Martin O’Neill has gone into revealing detail on almost rejecting the Celtic job this summer.
Many expected the Irishman to be offered the job after he secured a league and cup double, but the bigger question was whether he was willing to take it.
As Dermot Desmond commenced talks in London, reports of constructive discussions with Robbie Keane quickly surfaced, generating an overwhelmingly negative reaction among the support.
It was, therefore, a huge relief when it emerged that O’Neill had committed to a permanent contract to stay as boss.
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O’Neill explained: “I think this was the chronology of things:
“Towards the end of the season the board, quite rightly, were looking at somebody younger coming in and seeing whether that young fellow would want to bring his own team in.
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“Or whether he could work with, let’s say, Shaun Maloney and all of the lads. Quite rightly, they should have been interviewing people.
“After us winning, they gave me a bit of time and thought I could also be in the mix.
“It was about a week or so, maybe a bit longer. I was taking time. I think they said I’d better make my mind up before Christmas!
“I was never sure about these things. They didn’t ask me the day after the Scottish Cup Final. If they had done, I honestly think I wouldn’t have had the energy.
“But then you think ‘what about if you’re half way through September and you think ‘Gosh, I’m alright. Maybe I could have done it.’’ It was one of those.
“I’ve got a wife and two daughters. My two daughters follow things very closely and said ‘Yeah, absolutely.’ My wife followed them as much as anything else.
“My wife and I actually got away for four or five days on holiday but it wasn’t great. The phone was constantly ringing related to this situation.
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“The place we went to in Mallorca was really lovely and in normal circumstances, it would be nice to enjoy it.
“Did anyone try to persuade me I shouldn’t do it? Probably myself as much as anything else.
“I don’t have too many friends and I certainly don’t have many close friends but some friends were saying ‘consider every aspect of it before you make a decision’.
“But we’d finished the season on a great high. It was one of the best moments in my managerial time. It was terrific.
“I’ve always had the enthusiasm but it was to do with the energy and whether you could do it again.
“You’re a year older and while I think this was the main thing, I think they thought about the two little spells I had last season.
“One was a cameo role. The second one was longer. This third one is much longer. But it’s great to be out here.
“I don’t think I’ve ever paced myself. Unfortunately football doesn’t give you the chance to do that. I just need to go full throttle.”
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