‘Definitely’ – Celtic told to appoint Martin O’Neill alongside the new manager
Celtic should try to keep Martin O’Neill on in an advisory role to the new permanent manager when his spell as interim boss comes to an end.
That is the verdict of Premier League legend Matt Le Tissier, who has exclusively told Football Insider that he feels the 73-year-old’s experience would be useful to help guide whoever becomes the new Celtic boss on a full-time basis.
Martin O’Neill has been interim manager at Celtic ever since Brendan Rodgers shockingly resigned at the end of last month.
The veteran boss has done a stellar job so far, with three wins and one loss in his four games in charge with ex-Hoops player Shaun Maloney as his assistant in the dugout.
French boss Wilfried Nancy is in the driving seat to be named as Celtic’s new manager, but O’Neill could find himself staying on at Parkhead even if he loses his interim duties soon.
O’Neill would be useful to Nancy as he takes over an unfamiliar group of players
Celtic have confirmed that O’Neill will be staying on for now as they take on St Mirren this coming weekend, but that may well end up being his last game in charge.
Nancy is set to join and be backed by Parkhead chiefs in January as they aim to close the gap with Hearts in the Scottish Premiership title race.
Celtic’s board has been slammed by supporters in recent times for their lack of vision and good planning, and O’Neill has already told them that the club needs “a new, probably younger manager coming in” to move things forward.
As well as knowing the club well after helping them to three league titles in the early 2000’s, the veteran boss has some prior experience of being an advisor after being appointed as the chairman of the League Manager’s Association (LMA) last year.
Le Tissier urges Celtic board to keep O’Neill on
In an exclusive interview with Football Insider, Le Tissier has admitted that he is concerned about Nancy and his lack of managerial experience outside of North America.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former England and Southampton striker also insisted that he wants to see O’Neill offered a role above the permanent boss, whoever that may be, once his interim spell in charge is over soon.
He said: “I think it would be wise maybe for Celtic to keep him on, but in a maybe more higher role, something like that.
“Yeah, I think perhaps an advisory role to the new manager until he kind of finds his feet in Scottish football would be a pretty sensible move, definitely.“