13 November 2014; Republic of Ireland manager Martin O'Neill, left and Robbie Keane speaking to the press ahead of their UEFA EURO 2016 Championship Qualifer Group D game against Scotland on Friday. Republic of Ireland Press Conference, Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland. Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE (Photo by Sportsfile/Corbis/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Stephen McGowan has confirmed that Martin O’Neill has agreed a deal to become permanent Celtic manager.
According to the Herald reporter a one year deal with a 12 month option was agreed on Thursday night.
Only the Stock Market announcement is awaited/ Monday morning would seem the logical time for that announcement.
At 5pm on the Herald website McGowan reported:
Martin O’Neill has agreed to become the new permanent manager of Celtic.
The Interim boss led the Parkhead side to a league and Scottish Cup double. And he has now secured an agreement for a one-year contract with the option of another 12 months after meeting controlling shareholder Dermot Desmond in London on Thursday night.
O’Neill’s appointment will be confirmed to the Stock Exchange and follows a ferocious backlash from supporters to the prospect of Irish icon Robbie Keane landing the job after talks earlier this week. Wales manager Craig Bellamy was another candidate in the frame.
If confirmed, as seems very likely it will be the third O’Neill managerial announcement inside 12 months.
On October 28 he came in as Interim manager before making way for Wilfried Nancy.
On January 5 he returned again to replace the Frenchman after 33 disastrous days in charge.
O’NEILL WINS THE BATTLE OVER KEANE
It seemed to be a straight choice between O’Neill and Robbie Keane to become permanent manager.
When Keane flew out to South Korea for a Liverpool legend it looked like he had dropped out of contention.
O’Neill faces a massive task rebuilding the Celtic squad.
Recruitment in January was an overwhelming failure with all of those loan signings returning to their clubs.
The new SPFL season starts on the weekend of August 1/2.
More telling than that is the Champions League Play Offs on August 19 and 26.
Last season Celtic lost out to Kairat Almaty at that stage, quickly followed by the sale of Adam Idah and the formation of the Celtic Fans Collective.
O’Neill faces a massive task in putting together a squad capable of reaching the Champions League and putting in a credible performance in that competition.
In season 24/25 Celtic won 12 points from eight matches before losing out to Bayern Munich in the Round of 16 Play Off.
Nine months after that highpoint Rodgers resigned triggering a run of incredible developments around Celtic.
Now the club will be hoping for a period of stability but that will be driven by results.
With the season ending with nine successive victories O’Neill’s legendary status has been underlined.
This is a good day for celtic fc and a good day for true celtic fans of conscience, with this news anything is possible for celtic with Martin O’Neil a true club legend at the helm who has the respect and admiration spread all over the football World. Hail Hail