Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill are an unlikely management duo.
But then again, who saw this week coming at Celtic? On Monday morning, Brendan Rodgers took training and went about his business as normal.
Rodgers’ shock resignation threw everything up in the air, and Dermot Desmond’s scathing attack on him made an ugly collapse in their relationship public.
For O’Neill and Maloney, the focus was simple: win against Falkirk. A 4-0 win on Wednesday saw them pass that test with flying colours.
But Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final against Rangers will be a much bigger test for the duo. Chris Sutton has been discussing their working relationship.
Chris Sutton on Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill at Celtic
O’Neill’s stunning return was his first managerial role since 2019, when he had a brief spell in charge of Nottingham Forest.
Maloney has spent the last few years stabilising Wigan Athletic amid financial struggles and points deductions.
READ MORE: What Alistair Johnston said about ‘different’ Celtic manager target four years ago
O’Neill is notoriously a man-manager who rarely takes training, delegating sessions to his assistants before making his decisions with their input.
For Sutton, in his column for the Daily Record, he is acting as a ‘shield’ for Maloney.
He said: “Seeing Martin O’Neill in his tracksuit and boots on the Celtic Park touchline was almost surreal.
“I was half expecting to hear instructions being barked into my ear. My old boss seemed to enjoy himself, but as much as it was nice to see him back out there, it just summed up a frankly incredible and surreal week at the club.
“Martin is back, but to be honest, it’s surely more as a shield to Shaun Maloney. The figurehead who can take the attention from Shaun and let him get on with it.
“Maybe also a shield to the board in an attempt to create some feelgood. Shaun is going to know the current squad better.
“That’s not being unfair to Martin, just the fact he’s been around the club in recent times. I’m sure Maloney will be dealing with the finer details ahead of the semi-final against Rangers.”
Who will be Celtic’s permanent manager?
Despite his winning start, O’Neill has made it clear that he has no intention of becoming the permanent Celtic manager, saying that he expects the club to appoint a ‘young and upcoming’ coach in his place.
This could be Kieran McKenna, who didn’t rule out a switch to Celtic in his Ipswich press conference on Thursday. The 39-year-old wouldn’t come easy though, with a long-term lucrative contract at the Tractor Boys.
Kjetil Knutsen wouldn’t come easy either, but Robbie Keane is interested in the role. Wilfried Nancy is a left-field option who is on the club’s shortlist.
It won’t be Craig Bellamy though, with the former Hoops striker firmly focused on his World Cup qualification campaign with Wales.
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