There is finally some life to Celtic, and the change in coaches has worked a treat.
Whatever you made of the Brendan Rodgers situation, the fact of the matter is that, given his relationship with the Celtic board, the correct call was made for him to resign and then open the door for a new era.
Not many expected it, but the return of Martin O’Neill, along with Shaun Maloney in the Celtic Park dugout for the first time, has worked wonders.
That was proven as Celtic beat Rangers in the League Cup semi-final on Sunday, and now the noise around those in the dugout is starting to grow when it comes to who will be the next boss.
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Could Shaun Maloney become Celtic’s next full-time manager?
Speaking on talkSPORT, Simon Jordan raised the question as to whether Celtic could go down the road of O’Neill guiding Maloney along the way in the coming months, and then the former winger getting the full-time job.
Steve Bruce and Jim White, who were sitting alongside the former Crystal Palace owner, think it could happen, and don’t feel the supporters will be against it.
Simon Jordan: “Is it beyond the realms of possibility that Shaun Maloney is someone that could be developed under Martin O’Neill, for the next seven or eight months, shown how to manage a football team by giving him more and more authority, More investment into him, and then he takes over from Martin at the end of the season. Is that for the birds, Steve?”
Bruce: “It’s a distinct possibility, isn’t it? The kid has been there and had a little go at Wigan.
“Obviously, it can only help him to go and work with Martin. Then, if you’re going to groom somebody, then why not?”
Jordan asks: “Can they do that at a club like Celtic? Could you do that? Could you, given the expectation of Celtic, given the size of the football club in Scotland, and their perception of dominance and their need to dominate?
“Would the fan base tolerate an O’Neill appointment sitting in place. Developing a young coach to take the managerial role, or do they have to have a perceived name managing Celtic?”
Jim White: “I think they would give it the thumbs up because it makes sense. It makes sense, and you can see what he did (against Rangers).
“Johnny Kenny, a youngster, Martin starts him. Callum Osmond, the previous caller mentioned him. He brings him on in extra time, and he plays a blinder, and he won it for Celtic.”
Bruce: “He makes an impact, doesn’t he? It’s all worked for him. I have to say, there were 20 to 25 minutes in the game, where it was a little bit when Rangers got back into it, but ultimately they’ve won two football matches.”
It’s ‘crucial’ Celtic put Martin O’Neill together with Maloney
Some were probably unsure about how this partnership was going to work, but you can’t deny that it has provided Celtic with serious lift off this season.
Celtic have looked abject for months, but as Bruce touched upon, this has proven to be a ‘very shrewd appointment’ by Dermot Desmond.
“The fact that they put the two of them together is the crucial part,” said Bruce about O’Neill and Maloney.
“Of course, Martin will need young people around him, and he’s got two, three young lads who he’s managed before. So, there’s an instant respect there straight away.
“And Shaun’s done a little bit at Wigan. He’s been a head coach, and all the rest of it. So, he knows what it entails. Very, very shrewd appointment.”
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