Martin O'Neill addresses prospect of staying at Celtic until Premier Sports Cup final as swansong delayed

O'Neill made it six wins out of seven as interim manager with a 2-1 victory over Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday to close the gap on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts to two points, with a game in hand.

The game had been expected to be O'Neill's swansong but a red-tape issue has held up the arrival of Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew, who is waiting in the wings to become the next permanent Celtic boss.

O'Neill will now be in the dugout against Dundee at Celtic Park on Wednesday in what he accepts will almost certainly be his final farewell. But with three huge matches against Hearts, Roma and then the cup final against St Mirren to follow, it was put to O'Neill that the club could choose to delay Nancy's appointment further.

“It’s a wee bit strange to be honest," admitted O'Neill. "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."

Asked whether he would be disappointed not to lead the team out at Hampden on December 14, O'Neill added: "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 admitted that his return to management at the age of 73 after six years away has given him a new lease of life as he refused to rule out taking another job elsewhere once he departs Celtic.

“It certainly has, just working with young people, with the odd exception at the training ground, has invigorated me, no question about it," he said. "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."

Two first-half goals within the space of 33 seconds from Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels earned Celtic the victory but they had to survive a late onslaught from Hibs who pulled one back in the second half through a Martin Boyle penalty.

“The game went maybe the way I thought it might do," O'Neill added. "I thought we’d lose energy in the second half.

“We played some great stuff in the first half and the second goal was like the way we played against Feyenoord, with some lovely moves as well.

“A third goal before half time would have been great, with the one that hit the post. Second half Hibs came roaring back, got the penalty and we were on the back foot.

“But we dug it out – and that was the most important thing. Just to win here was great, particularly after the exertions of Thursday night. We were probably out on our feet in the last 10 minutes but we seen it thought.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the team. They’ve shown some resilience as well as the ability to play more than decent football."