Martin O’Neill is to stay as Celtic manager permanently, it is being reported.
After a week of talks with Dermot Desmond, the decision has finally been reached for the fairytale to continue.
O’Neill has been the reason for Celtic’s unlikely league and cup double this season, maintaining a stellar record across both of his interim spells despite adverse circumstances.
He has well and truly earned the right to stay on, and his new extension recognises this.
Martin O’Neill STAYS! Thoughts on the decision?
Martin O’Neill agrees one-year deal to stay as Celtic manager
As is now being reported in the Herald and the Sun, O’Neill has agreed a one-year permanent deal with the option of another year.
The contract potentially takes him beyond his 76th birthday.
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O’Neill and Desmond reportedly agreed the deal at a meeting in London on Thursday night, and it is now set to be announced to the Stock Exchange.
Of course, the agreement follows widely publicised reports of talks with Robbie Keane which were met with widespread opposition from Celtic supporters.
Keane and O’Neill were reportedly in a one-vs-one shootout to land the permanent gig despite such a gap in their popularity.
However, as was predicted to be the case by many, the ball was in O’Neill’s court. The Irishman had been vocal about his reservations over the permanent role.
He said: “I’ll have to have a think. I think in the next week, I’ll meet up with the owner, see what he’s saying. Hasn’t said anything to me.
“So I don’t know whether that’s good news or bad news. But yeah, I will genuinely have a wee look at it to see.
“But I would be thinking that the football club to go forward, to go forward properly, would probably be looking at somebody younger.
“If you’re asking me, would you have a project or something that gets here? No, I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t have it.
“I’ve never believed in a project anyway, to tell you the truth. But I definitely couldn’t do that.”
He concluded, however: “I don’t think I’ll ever lose the hunger.
“I don’t think I’ll lose the passion for the game. Honestly, I really don’t.”
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