Next Celtic manager talks 'pushed back' as Dermot Desmond sitdown with candidates endure setback
The future remains uncertain in the east end of Glasgow regarding next season’s boss
Celtic major shareholder Dermot Desmond has put talks with boss Martin O’Neill on hold for another week.
The veteran gaffer was set to leave the club at the end of the season, but after securing the domestic double during a difficult campaign, O’Neill is now in the running for the top job. Conversations with Desmond and the board are yet to take place after the 74-year old had intimated after the Scottish Cup win over Dunfermline that talks would be held this week. This has now been delayed again.
Desmond and co were ideally hoping to make a decision sooner, rather than later, on the new boss. With Celtic’s title rivals now starting to make moves in the transfer window, it’s important that they also get business done early, however this is more difficult when the future manager situation remains uncertain. Former Celtic men Robbie Keane and Craig Bellamy have been linked with the post.
O’Neill talks ‘pushed back’ with club hierarchy
According to the Herald: "Talks between Celtic’s largest shareholder Dermot Desmond and Martin O’Neill over the club’s managerial hotseat have been pushed back to next week. Speaking after he secured a domestic double by beating Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup Final, the veteran interim boss flagged up the expectation of discussions with Irish billionaire Desmond this week. Celtic were also scheduled to speak with other candidates for the post in London. Like the meeting with O’Neill those discussions have also been nudged back beyond the weekend.”
Given O’Neill’s age, the board will have to decide whether they want to carry on with someone more experienced, or bring in a younger gaffer. There also remains murmurs that if Celtic don’t extend the stay, he still could stay at the club in some capacity in a behind-the-scenes role. His number two Shaun Maloney has also been linked with a permanent position upstairs.
Hoops ‘probably looking at somebody younger’ - O’Neill
After the 3-1 win over the Pars, O’Neill said: “He (Desmond) hasn’t said anything to me, and I don’t know if that’s good news or bad news. But I will genuinely have a wee look at it to see. I’d be thinking, though, that for the football club to go forward properly then they’d probably looking at somebody younger. If you’re asking me if I’d have a project or something like that, no, I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t have it.”
Former favourite Jens Berthel Askou made a move to Toulouse from Motherwell last week as he dropped out the race to become Hoops boss. Meanwhile, Keane resigned from his post as Ferencvaros boss at the end of the season, leaving the door open for Celtic.
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