Major next Celtic manager update as Wilfried Nancy arrival has delay button hit after board phone call
Martin O’Neill may have slightly more time in the Parkhead hot-seat.
As Celtic travel to Easter Road to face Hibs, Martin O’Neill has provided a shock update on the ongoing permanent managerial search.
Having just won their first European away fixture in four years, the Celtic interim boss has worked wonders so far, winning five of his six games in charge so far, including an Old Firm League Cup semi-final victory. While his days appeared to be numbered as Celtic boss, a recent development could mean he stays on for a while longer.
Columbus Crew boss, Wilfried Nancy is tipped to be Brendan Rodgers’ permanent successor, with the Hibs match expected to be O’Neill’s last. However, in his pre-match interview, the 73-year old has leaked information that he may not be done just yet.
‘I thought it was going to be my last game, then I got a call...’
O’Neill himself was under the impression that his tenure would be over after the Hibs clash, however after receiving a phone call from the Celtic board, the timeline of Wilfried Nancy’s arrival appears to have altered.
In his pre-match Sky Sports interview, O’Neill said: "I thought it was my last game [Hibs], then I got a phone call yesterday to say the process is still ongoing and there's a decent chance I will still be here for Wednesday. I think that would definitely be the last one."
The Hoops will face Dundee on Wednesday night as they seek revenge for the 2-0 Dens Park defeat they suffered in October, which turned out to be Rodgers’ penultimate Premiership fixture. If what O’Neill is true, it will be his eighth game at the helm during his interim spell.
‘Paperwork’ issue responsible for Nancy delay
The timeline of the Nancy appointment continues to get delayed, as originally it was reported that St Mirren away would be O’Neill’s last game, even before the Feyenoord win. While the procrastination of the Nancy appointment may anger a few Celtic fans, they can at least take comfort from the fact that they are in the hands of a club legend.
O’Neill told BBC Scotland pre-match that it’s simply paperwork issues that are causing the delay of Nancy’s appointment. He said: “I thought it was going to be my last game, but I got news yesterday that the process is still ongoing.
"It's something to do with paperwork, I didn't go into the ins and outs of it. There's a strong possibility I will be in charge for Wednesday's game and I think that's definitely it. The process is ongoing, but that should materialise next week."