THE Great Celtic Guessing Game is in full swing with names of candidates for the permanent managerial post flying around like confetti in a storm.
Jurgen Klopp, Kieran McKenna, Craig Bellamy, Roberto Martinez, Robbie Keane, Nick Hayen, Damien Duff, Kjetil Knutsen, Lee Carsley, Wilfred Nancy – and not forgetting Ange Postecoglou – have all been linked over the past 10 days.
It’s only a matter of time before Uncle Tom Cobley gets a mention.
The contenders are coming thick and fast following Brendan Rodgers’ dramatic resignation at the start of last week.
Former gaffer Martin O’Neill has stepped into the breach in an interim capacity and guided the team to back to back wins over Falkirk, 4-0 in the league, and Rangers, 3-1 in the Premier Sports League Cup semi-final.
The 73-year-old Irishman has steadied the ship that had come off course in recent times and had just lost consecutive Premiership games at Dundee and Hearts before his extraordinary return.
It’s business as usual for O’Neill as he prepares his players for the Europa League clash with FC Midtjylland in Denmark this evening.
Asked if he had spoken to the board about the managerial situation, he answered: “No, I haven’t. I’m totally aware that the results dictate everything.
“Just let’s turn the clock back and we’d lost to Rangers, then I think the hunt for the manager, which is on at this minute, becomes intensified.
“But if you get a result, it’s a bit of respite.
“And if you think about it now, the international break is coming up in a fortnight, it’s a fair length of time for the board to be at least on the search for someone.
“I don’t know if they made their minds up, I haven’t been involved in any of that conversation.”
O’Neill, of course, has his own supporters to give him the job, despite his advancing years.
The one-time Republic of Ireland international team chief, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Well, listen, I’m big headed enough to think I’ve always had it, had a big impact on things – even when I’ve never really had it all!
“No, all sorts of things go through your head.
“But I’m delighted no-one stuck a heart monitor on me on the touchline, otherwise the doctor would not have allowed me to participate in another game.
“So that doesn’t change.
“Sometimes it’s quite good to know you still have a nervous excitement about football.
“And the answer is, genuinely, I don’t know.”
As the challenges mount – and possible new gaffers are flagged up by eager agents from every corner – O’Neill added: “With the fixture list coming up, there’s no respite between now and right through to virtually late February.
“So you think, every week and midweek. That’s really challenging and it’s challenging for young men at the end of the day.
“The consideration will come from the board in that sense. If you don’t win the football matches, then it’s an easier decision for the board to make.
“And I think even if you did win some football matches the board would still be thinking of a younger man stepping into the job.
“That would be my view.
“I can understand the links because I played there. I’m coaching, so I definitely understand the links.
“But, to me, I love what I’m doing at the present moment. I have to be honest.
“I’m completely focused on what’s set to come – there’s going to be a play-off in March, we know that.
“And to me, that’s all I’m focused on. I couldn’t want for anything more than what I have at this present moment.
“That’s where it lies with me.”
ALEX GORDON
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