Ange earliest Celtic exit timeline was set in stone as Tottenham boss explains why Brighton always a non starter

Ange Postecoglou insists he was never going to leave Celtic mid-season despite being linked with Brighton.

Tottenham take on the Seagulls in the English Premier League on Thursday night with the Aussie in the home dugout after making the move from Glasgow to North London last summer. Postecoglou's first season in charge of the Hoops had other clubs sitting up and taking notice. When he continued winning in style on the way to a Treble in his second campaign, Brighton were linked with an approach after losing Graham Potter to Chelsea.

And despite no concrete attempts to lure him away from Parkhead, Postecoglou knew it would have been pointless anyway. He has now revealed that he was far more likely to jump ship after two years, and certainly not in the middle of a season with Celtic. Brendan Rodgers had done similar and felt the wrath of the fans and Ange was keen to finish what he started before thinking about his next step.

"No one knew about me a year ago mate," he said. "No, look I didn't have discussions with Brighton at the time and to be honest there wasn't really the possibility that I would leave Celtic mid-season. I had only been there a year-and-a-half and even though there was nothing real and people weren't really saying to me that clubs wanted to talk to me, I kind of knew in my mind that if I was going to do it, it would have to be after the second year because I was never going to leave within the year.

"So, I never entertained it. Like I said, I have great admiration for the football club because you like the clubs that have a plan and stick to it. They are certainly one of them clubs."