Jim White has provided an update on his close friend Martin O’Neill’s talks with Celtic.
O’Neill is in a straight battle with Robbie Keane this week, with both men holding talks with Dermot Desmond in London.
Our most recent information is that Desmond prefers Keane over O’Neill, despite the latter’s immense success in interim charge last season.
But what about an update from O’Neill’s camp? White has provided just that.
Give us your gut feeling after the cup final… will Martin O’Neill be Celtic manager next season?
Jim White: Martin O’Neill arrived in London on Monday night
On talkSPORT, Celtic-supporting guest Sean Martin pushed White on whether he’d heard anything from O’Neill.
White replied: “We may.
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“Someone not far from me — that’s not Simon [Jordan] — may have had a conversation with Martin last night.
“Martin was arriving back in London last night, and we think today — or certainly tomorrow, but maybe today — is the day he’ll be meeting Mr. Desmond.
“So we’ll know a lot more, but I think, I think, Martin would be the choice of many, many Celtic fans, exactly as Sean has just outlined.
“When it comes to CV, obviously, obviously, Martin, by a country mile, outshines Robbie Keane at this stage. And Robbie has age on his side.”
Co-host Simon Jordan then said: “It’s up to Martin whether he wants to do the job or not, isn’t it?
“Look, the argument I made earlier on was not about whether Celtic are ambitious or not. It was whether Brendan Rodgers should’ve got out from underneath about not qualifying in that individual game [against Kairat], rather than, necessarily, Celtic’s board not having the ambition they should have.
“Robbie Keane, as a manager, has risk attached to it. Martin O’Neill, you know what you’re going to get. What’s the downside of O’Neill?
“Public perception about lack of ambition? Well isn’t that already there?”
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Celtic’s decision on Martin O’Neill
With such a stellar record across both of his interim spells this season, there’s no doubting that O’Neill warrants the opportunity to stay.
However, a completely different challenge awaits next season, with a significant rebuild of the team’s playing squad ahead.
The factor of O’Neill’s age has undoubtedly been done to death, but the fact remains that he would be well within his rights to call it a day after such a special farewell.
As we mentioned, the only other option being considered is Keane.
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