Brendan Rodgers is being billed as the perfect fit for Celtic after it emerged the Northern Irishman has held a second round of talks with the Parkhead hierarchy.

The 43-year-old has been out of work since leaving Liverpool in October and recently encouraged Celtic’s advances by describing them as ‘one of the world’s great iconic clubs’.

Sportsmail revealed last week that Rodgers would be meeting with Parkhead representatives and has now held further discussions over the vacancy.

Brendan Rodgers has described Celtic as one of the world's iconic clubs as he eyes a move to Parkhead

Ex-Liverpool boss Rodgers has held discussions with Celtic over taking the job ahead of the new campaign

David Moyes, Neil Lennon, Roy Keane, Malky Mackay, Owen Coyle and Roberto Martinez are still in the running with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell promising an appointment within the next fortnight.

Having seen the side hugely underperform this season, Charlie Nicholas feels Rodgers’ preferred style of play – and vast experience – would make him a hand-in-glove fit for the Glasgow giants.

‘Brendan’s is a style of play I have always liked,’ Nicholas said. ‘I openly said I would support Roy Keane totally because he would shake the club and ruffle it up a bit. He would demand standards be met.

‘But for style of play, if Celtic are serious and want to go down that route, I’d be very encouraged by that. Very encouraged.

‘Brendan was a bit fortunate in that the standard of player when he went to Liverpool was high and so was the standard of the academy.

‘The standard of buying was also high but he embraced it and took it on and it’ s a style of play which I have admired.

Charlie Nicholas has hailed Rodgers as the perfect fit for Celtic if he is lined up to replace Ronny Deila

CELTIC'S RECENT MANAGERS Ronny Deila: June 2014 - May 2016 Neil Lennon: March 2010 - May 2014 Tony Mowbray: June 2009 - March 2010 Gordon Strachan: May 2005 - May 2009 Martin O'Neill: June 2000 - May 2005 Advertisement

‘I think Brendan would play more than one up front on European nights here also.

‘It’s not gambling football, it’s entertaining football. It might work and might not, but it’s the principle.

‘The majority of the Celtic supporters that I speak with, Brendan seems to be edging towards the No1.

‘If they can get him and they are prepared to give him his head, it could become very exciting.

‘With Rangers coming back into the league, maybe they are forced it into it a little. But if they can nail that down, it would be quite exciting.’

Nicholas feels that not only would Rodgers lift his former club in the here and now, he would create a template – similar to the much-vaunted Anfield boot room – that would outlast his tenure in Glasgow’s East End.

‘I was ridiculed two or three years ago when I suggested Gerard Houllier,’ he added. ‘I’ve always looked at Guus Hiddink and people like that.

Nicholas said he has called for Gerard Houllier and Guus Hiddink to be appointed at Celtic in recent years

‘I think Celtic for a long-time needed a project, as the managers like to call it, which is ingrained to bring in coaches to the system, a bit like Liverpool’ s boot-room.

‘I always found that the fabric of this club could be built on that again.

‘But it has to have a style. It doesn’t need a guy with Celtic banner wrapped around his forehead or a scarf to identify the Celtic style.

‘Everyone knows what the Celtic style is. But to embrace someone who is quite natural in wanting to play that way is intriguing for me.’

Sportsmail understands Moyes has always been top of Celtic’s wanted list to replace Ronny Deila when the Norwegian stepped down four weeks ago.

But the prospect of the Glaswegian returning to replace Martinez at Everton – a move the former Goodison boss publicly encouraged last week – meant serious talks with Rodgers and other interested parties were arranged.

David Moyes could replace Roberto Martinez at Everton which may have scuppered a potential move to Celtic

Although Moyes’ public flirtation with Everton has seen Rodgers replace him as the favourite for Celtic Park, Nicholas feels his former Parkhead team-mate still ticks every box.

‘Moyesy is adaptable. He plays what he would call winning football,’ Nicholas said. ‘I don’t know if he has a style. It’s built from the back and it’s organised, but he had to do that to groom Everton and they became a very exciting team.

‘Roberto Martinez had a more encouraging side, but he spent £27million on (Romelu) Lukaku.

'David got £8m per year to spend at Everton. He never had a big budget.

Nicholas was talking about potential replacements for Ronny Deila, who left Celtic at the end of the season

‘But I think there is encouragement for him to stay in England. He’s knocked back a lot of high-profile jobs with big salaries.

‘Celtic aren’t talking about that, although if they are prepared to bust the bank for Rodgers or Moyes, then go for it.

‘It is a stronger list than I would have thought two weeks ago.

‘If someone comes in and it’s a big name, I think they’ll open up their arms, look around this stadium and think “I have to fill this and get it excited again”.