Celtic next manager: Darren Fletcher odds slashed amid unexpected development

Darren Fletcher has seen his odds to become the next Celtic manager slashed.

The former Scotland international is currently the head coach of Manchester United’s Under-18s side.

Earlier in 2026, Fletcher was the caretaker manager at the Red Devils, overseeing a draw and a defeat until Michael Carrick was appointed.

Now, Fletcher has been linked with the Celtic job in a surprise twist.

One UK bookmaker has placed the coach at 20/1 to become the next Celtic manager, with Oddschecker on 6 March confirming that these odds have been slashed.

Darren Fletcher’s coaching career explained

As it stands, Fletcher has had little experience in management.

The 42-year-old made his first step in 2020, as he became a coach in Man United’s Under 16s side.

In 2021, he was promoted to a first-team coach before becoming a technical director a couple of months later.

Fletcher was eventually replaced by Jason Wilcox in 2024, and in 2025, he became head coach of Man United’s Under 18s side, a position he still holds today.

While he might be doing well in the academy, his time as caretaker manager of the first team was not as successful.

Former teammates Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick in deep conversation after Man United’s U18s beat Man City 3-1 this weekend 🤝 pic.twitter.com/mxeg2tT5eB— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 15, 2026

In his first match, he oversaw a 2-2 draw with Burnley at Turf Moor, before he was knocked out by Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup.

Given how Carrick has performed as interim manager at Old Trafford, it has only damaged Fletcher’s credentials further.

Who else is linked with the Celtic job?

Football Insider recently revealed that Jens Berthel Askou to Celtic is a major possibility, with the Motherwell manager being a frontrunner for the role, and this is reflected by the bookies.

The 43-year-old remains the odds-on favourite for the role at 10/11 as he continues to impress in his first campaign in the Scottish Premiership.

Roberto Martinez follows at 5/2, while Martin O’Neill sits at 11/1, with a permanent stay yet to be fully ruled out by the interim manager.

Potential outsiders include Ange Postecoglou and Shaun Maloney at 12/1.

Postecoglou is yet to take another role after his short reign at Nottingham Forest earlier this campaign.

In comparison, Maloney remains a key part of the Hoops coaching staff under O’Neill as they hunt for the Scottish Premiership title.

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