MARTIN O’NEILL has told the Parkhead powerbrokers they must be prepared to back Wilfried Nancy with big bucks in the January transfer window.
The Columbus Crew boss is on the brink of being named as Brendan Rodgers’ long-term successor and it looks as though he will be installed in time for Wednesday’s home Premiership encounter against Dundee.
Negotiations are still ongoing with the Frenchman’s backroom team, but all indications are that O’Neill’s interim period is coming to an end.
The 73-year-old Irishman will take charge of the team for tonight’s Europa League encounter against Feyenoord in Rotterdam and is poised to say farewell in his seventh and final match against Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday.
As he attempted to smooth the way for Nancy, O’Neill stressed the importance of the new gaffer being bankrolled by the Hoops hierarchy.
Celtic have taken only four points from a possible 12 as they prepare for their fifth Euro game against Robin van Persie’s side and the veteran ex-team chief emphasised it is crucial for the new man to be given funds in a squad rebuild.
O’Neill said: “Absolutely. If you have recruited a manager, that’s fine. But recruitment is essential.
“I think last year, in terms of Europe, it was like a nice, shining light, as if you could push on. Then you step back again and it’s not so strong.
“In the next couple of years, Celtic will come again in European football. They might just have to step back for a while at this minute. But recruitment is really important.”
O’Neill, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “I know people always say about January being a difficult window – and it may well be.
“But if you’re talking about rebuilding the football club again to be able to try to compete in Europe and to be able to not have a big intake of breath when someone expects you to go to Feyenoord and win, then that is the point.
“Jock Stein said it, European football is where Celtic should be. But at this minute it’s a struggle for us.”
The stand-in manager added: “Celtic over the last 20 years have obviously been the dominating force in Scottish football.
“First of all, winning gives you a bit of respite and then it gives you a chance to build a team in your manner, whatever that manner may be.
“It’s all of those things. Style will definitely come later. But if you’re talking about, for instance, Rubin Amorim at Manchester United and, I say seemingly, I use this word that they’re saying, that he wants to impose a system, I think you have to work with the players.
“That’d be my only advice.
“We’ve got a great captain in the side and there’s a number of boys here who have been winners. That’s good. And I think that the new fella will have to lean on those boys along the way.”
On the squad front, crocked duo striker Kelechi Iheanacho and left-back Marcelo Saracchi have returned to training, but are unlikely to be involved tonight.
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