Darren O’Dea’s point on the radio on Tuesday was spot on:
Whether Celtic win the league or not shouldn’t really have any bearing on their decision regarding Martin O’Neill.
Therefore, by the same token, they should not be waiting until the end of the Scottish Premiership season to ask him the question.
O’Neill couldn’t be more of a known quantity; the club know all there is to know about the man. So why wait until the end of the season, as if that will teach you something new?
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Darren O’Dea is spot on about Celtic’s Martin O’Neill decision
O’Dea said on the Go Radio Football Show: “I think you’re in a position where you say to Martin: ‘What is it you see for yourself?’
“He is the biggest part of the conversation, is ‘what does he want to do?’ There’s so many variables with it.
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“I think this season has been… mental. It’s so hard to predict. To say what’s going to happen, to say ‘does it matter whether he wins the league or not?’
“The job he’s done coming in regardless has been outstanding. So the winning the league or not… should it matter?
“Really, in terms of his credentials? His credentials aren’t changing. What does he want to do, where do Celtic want to go with it? Does it match? We’ll find out.
“But I genuinely have no idea. I have no idea what’s going to happen. I don’t like the idea that of ‘does it come down to the league?’
“Martin O’Neill is Martin O’Neill. Regardless. So can he manage Celtic? Absolutely. Does he want to do it, does he want to take it on if they didn’t win the league? Does he want it if they do win the league? I don’t know. We’ll find out.
“It’s a really hard one.”
It is a difficult decision for Celtic, but they shouldn’t be making it any harder by waiting until the end of May.
Regardless of the decision that the Parkhead hierarchy reach – and there are sensible arguments for both sticking and twisting – Martin O’Neill is Martin O’Neill, as O’Dea puts it.
If Celtic don’t win the league this year, it won’t be because of him.
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Will Martin O’Neill stay at Celtic?
Last week’s report which claimed that Robbie Keane is the frontrunner for the Celtic job also claimed that O’Neill will vacate the role in the summer.
But until he has officially delivered a yes or no, the situation will be up in the air.
Not only is the man 74 years old, but he’s achieved pretty much all he could at Celtic. Winning the league this year would, arguably, be his greatest achievement yet, and a perfect way to round it off.
If he wants to stay, the club would be brave not to give him the job – sometimes the safe, easy option is also the best.
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