Bellamy 'perfect ' for Celtic, but is timing wrong?

Scottish Masters

Venue: P&J Arena, Aberdeen Date: Friday, 14 November Time: 19:30 GMT

Coverage: Watch on BBC Scotland & iPlayer

Former Celtic midfielder Joe Ledley believes fellow Welshman Craig Bellamy is "a perfect fit" to be Parkhead manager, who would be "very interested" in doing so either later this season or in future.

Ledley is still close with the Wales manager and believes his "aggressive, front-foot" style with the national team would transfer well to Celtic – and that the only thing stopping the move could be timing.

After Brendan Rodgers' resignation, Celtic brought in former manager Martin O'Neill on an interim basis, with Ledley convinced Bellamy would have been an ideal permanent candidate had he not been in the middle of attempting to guide Wales to next year's World Cup in the Americas.

"I like Craig Bellamy," Ledley told BBC Scotland when asked who he thought Celtic should turn to for a permanent successor to Rodgers.

"I've seen a lot of what he's been doing here in Wales as manager of the national team, the way he's fascinated with football. He's obviously got a link with Celtic as well with his days playing there for a short period."

Forward Bellamy represented Wales as a player from 1998-2013 and midfielder Ledley played for this country from 2005-2018.

Wales face World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein away (Saturday) and at home to North Macedonia (next Tuesday) to decide whether they can feature at next year's World Cup via automatic qualification have to settle for the play-offs.

His team are currently third in Group J behind Belgium and North Macedonia, but with a game in hand over the latter while sitting a point behind with two games to play.

"He's very attack-minded, very aggressive, very on the front foot, presses very high," Ledley said of Bellamy's tactics.

"I just think the style of play he has with Wales would definitely suit Celtic. He's very passionate about the club as well. He knows a lot about it so for me he'd be perfect.

"But whether it's a little bit too soon, I think he's come out and already said he's got unfinished business here with the national team, with Wales being guaranteed a play-off for the World Cup in March. So, you know, whether it's one of those where the club will agree to wait and see what Craig does or they might have to move on.

"Kieran McKenna as well at Ipswich has been linked, who's done very well there and was linked a few years back with Chelsea. It all depends what the board really want to do.

"Craig's young and you can see he's a very, very intelligent manager who loves football, breathes football and he's got a good team around him as well."

The comments from Ledley, who will captain a Celtic side on Friday's Scottish Masters event which is live on the BBC, days after Bellamy distanced himself from talk around the vacant job.

The 46-year-old spent only a short time at Celtic playing a handful of games.

"I can understand the links because I played there, [now] I'm coaching, so I definitely understand the links," he said.

"But to me, I love what I'm doing at this present moment. I have to be honest, I'm completely focused on what's to come.

"It looks it's going to be a play-off in March, we know that and to me, that's all I'm focused on and I know it's a little bit cliched, but it's the honest truth.

"I couldn't want for anything more than what I have at this present moment and that's where it lies with me."