The Irishman has been given a one-game extension to his interim tenure in the Parkhead dugout
15:36, 01 Dec 2025Updated 19:33, 01 Dec 2025
Martin O’Neill(Image: SNS Group)
Boss Martin O’Neill has shut down chat he will be “emotional” about leaving Celtic for a second time. The interim gaffer had his stay in the dugout extended as paperwork has delayed the arrival of Columbus Crew Wilfried Nancy.
O’Neill was in charge of the Hoops for their 2-1 win over Hibs at Easter Road in what he thought would be his last game. But the 73-year-old will now be in charge of the midweek showdown with Dundee at Celtic Park.
Frenchman Nancy is then expected to take charge for the first time in the top-of the-table battle with Hearts. That game will then be followed by a Europa League showdown with Roma and the Premier Sports Cup final clash with St Mirren.
Speaking to talkSPORT, O’Neill confirmed that Nancy would be replacing him as he laid out the state of play over his own status within the 48-year-old’s structure. Asked by host Jim White if the next boss will be Nancy, the Parkhead icon said: “He is the man that will be coming in
“I thought it was over on Sunday, but there’s some paperwork still to be dealt with. Wednesday will definitely be my final game. It’s been surreal. It’s like a part of your life where you think ‘did that really happen?’ Am I delighted that I’ve done it? Absolutely.
‘It wasn’t easy. There is a fear of failure for a start, but I always used to boast to Simon (Jordan, talkSPORT co-host) I could do the job equally as badly as a lot of other managers. I’ve learned a lot.
“I’ve had some great young coaches beside me – boys who have actually managed – and that has been great. It has been a reinvigoration of me in some ways, dealing with young people every day.”
Martin O’Neill talks Celtic on talkSPORT with Jim White
White then probed if he had heard anything about the club offering him a position within Celtic when Nancy steps into the dugout. He responded: “No, I really don’t know.
“And I think that will be for the manager to decide. He should be given free rein to pick his staff, which he will want to do, and anything else concerning football should really be up to him.
“If the incoming manager wants my opinion on things over the last number of weeks that is fine, if he doesn’t that is not a problem. I would never advise him, there is no such thing as advice to a fellow manager in that sense.”
Arsenal legend Martin Keown then asked if there would be a “collaboration” in the dugout for the crucial Hearts game between O’Neill and Nancy. He answered: “There has been no talk of collaboration.
“I will assume the manager that is coming in will have looked at our games, certainly our recent games, and then made some sort of decision for himself. I get back to the point, it’s very much his team when he steps into the breach.”
White then rounded off by quizzing O’Neill on if he would be “emotional” for his final game in charge. The Irishman quickly shut him down, firing back: “Do you mean am I going to cry? Don’t be stupid.”