Martin O’Neill dismissed talk that he might stay in charge of Celtic beyond the Premier Sports League Cup final, even though the club has now asked him to continue as caretaker for one more game…
O’Neill oversaw a 2-1 win away to Hibs on Sunday, giving him six victories in seven matches as interim boss and cutting the deficit to Premiership leaders Hearts to just two points, with Celtic still holding a game in hand.
What was meant to be O’Neill’s final match in charge has been prolonged, as administrative delays have slowed Wilfried Nancy’s appointment from Columbus Crew, leaving the prospective new Celtic manager still unable to take over.
O’Neill is set to lead the team against Dundee at Celtic Park on Wednesday, acknowledging that it will almost certainly be his last game in charge of the Hoops.
However, with blockbuster fixtures looming against Hearts, Roma, and then St Mirren in the League Cup final, O’Neill was asked whether the club might opt to postpone Nancy’s arrival even longer.
“It’s a wee bit strange to be honest,” admitted O’Neill via Sky Sports. “I was joking that whatever has happened to the paperwork, I have no idea – maybe I’m hiding it! I only found out on Saturday, I genuinely thought this would be my last game.
“In fairness to the new manager coming in, the board have made their decision on that and it’s only fair to him to get in and get his feet under the table and look at the side. He has some really great games to look forward to coming up.
“Nothing will be easy, of course, but it’s an exciting time. I’ve not spoken to the man, but I’m quite sure he would want to get in here as soon as possible, to get going, and at least on the back of good results, and the team now starting to play with the confidence that has prevailed at this football club for some time.”
🤣 “I’ve been saying farewell to the players since I arrived!”
Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s win over Hibs, his ongoing role as interim boss, Wilfried Nancy & more ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/CvLEKHRlKI
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 30, 2025
Question whether he would be disappointed not to be in charge of this month’s cup final encounter against St Mirren at Hampden, the Irishman replied: “No, really. When I’m out of here and the final takes place, I might think about that. Not at the minute, I don’t. And this is my job, my job is just to go in and get things reorganised, for want of a better word, and go out the minute that they say it. So, yeah, that’s the way it is. But, in all of this, we’ve beaten Rangers, and that is massive.”
O’Neill acknowledged that stepping back into management at 73, after a six-year break, has re-energised him, and he hinted that he may be open to considering another role once his spell at Celtic ends.
He said: “It certainly has, just working with young people, with the odd exception at the training ground, has invigorated me, no question about it. Just being around footballers again and seeing how young players think about the game, I’ve learned a lot in the last six weeks.
“I’ve said before, the legacy doesn’t worry me a jot. Coming here and failing worried me more, really failing. That could have happened, but the players and the backroom staff have been brilliant.”
“I was blessed coming in here with young men who I’d managed and have gone on to become excellent coaches. They have been great to me and for me, so I can’t ask for any more. And the players’ response has been terrific, really terrific, especially the Feyenoord game, even if, to me, this one was more important.”
🗣️ “We’ll all agree that recruitment is absolutely vital…”
Martin O’Neill on Celtic’s strategy ahead of January transfer window ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/k3oTSK5l5w
— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) November 30, 2025
Conor Spence
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Personally believe that MoN and Maloney partnership will be in place for the cup final, hope so anyway imo?
The prospect of being top of the league, qualification into the knockout phase of the europa league, along with a cup final success, I would say is way to massive for MoN to walk away from imo?
Couldn’t ask for any better than 3 victories in 3 challenging away games, to totally rejuvenate our season.
Even so, there is still 4 challenges that have to be overcome for ourselves still.
Just next week, 3 massive games awaits, possibly the most challenging week we are facing for some time now imo?
Even so, the renewed confidence within our playing squad is massive, despite the injury list, and competition growing in a number of positions now in place.
Keeping hold of the jersey in a starting line-up, with having options available from the bench, is where our club should be at?
Maybe not as strong as we would like, to have a more rotational policy in place for ourselves at present.
So trying to use the game management approach moreso.
That’s OK for ourselves, but hopefully it doesn’t become an issue if we are chasing a game?
Still think it might be unfair upon Nancy stepping in, with such a challenging 4 game programme in place.
Not even convinced that he actually wants to either imo?
Taking over the managers job would be far easier for himself, with our club in a good place. Than facing the prospect of it going wrong and actual questions getting asked, as to why make such a change after Wednesday?
Fail to see how beneficial it can be to making such a potential change after Wednesday imo?
Martin O’Niell is living the dream for me. He is the fairytale. He is the story of the season. It is breaking my heart he’s not being given the job full time. He wants it. Look at the way he’s being treated and he’s so humble.
WE LOVE MARTIN ICON.
GIVE HIM THE CUP FINAL FFFS!!!!
P.S. GET THE SHREDDER OUT. TEAR UP NANCY CONTRACT. RIP IT UP.
NANCY STAY IN AMERICA. WE DONT WANT YOU
SABOTAGE THE DEAL. NANCY. SABOTAGE. STAY AWAY.