MARTIN O’NEILL smiles while he admits he is not sure what he will be doing on the Sunday afternoon of December 14.
That’s the date of Celtic’s Premier Sports League Cup Final encounter against St.Mirren at Hampden.
O’Neill could be watching the action on television or he could be adding his comments as a pundit for the satellite channel that sponsors the competition.
Or, of course, the 73-year-old comeback Hoops gaffer could be in the dug-out at the national stadium as the holders look to retain their trophy and win the first piece of silverware of the season.
NATIONAL HERO…Martin O’Neill struts his stuff on the Hampden touchline.
Asked if he expected to be in a tracksuit and occupying the touchline on a showpiece occasion next month, the former boss, who lifted seven honours during a seven-year spell after arriving at the club in the summer of 2000, thought for a moment.
Then he answered coyly: “I have had no indication, genuinely no indication whatsoever at this minute. None at all.
“With Midtjylland now Thursday night and then Kilmarnock on the Sunday, I would have thought there’s probably time for them, with an international break, for the board to think about something.”
Pushed on the subject of leading out Celtic on the big day, O’Neill responded: “Well, secretly, you would love to.
“Look, we’re in the results business and all of these things can change. I was actually at Midtjylland’s game against Nottingham Forest, where they were just too strong for them, really, and that was at the City Ground.
“And then we’ve got the Kilmarnock game on the Sunday.
MAKE MINE A DOUBLE…interim boss Martin O’Neill and captain Callum McGregor share a moment after the 3-1 Premier Sports League Cup semi-final triumph.
“So, honestly, these games, it’s all about results and that will determine whether the board might think about taking their time.
“If we’d got beaten on this occasion, I might not even have seen Thursday.”
Questioned if he would be open to discussions with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond, who offered him the interim role a week ago today, O’Neill, speaking to Premier Sports TV, said: “The very obvious answer would be yes, I would do.
“But I genuinely don’t know what to expect.
“When I saw the games they had and then the international break, I thought they’ll have a couple of weeks to think about it.
“I haven’t even spoken to Dermot since that. In a perverse sort of way, I’ve enjoyed the two games – but not a lot.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted to have won the game, absolutely delighted. It was a really strange feeling to be in the Hampden dressing room, really strange, but it was nice to win.
“If it had been the other way around, it would have been a real sickener.”
COMEBACK BHOY…Martin O’Neill acknowledges the Celtic supporters at time-up.
Asked about the possibilities of remaining on a permanent basis, O’Neill added: “Well, I don’t think there’ll be that conversation. I genuinely don’t think that would be the case.
“I’ve come in, deep down I probably have enjoyed it a bit better than I’m saying to you, but not a lot. So, it was really strange.
“I’ve had enormous help from my backroom staff, Shaun Maloney, Mark Fotheringham and Stephen McManus.
“So, yeah, it was lovely. It’s a great feeling in the dressing room when you’ve won a game like that.”
