IF Celtic are concerned about selling the imminent appointment of Ange Postecoglou to a sceptical fanbase, they could do worse than have a few of his former colleagues onto the club’s TV channel to have a chat about the 55-year-old. His CV may be generating a withering reaction in Scotland, but Postecoglou certainly doesn’t struggle for references in Australia.

Indeed, some of those who have worked under him seem almost evangelical in their devotion to his coaching methods, and have rather taken it as an affront that so many among the Celtic support seem appalled at the prospect of his arrival.

One of Postecoglou’s most fervent disciples is his former assistant manager with the Australian national side, Ante Milicic, who believes that his impact could be transformational not only for Celtic, but for the entire game here.

“I’d love for him to go,” Milicic, now coach of A-league side Macarthur FC, told FoxSports.

“I know he loves Japan, not only for the football, but for the whole lifestyle.

“But he’s ready for Europe. At the back of his mind he has always had that burning ambition to bring his philosophy and his way of football there.

“I’m not an expert in Scottish football, but I think a club of that size where he could come and get the players on board and believe in what he could do, I reckon he could transform not only that side, but Scottish football.

“Players love playing his brand of football, and I really hope it works out for him.”

Milicic was number two to Postecoglou during the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, and he looks upon that period as the making of his future career.

“To be honest, that was my PhD in football,” he said.

“What I got out of it was so much more than just coaching and being around football teams. It’s a real holistic approach to being a modern-day football coach with a clear philosophy and identity.

“You don’t last with Ange unless you are continuously, every single day, wanting to learn, wanting to get better, [meeting his] high standards. When he asks you something, you want to have the right answers.

“It’s not just football - the logistics, the travel, the meeting times, the video, players in off-season, how they’re thinking, how they’re feeling, body language, injury replacements, meal times, recovery. So much detail goes into it.

“By going through all that, that’s what gives you your confidence as a coach moving forward, because you know that he’s prepared you to a level that no one else can get you to.”

The concept of Postecoglou as a mentor to the next generation of Australian coaches is one that was explored by Sydney Morning Herald journalist Vince Rugari in February in a piece entitled ‘The University of Ange’, where various proteges of Postecoglou came together to wax lyrical about his influence.

One was Shaun Ontong, a young coach whose own playing career was cut short, who then was taken under the wing of Postecoglou at Yokohama F. Marinos.

“It’s very hard to explain - I’ve tried to work that out myself about what it is that is so powerful about him and his messages,” Ontong said.

“The one thing I know is that it’s completely authentic It is real. The things he believes in and how he wants to play, he truly believes it, and it wears off on everyone around him, including the players and all the staff.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I take my situation at the moment for granted. I really don’t, because he could work with anyone. I am exactly where I need to be right now. How can you take that for granted?”

Another was long-time understudy to Postecoglou through his own early days in management, Peter Cklamovski.

The 42-year-old worked with Postecoglou with the Australian under-20s, and then during his ill-fated stay at Greek Third Division side Panachaiki, and was by his side as he ascended the coaching ladder from the bottom up.

“From early doors I kind of fell in love with his football. It just resonated with me, ignited a flame within me,” Cklamovski said.

"I've served a strong apprenticeship. I'd say, respectfully, I've learned from the best...his obsession with the football he wants to play, his belief and conviction within that is always powerful, never waivers away from it. His success that he creates is a by-product of all of that.

“He's a serial winner, mate."

High praise indeed. Whether it will be enough to win over a Celtic support still angered by the failed pursuit of Eddie Howe remains to be seen, and both Postecoglou and the club know he will be judged by his actions rather than the words of others, no matter how fulsome in their praise they may be.