Listening to the words of Desmond junior in that context is spine chilling. No humility, no respect. Arrogant & entitled.
— MáireNíM (@MaireNiM1) December 5, 2025
4 Comments
by Steviebhoy
Maybe he’s good at his job
by Steviebhoy
Gordon Strachan having inside knowledge is wrong but sadly people talk and to be honest it’s been happening all my Celtic supporting life.
by UlyssesGunt
Never liked him since he got Roy Aitken sent off at Hampden , don’t ask me to name the year … seriously, it is a real mystery what Strachan does , so irritating when during a match he decides to show anyone who is slightly interested his iPad. … Monty Python style ..
by Pan
Parasites, all of them.