Postecoglou's pal on why he doesn't see him leaving Celtic for Spurs

Ange Postecoglou and Steve Blair are tight.

Tighter than tight. 'Blairy' as Postecoglou calls him.

The duo formed the closest of bonds at South Melbourne, where they were team-mates for a decade in the 1980s and 1990s. He is someone who is part of the Celtic manager's inner sanctum.

Blair has read all the social media reports and watched the rumour mill go into overdrive regarding his best pal and a switch south of the border to Tottenham Hotspur. The Premier League side will reportedly step up their interest after Saturday's Scottish Cup Final against Inverness.

But Postecoglou's pal remains unconvinced and doesn't see him leaving Celtic.

The 61-year-old reckons that the grass isn't exactly greener on the other side, feeling Postecoglou has some unfinished business in Glasgow - particularly when it comes to the Champions League.

It is his opinion that the Australian is not ready to throw the towel just yet as he would be turning his back on so much.

Blair admits that the Postecoglou he knows is intensely loyal and that leaving a lasting legacy at Celtic is paramount to his thinking.

READ MORE: Celtic's Hyeon-gyu Oh is the perfect replacement for Kyogo

Blair said: "Leaving a legacy at Celtic is really important to Ange. In my heart of hearts, I don't think Ange will go to Tottenham Hotspur.

"I think he has unfinished business at Celtic, especially in the Champions League. He wants another crack at that competition. That's what I think drives him.

"The Ange I know is loyal and true to his word. All his comments tell you that he is focused on the job at Celtic and what he wants to do.

"Nothing in life is certain and it could happen. I just don't think it will. If the Liverpool job was up for grabs and they were interested in Ange then it would be a totally different story.

"A lot of people hear what they want to hear or see what they want to see with regards to Ange. He has even made comments like he will be around for longer than people think. He has told them these things.

"Celtic are on the cusp of a world record eighth domestic treble. Nobody would have predicted that when he first walked in the door. I had mates calling me over here when he was first linked with the job asking, "Ange who?"

"He wasn't a name to the Celtic supporters and they were not having it as it was not what they wanted. Now look at the transformation. He has done an immense job of inheriting a shambles where the fans were protesting about everything.

"Ange has managed to unite every member of the Celtic family. He came over to Scotland himself with no backroom staff to a foreign land and revitalised Celtic in their desperate hour of need. That is just crazy.

"I have heard all about the likes of Jock Stein, Tommy Burns, Martin O'Neill, Brendan Rodgers and people like that down the years and to see that it has all sunk in with one of your best pals is like a dream.

"He has a wonderful knack of saying all the right things at the right time and being the statesmanlike manager that a club like Celtic crave.

"It is sort of like fate for him as well as he was a Liverpool and Celtic fan growing up. We were always talking about Celtic when we played for South Melbourne, so he has been indoctrinated with all the chat from a very early age.

"It has all come full circle with that now as he gets to walk out at Celtic Park every week to the strains of "You'll Never Walk Alone". That's really special for him.

"I've told him every time he walks out that tunnel and the Celtic fans are singing that song, I am sitting right on his shoulder singing it in his ear!

"I'm sure he reads texts like that and thinks, what the hell is he talking about? He is used to it. He probably just thinks that's Stevie... again. I am as proud as punch of him and what he has achieved at Celtic. My heart swells with pride every time I watch him.

"Whenever I text him he always gets back to me despite having a million and one things to do. I always get a thumbs-up as he hates letting people down but he understands the weight and the pressure of it all. He handles it all so well.

"Ange has also got the buy-in from the Celtic board, the Celtic players and most importantly the supporters. He understands that bond and what it means and why Celtic is more than just a football club.

"If he wins the eighth domestic treble, he will create a world record but more importantly for Ange he will be lauded and up there alongside Stein, O'Neill, Rodgers and Lennon as treble-winning Celtic managers. That's an amazing achievement and absolutely brilliant.

"That's why I just don't see him building that rapport with the fans, with the club and everybody connected to Celtic worldwide and then all of a sudden just turning his back on them.

"I know the guy personally and he would not do that. He just would not do that. I just can't see that happening."

READ MORE: Spurs masquerade as a big club, Celtic are the real deal - Haggerty

Furthermore, Blair believes it is high time that Postecoglou was rewarded with a bumper contract rather than the one-year rolling deal that he is currently on.

That would reaffirm Celtic's commitment to Postecoglou as well as ensure that any potential suitors would have to fork out plenty for his services, just as Leicester City had to stump up £9 million in compensation when they plundered Brendan Rodgers from Glasgow's east end.

Blair is adamant that if Celtic came up with a suitable package, then Postecoglou would put pen to paper and hand the club a massive boost heading into the summer.

He insists that would be the biggest statement of all by Celtic to tie their most highly prized asset on a longer-term deal.

"I would love to see the club do their bit now and fully commit to him," Blair continued. "They have appointed Ange and they have seen what he can do. He can bring success and he can play attractive football. Celtic are scoring goals and the fans love what they are seeing.

"Now Celtic need to reward Ange - don't they? Get him off this one-year rolling contract and reward him with a deal worth two, three or five years, whatever it is.

"I think he would sign a new contract. It also sends a message to Tottenham, or any others for that matter, that if you want Ange you are going to have to pay top dollar for him.

"You are going to have to compensate Celtic for him because they value him highly. I would like to see Celtic do that now.

"It would consolidate in him that Celtic are fully invested in him and right behind him.

"I look at the pictures and his wife and his family all seem really happy. Ange is competing in the Champions League and he is winning silverware. He is absolutely adored by the Celtic faithful, so it is happy days.

"Long may those happy days continue for Ange. As long as he is at Celtic, of course."