O'Neill's spell as interim manager at Parkhead comes to an end against Dundee tonight
10:36, 03 Dec 2025
View 2 Images
Martin O'Neill(Image: SNS Group)
Former Premier League striker Dean Saunders is baffled by Celtic's decision to not offer Martin O'Neill the manager gig again on a full-time basis.
And the Welshman speculates that the Irishman must have turned the job down, amid Wilfried Nancy's imminent arrival at Parkhead. The Frenchman touched down in Glasgow on Tuesday night to complete his switch from Columbus Crew and is expected to take charge of training for the first time on Thursday.
Before that, O'Neill will get a second send-off from Hoops fans when he takes to the dugout for the final time with the visit of Dundee tonight. The 73-year-old stepped into the hotseat in the wake of Brendan Rodgers' shock resignation at the end of October and has led Celtic to six wins in his seven matches in charge in all competitions.
And ex Liverpool forward Saunders - who went onto manage the likes of Wrexham, Wolves and Chesterfield - has an alternative view on Celtic's decision to appoint Nancy. Speaking to Boyle Sports, he said: "I can’t understand why they haven’t given Martin O’Neill the job.
"He obviously knows people inside out. He's also a good judge of men. He's like a therapist to players, he works out what makes you tick. And he's 70-odd now, so he's even wiser than he was before. He might not have the energy on the training pitch that he had, but he's got other people doing that.
"It can only be that he said he doesn't want to do it. He must have said, ‘I'm not doing this permanently. I've got a life to lead.' Because it does take over your life, 24 hours a day.
"I've done it for 15 years, and one day my son walked in the living room and I said, ‘Flippin' heck, you've grown.’ And I thought, ‘Have I just said that?’ I obviously had not noticed, because you're that oblivious to what's going on.
"You're wrapped up in the football, you don't sleep. You never get a day off, you've always got something to do.
"Martin probably knew it's going to take up all his life.
View 2 Images
Incoming Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy
"So he's either said I don't want to do it or they decided he's too old and that they needed someone younger.
"As if the players don't relate to the manager because he's too old. It's not stopping Martin O'Neill. They won nearly every game, they were a shambles before he came in."
Follow Record Sport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for all of the up-to-the minute breaking news, video and audio on the SPFL, the Scotland national team and beyond.
You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Celtic page and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season.
We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Celtic community here.
Article continues below
Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.