'Martin O'Neill to play cunning game with Celtic board, he's about to do exactly what they don't want'

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill is likely to put the ball back in the board's court when it comes to settling his future in the coming weeks.

That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the 74-year-old will not resign, despite suggestions that he will evaluate his own future.

O'Neill's position at the helm is under major scrutiny after back-to-back defeats to Rangers, and it is possible that he has now managed his final game for the Bhoys.

However, Wyness believes that O'Neill will play a "cunning game" and won't take his future into his own hands.

Instead, he expects him to leave his future up to the board, knowing that he has a legend's reputation behind him from his previous exploits in charge.

O'Neill is a four-time Scottish Premiership champion and also has four Scottish Cups and one League Cup to his name with Celtic.

Martin O'Neill to leave board in difficult position

Aberdeen's former chief Wyness - who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs - believes that O'Neill is likely to leave the board in a difficult position.

The club hierarchy have been under fire from fans for several years now, and sacking a club legend in O'Neill could easily sour their reputation even further.

Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained why it may benefit O'Neill if he doesn't resign.

"If Martin decides not to go, he'd be putting the ball back in the court of the board, which makes me laugh because that's the last thing they'd want," he said.

"Martin could play a very cunning game, as I say, by saying he's going to stay and put it on the board to sack him. And then they'd have to sack an old legend, which makes them look bad as well. 

"But if they don't do anything, then they're not sacking him, and they're accepting the fact that things aren't going right. So he could put all the pressure back on them,

"He's a cunning old guy, and he could actually put the case back to Dermot Desmond."

Celtic have already interviewed Robbie Keane

Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that Robbie Keane is the "most likely" candidate to replace O'Neill if he departs.

The ex-recruitment man made it clear that the Bhoys interviewed the former Ferencvaros boss during their previous search to replace Wilfried Nancy.

Brown believes that Keane will be firmly in the frame again if a replacement for O'Neill is ultimately needed.

Kieran McKenna has also been heavily linked of late, while Neil Lennon has been established as the bookies' early favourite for the job.