Martin O’Neill has been seen at Glasgow Airport as the wait continues on his Celtic future.
Does it mean that an announcement is imminent? Time will tell — the London Stock Exchange is back open after the weekend, after all…
Dermot Desmond reportedly agreed a deal with O’Neill on Thursday evening after a week of talks with him and Robbie Keane in London.
Since then, it’s been pure radio silence from Celtic, though we remain in anticipation of an official announcement.
Which players are likely to depart, given that Martin O’Neill will stay?
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Martin O’Neill seen in Glasgow Airport
The Scottish Sun have pictured O’Neill on his way up the escalators with his passport and boarding pass in hand.
He doesn’t look best pleased.
READ MORE: Chris Sutton lays into Celtic’s ‘wall of silence’ on Martin O’Neill
We still don’t know the exact start date for Celtic’s pre-season, but there is plenty of work needing done before then.
A seismic rebuild awaits the Hoops. O’Neill may have been popular among the Celtic players; many voiced their support for him staying.
But with many of them expected to move on this summer, the dressing room will have a very different look by the end of this summer’s transfer window.
O’Neill had an exceptional domestic record across his two interim spells last season, winning 25 matches, drawing two and losing two.
Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham are expected to remain in their roles as assistants in the Parkhead dugout.
Maloney had interviewed for the Head of Football Operations role previously occupied by Paul Tisdale. You’d assume that it will now be filled by someone else.
But any delay in preparation for the summer transfer window will seriously hurt Celtic, given the extent of the work needing done.
Do you agree with Chris Sutton on Celtic’s impending rebuild?
Chris Sutton on Celtic’s preparation and Martin O’Neill
Speaking on The Warm Up about the delay, Chris Sutton said this week: “But when you think that Martin came back in January, and Celtic have had January until now to plan, and then you’re thinking: ‘Well, there’s going to be a quick appointment’.
“All of a sudden, there’s been this delay. Why? Was it because Martin wanted time out to think about whether it was going to take its toll on him, if he took the job for another season.
“I get that. But why not give him a couple of days to think about it?
“It’s not just about Martin being the manager. Again, it’s about what’s going to happen in terms of recruitment. Celtic are now behind everybody.
“There’s still no real structure. And let’s get it right: the last two windows that Celtic have had have been an absolute disaster.”
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