Efe Ambrose insists Celtic can hand Neil Lennon’s successor a welcoming gift by qualifying for the Champions League.
The Hoops are looking for a new manager following the Irishman’s decision to call it quits after four years with the club.
While the new man’s identity has yet to be confirmed, Ambrose believes the Hoops will be ready for him.
“The new manager is going to meet players who are hungry for success and want the club to move forward,” he says. “We have a good group of players, a strong team who are ready for the challenges in front of us.
“Neil Lennon has laid the foundations, so anyone who is coming now is going to meet a good team with some talented young players. We will give everything we can to make sure the club succeeds and success means winning the Champions League qualifiers.
“I can’t imagine a season without Champions League football. We know what we need to do to reach the group stages, and we’ve done it for the last two or three years.”
There has been speculation Celtic might have to embark on their new continental campaign without the services of Virgil van Dijk and Fraser Forster, with both men having plenty of admirers from English clubs.
Ambrose, who himself would be a possible summer signing target, is unconcerned.
“I won’t accept anyone is leaving until it happens,” he says. “Nobody has expressed a desire to leave so we shouldn’t have any worries only belief. Anyway, in football good players go and better players come in all the time.
“Whoever is at the club when the new season starts must make sure we all support the new manager. It is a great club with great history and the fans are renowned for being the best in the world, so I am sure that will happen.”
Before that, Ambrose has the World Cup to look forward to. Nigeria face Argentina, Bosnia and Iran in Brazil with a familiar face to be tackled first up in a friendly on Tuesday.
“We play Greece in America so it will be good to see Georgios Samaras,” says Ambrose. “Mind you, playing against him will be tough as he is a very difficult opponent.
“As far as the World Cup itself goes, it is a big challenge, with those who do well getting plenty of attention.
“At the same time, you always remember where you come from and where you are going, and for me that is Celtic and the Champions League qualifiers.”
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