MARTIN O’NEILL admitted he doesn’t know if the convincing 4-0 win over Kilmarnock was his last hurrah as Celtic’s interim manager.
The Irishman watched on in delight as Johnny Kenny, Kieran Tierney, Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels (pen) all struck to hoist the Hoops to within seven points of Hearts with a game in hand.
It was his third domestic victory since his return following the sudden resignation of Brendan Rodgers a fortnight ago.
O’Neill saw the champions overcome Falkirk 4-0 in his first match and follow that up with a 3-1 Premier Sports League Cup semi-final triumph over Rangers at Hampden last weekend.
There was the disappointing 3-1 reverse in Denmark on Thursday, but the side picked up the pace again with their impressive four-goal show against the Rugby Park outfit at Parkhead.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Martin O’Neill ponders on his future as he talks to Celtic TV.
Now the club are heading into the international break and the 73-year-old stand-in gaffer does not know if his services will be required in Paisley a week on Saturday when the Premiership resumes against St Mirren, the team the holders will meet at Hampden in the Premier Sports Final next month.
Looking at the will-he-or-won’t-he scenario, O’Neill said: “I would say, right, so you’re pinning me down now, aren’t you?
“I have to go back down to London again, I’m going to go into a darkened room and come out on Thursday and think ‘has this really happened?’
“So, I should imagine at some stage or another during the course of the next week, whether it be tomorrow, whether it be Saturday or Sunday of next week, that somebody will let me know what’s happening.
“No, I genuinely don’t know. But if they make an announcement in, let’s say, in the next week or something about a new manager, I will take this fortnight and I was nearly going to say rather morbidly, to my grave, but hang about.
“Well you never know, but it’s been fantastic.”
Asked if he would stay in place if requested, O’Neill, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “Do you know, that is a genuinely good point. So I’m going to be serious here. I really don’t know.
“I was going to say it’s a young man’s game. And I’m almost talking myself out of this here, but it’s been tough, you know.
“All the things that I kind of thought I knew about it, have come to sort of fruition, about the strength of the side, or what I thought I saw from a distance.”
ENDGAME…Martin O’Neill commiserates with Killie boss Stuart Kettlewell after Celtic’s 4-0 victory at Parkhead.
O’Neill and backroom boy Mark Fotheringham were spotted watching St Mirren’s 3-0 loss to Hibs at the SMiSA Stadium sparked speculation he would be in charge in a fortnight and possibly beyond.
The Irishman cleared up the situation when he said: “I wanted to come to the game because the one thing I’ve always done here, I’ve had complete respect for opponents all the time.
“You never know, if I was around, it would give me an opportunity to watch the game.
“Fozzy talked the whole way through it. He knows football, he knows his stuff. I can’t believe how well he’s done in Germany and places like Huddersfield, but no, that was all.
“I just wanted to see the game and that is my job.”
Reflecting on the victory over Stuart Kettlewell’s side, O’Neill added: “Obviously, the most important thing is to try and get the first goal and build on that.
“So it was a great effort by the players, considering the disappointment of the other evening, and we had to get some energy into the side.
“I’m delighted we’ve won the game and it gives us a bit of respite now with the international break for a fortnight, and it give me a chance just to settle down.
“I’m going to take a couple of days myself and reflect on the fortnight I’ve just had in the sense of a whirlwind time.
“If the board make a decision in the next two weeks for a new manager, well, I’ve had the time of my life.”
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