Simon Jordan has challenged reports that Martin O’Neill could move upstairs to facilitate Robbie Keane at Celtic.
Jordan, who is close with O’Neill having spent years working with him at talkSPORT, rejects the notion that the 74-year-old’s time in the dugout is up.
Reports naming Keane as Dermot Desmond’s favoured candidate over O’Neill also suggest that the Parkhead icon could move into an advisory role instead of continuing as manager.
But Jordan, who has access to more knowledge on the topic than most, doesn’t buy this.
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Simon Jordan: Robbie Keane link-up wouldn’t work for Martin O’Neill at Celtic
Speaking on talkSPORT, Jordan said: “I perceive there is an opportunity to bring Robbie Keane in and [for him] to potentially work under Martin O’Neill.
“I’m not sure that would work for Martin.
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“I think Martin would want to manage Celtic. And if he’s managing Celtic or working in a way to either groom — to use the terminology advisedly — Robbie Keane to take over the management job, I would be surprised if he did that.
“I would be surprised if Martin wanted to do that.
“If they bring [Keane] in as an assistant to Martin as manager, I think that, to some extent, undermines him…
“Not because he should be fearful of the young protegee coming up, but because it’s basically suggesting that his job is to groom him as a successor, rather than manage the team.
“Succession in management is a great thing, but you build that internally. You don’t parachute somebody in and create a management team with the precursor that this guy’s going to manage you into a position.
“I would be surprised if Martin wants to be director of football. If he’s got the energy, he’s got to stop saying that he hasn’t got the energy. Because he has got the energy, and I suspect that he’s not saying that anymore.
“But I think Martin can do a job. I think it’s evident he can do a job. Of course he has the energy.”
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Celtic’s manager race: Keane vs O’Neill
Keane is already lining up his Celtic backroom staff, with Scott Brown and Jonny Hayes in line for Parkhead returns and Stephen Glass also prepared to accompany the Irishman.
O’Neill’s status will factor into Shaun Maloney’s role next season; the 43-year-old has reportedly been interviewed for the upstairs role of Head of Football Operations.
Keane’s pre-existing relationship with Desmond is well-known and undoubtedly a factor in his candidacy for the hotseat.
O’Neill has been vocal about his reservations over the role, and could yet decide to step out of the running.
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