Ex-Celtic man 'the number one candidate' for manager's role as Rangers 'closed shop' attitude slammed

O’Neill, 74, stepped out of retirement in October to take charge of the club on an interim basis after Brendan Rodgers resigned. Wilfried Nancy then took over in December, but following Nancy's sacking in January, O’Neill returned on a deal lasting until the end of the season.

Currently three points behind league leaders Hearts ahead of a vital clash with Rangers at Parkhead on Sunday, Ferencvaros head coach Keane has been listed amongst the bookies’ favourites to replace O’Neill as boss at the end of the current season, and former Scotland international Don Hutchison believes the Irishman is the ideal candidate to take over in the dugout.

“I've watched his team a lo,” said Hutchinson. “I commentate on the Europa League and Conference League, and Ferencvaros have done really well. I think he plays good football. I think one day he'll want to come back. He got linked with the Spurs job, didn't he? When [Ange] Postecoglou was leaving, or just before, and I think Spurs were angling to give him a contract at the end of the season.

“He said no - and why would he? If he comes back, he's going to want years on his contract so he can put a project in and build. So I think if Martin O'Neill left, Robbie Keane would be a fantastic appointment. I think he'd probably be the number one candidate, actually.”

With Hearts set to face Motherwell 24 hours before Celtic’s clash with Rangers this weekend, O’Neill’s side could start the Old Firm derby six points off the pace in the Scottish Premiership title race, and Hutchison believes both Glasgow giants have fallen behind their Edinburgh rivals after resting on their laurels for too long.

“I'm leaning toward Hearts [for the title],” Hutchison told BestBettingSites. “I think they've got momentum, and I think they've got a goalscorer in [Lawrence] Shankland. We've talked about him; he is a must for Scotland's World Cup in the summer. Steve Clarke was at the game and his finish was excellent. It’s probably turned into a two-horse race now.

“There's a big game for Rangers coming up where they play Celtic at Celtic Park, which is massive. I think the gap that Hearts have got on Rangers might be too much. So I think it's a straight shootout now - a straight duel between Hearts and Celtic for the league. I'd like to see Hearts win it. I think the Martin O'Neill story is a great story if he can win the league. I think that's an amazing story for him. I still think it'd be great for Scottish football if Hearts won the league, because it might just liven Rangers and Celtic up.

“The attitude in Scotland over the last five or so years has been, ‘Right, it's only Celtic and Rangers that are going to win the league; we don't need to really improve - one of us can just get by winning the league.’ If Hearts win, it might shake them both up to think we've got to raise the standards again here, and I think that would be a good thing.”

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