Cardiff City's Dave Jones is the Championship's longest-serving boss

Celtic great Frank McAvennie believes Cardiff City boss Dave Jones should be considered as a contender to replace Tony Mowbray as Celtic manager.

Caretaker boss Neil Lennon and former Celtic midfielder Paul Lambert, manager of current League One leaders Norwich, are favourites to replace Mowbray.

Former Manchester City and Wales chief Mark Hughes and Jones have been touted as possible successors at Parkhead.

"Dave Jones from Cardiff has been flung in," said double-winner McAvennie.

Jones is the Championship's longest-serving manager as he replaced Lennie Lawrence at the Bluebirds almost five years ago.

The experienced former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton boss has gradually moulded a Cardiff team that are realistic contenders for Premier League promotion.

Jones' achievements at Cardiff have been in a backdrop of financial uncertainty and the requirement to sell their top players such as Roger Johnson, Aaron Ramsey, Cameron Jerome and Chris Gunter so the Welsh club can survive.

Celtic need someone with experience and knows how to handle the Press and the players Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie

Sixth-placed Cardiff are still pushing to make this season's play-offs as the 55-year-old bids to return to the Premier League.

But the Bluebirds' existence is in jeopardy as the debt-ridden club have been given until 5 May by the High Court to pay an outstanding £1.9m tax bill or face being wound-up.

So Jones may be tempted by another offer and former Scotland international McAvennie, who helped Celtic win the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Cup double in 1988, believes Scottish giants Celtic could do worse than consider Jones.

"Dave Jones is experienced," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Celtic need someone with experience and knows how to handle the Press and the players.

Tony Mowbray struggled to make an impact in his debut season at Celtic

"Mark Hughes is another name. And Paul Lambert is doing great but he is cutting his teeth as a manager and Celtic is a massive club.

"It has got to be someone with experience."

Under-fire Mowbray was sacked after just eight months following Wednesday's 4-0 defeat at St Mirren.

Mowbray won 17 of the 30 league games played since he arrived from West Brom last June and was eliminated from the Champions League by Arsenal and then failed in the Europa League.

The Glasgow club trail Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers by 10 points, having played two more matches than their Old Firm rivals.

Former Celtic captain Lennon will oversee first team matters on an interim basis, with Kilmarnock visiting on Saturday.

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