The former Manchester City manager has been linked with the Parkhead vacancy following the departure of Tony Mowbray last week.

And Bowen - Hughes' number two at both Blackburn and City - insists he has the credentials for the hotseat at the Hoops.

Bowen told the Daily Record: "We're not in the business of just going in and getting a fat cheque and thinking, 'Well, if things go wrong we'll be out in a year's time and we'll go somewhere else'.

"Mark has always said it has to be the right vehicle, the right situation. He's always been a manager or coach who wants to go in and build a place and make a difference long term.

"His talents are widely recognised and since City we've been waiting for the right opportunity.

"In that sense, I suppose we were expecting this speculation and it's a pleasant expectation to see that he's been linked with the Celtic post.

"Mark's credentials are there for all to see."

Meanwhile, Aiden McGeady has admitted the 4-0 defeat to St Mirren which ultimately spelled the end of Mowbray's short tenure was even worse than Celtic's infamous 5-0 thrashing against Artmedia Bratislava.

McGeady told the Scottish Sun: "The St Mirren result was up there with Bratislava, maybe worse.

"It's unheard of for a Celtic team. I was embarrassed to be part of it.

"It was shocking. It's too big a result not to be remembered. It'll go down in history like the Caley Thistle game in the John Barnes era."