CRAIG Bellamy will seek an urgent meeting with new Celtic boss Gordon Strachan next week to discover whether or not he has a future at Parkhead.

Despite harbouring serious misgivings when he travelled to Glasgow in January, Bellamy has gradually warmed to his new life in Scottish football.

The Wales international, who has scored nine goals in 14 games since making his loan move from Newcastle earlier this year, has spent the last month seriously contemplating making a permanent move north of the border.

Aston Villa, Blackburn and Birmingham are all hoping to lure him back into the English game, while Bayern Munich have been monitoring his situation closely in recent weeks.

But, after quickly establishing himself as a fans' favourite at Parkhead, Bellamy had been expected to at least discuss personal terms with a Celtic board willing to stump up the £6m needed to prise him from St James' Park.

Those plans are now in disarray, though, after Celtic yesterday confirmed Strachan's appointment as manager following the resignation of Martin O'Neill.

O'Neill will take charge of his final Celtic game this weekend before leaving football to care for his sick wife, Geraldine, who has been diagnosed with cancer.

Strachan will replace him next week and one of the first decisions he will have to make is whether or not to offer Bellamy a permanent move to Parkhead.

Given the tone of some of his recent comments regarding the volatile 25-year-old, it seems unlikely.

The former Manchester United and Leeds midfielder has first-hand experience of working alongside Bellamy as he was the striker's manager during his one-year stay at Coventry.

Strachan has spent the last 12 months writing a weekly newspaper column and, when Bellamy publicly branded Graeme Souness a "liar" earlier this year, the new Celtic boss offered his interpretation of events.

"Craig has a lot going for him," he said at the time.

"But he needs to learn that, for all the weapons he has - pace, goals, hunger and a great engine - what you need most as a footballer is your team-mates with you and the respect of people around you: the manager, coaches and players.

"They are your biggest weapons in being successful and what holds Craig back sometimes is his relationship with those three parties.

"Every top player I know is a right good lad and no problem to deal with and it looks as if Craig has got to be more player-friendly, manager-friendly and coach-friendly."

Former Hartlepool boss Neale Cooper, now at Gillingham, played alongside Strachan at Aberdeen during their European Cup Winners' Cup success in 1983 and believes he will be a hit with the Celtic fans.

Cooper, who signed Strachan's son, Gavin, at Victoria Park, said: ''I'm sure they will be pleased, although it's very sad the way Martin O'Neill had to give up the job.

''It is a fantastic job and Gordon has great experience in the game.

''He has had a nice break from football but Celtic are a big club and Gordon knows that."