Celtic fans on TalkingPoints have been debating the club’s decision on Martin O’Neill’s future.
There are multiple questions to be answered regarding O’Neill: Does he want the job? Is he in the running for the job? Does his future depend on whether or not Celtic win the league?
Perhaps the most important one, at this stage, is whether or not he is in the running. He recently said that barring “some form of miracle”, he won’t be manager next season.
The door remains slightly ajar, then — so what are 67 Hail Hail readers on TalkingPoints saying?
Should Celtic make a decision on Martin O’Neill’s permanent future before the end of the season?
Celtic fans in doubt over Martin O’Neill’s future
O’Neill is the biggest reason why Celtic’s title push remains intact. However, the support isn’t sure if he is the right long-term option.
One user said: Surely Martin can’t stay on, no matter how well he’s done. He’s 75 this week! He’s a legend but we’ve got to look long-term.”
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Another said: “Can nobody at Celtic think outside the box and find a young, inspiring manager to take control of the team? No disrespect to O’Neill, but he’s done his job.”
One fan thinks that the club should kick the can down the road, saying: “Leave it until the end of the season. Better to see how things play out in the title race.”
Others want the decision to belong to O’Neill, and O’Neill himself. A regular commenter said: “I would think it would depend if he was up for it. If so then yes…..”
Another added: “Celtic can’t make no decision. The one who decides is Martin O’Neill, and he has already decided. Fair enough at his age.”
Some fans have proposed a different role for O’Neill, with one saying: “If he’s not in charge next season, I’d hope he stays on in some capacity as he’s invaluable to the club.
“I noted Thomas Franck has been mentioned as a possible candidate, but I don’t know if we could afford him.”
A final fan even proposed that he should be the kitman, saying: “If we win the league this year then Shaun Maloney should be head coach and St Martin can be the kit man, so he’s in the changing room to do the team talks but taking it easy in his old age.”
Agree or disagree?
Martin O’Neill on his permanent Celtic future
Asked if he had been involved in any discussions about the permanent job, O’Neill said: “The owner has not even spoken to me about that, not at all.
“Or the board. I swear to you, they’ve not even mentioned it.”
On the mammoth rebuild awaiting the permanent manager, he continued: “It’s the time for me. It really is the time, honestly.
“I look at you, and I wish I was your age, because I would have the energy and it would not be a problem to me.
“It would not be a problem, absolutely not, about saying, ‘I want to do this for the next eight or nine years or something like this here’.
“Part of my life, not having that much left of it, is that I would like to enjoy. Is this enjoyment? No. Is it perversely some sort of enjoyment? Only if you win.
“We will have to try and act relatively quickly on players. On the larger picture, yeah, I’m looking at this minute at players, but it is strange, because I’m more focused on the matches here.
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