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CELTIC owner Dermot Desmond is considering offering Davie Moyes the chance to rebuild his battered reputation at Parkhead.

Record Sport has learned the Irish tycoon has pencilled the name of Moyes at the top of his short list of candidates to replace Neil Lennon, who stood down as manager on Thursday.

And Desmond is expected to decide over the weekend whether or not to make a formal move for the man who was axed by Manchester United in April, just ten months after taking over at Old Trafford from Sir Alex Ferguson.

Majority shareholder Desmond is regarded as Celtic’s Godfather but before he makes Moyes an offer he would prefer to be sure that the Bearsden born Scot will not turn it down.

With other big names on the wanted list Celtic are determined to chose carefully and minimise the risk of being turned down.

But sources close to Moyes believe the former Parkhead player would jump at the chance to rebuild his career at a club of such global status, with the chance of an immediate return to the Champions League next season.

Moyes is regarded down south as damaged goods after his disastrous reign at United and knows he is very unlikely to be head hunted by one of the English top flight’s biggest clubs.

And our source said: “It would look better on his CV to go to a Champions League club like Celtic than it would to consign himself to a relegation battle in the PremierLeague.

“Yes, Celtic might not have the standard of player which has been used to working with over the last seven or eight years but it’s a huge club with a massive support and would offer Davie the chance to win trophies and to prove his credentials at Europe’s highest level.

“In many ways Celtic would be the perfect ‘face-saver’ for Davie and his appointment would also be presented as a huge coup for a Scottish club. It was only 12 months ago that this guy was the hottest ticket in British management after all. Celtic could land themselves an excellent manager and one with a point to prove.

“But first Dermot Desmond will have to ask him the question.”

If Moyes is unwilling to restart his career in Glasgow, Celtic have other irons in the fire and Chief Executive Peter Lawwell says the situation won’t be rushed.

Despite the Champions League qualification games getting underway in the middle of July, the Parkhead chief-executive said: “We’re just going to go into a selection process.

“We’ll pull together a list of candidates, discuss it with the board and see if we can find a new manager. We’re very, very early.”

Club legend Henrik Larsson seems to have completely ruled himself out of the running after his club Falkenberg claimed their manager has been the subject of interest.

However, the Scandinavians also insisted that Celtic have made no contact with them and Sporting Director Hakan Nilsson has also stated that the 42-year-old has given the club his word he will be staying put until the end of the season in November.

Nilsson said: “Henrik is the manager of our club. We talk to each other every day. He is a very honest person. He said he has had contact from a club.

“But the only thing I know is Henrik is staying with Falkenberg this season. He said that to me.”

“He told me he has said ‘no’, and I know him as a man of his word,” Nilsson said. “We have no concerns about him leaving.

If Moyes isn’t the final choice, the club will undergo an exhaustive process with the likes of Owen Coyle, Jackie McNamara and Steve Clarke are among potential candidates, as is Roy Keane.

Like Moyes, the Republic of Ireland No.2 is admired by majority shareholder Desmond.

Keane opted to take a humorous approach last night when confronted on the Parkhead issue.

He smiled: “I’m not taking a pay cut for anybody!

“I’ve got a job. I’ve got two jobs. I can’t have another one!

“They are a brilliant club, an absolutely fantastic football club, one of the best in the world. But I have got a job.

”There’s always speculation when you are out of work or whatever. People might see this role as part-time or whatever, but it keeps me busy, I enjoy it.

“I’m happy with what I’m doing and if somebody calls me, I will speak to Martin and the FAI and we will have a look at it.

“But it’s all speculation. As I said, I have got a job, we have got a game at the weekend, a busy old weekend coming up and I am looking forward to that.”