Former Celtic midfielder Peter Grant has urged the club to stick with Martin O’Neill until at least the end of the year, insisting there’s no need to rush into appointing a permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers.
Grant’s comments come amid reports that Celtic officials have been conducting interviews in London this week with several managerial targets. However, CeltsAreHere understands that Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen is currently in Bergen with his family and has not been part of those discussions, while Club Brugge coach Nicky Hayen has not held talks with the club either.
O’Neill and Shaun Maloney are also expected to sit down with the Celtic hierarchy to discuss their own futures and the direction of the club moving forward.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Grant made it clear that, in his view, there’s no harm in keeping O’Neill at the helm through the festive period, especially with a League Cup Final just weeks away.
“What would I be thinking at this moment in time? For me, I would let it ride with Martin. I wouldn’t rush it,” said Grant.
“I would let the cup final come and go, maybe even up to the turn of the year, when the transfer window is about to open. It gives the club a bit of time to make what they think will be the right decision.
“Martin has fantastic experience and has done a fantastic job. If he doesn’t get the job full-time, and I don’t think that will be the case, not because he’s not done well, but because of the stage of life he’s at and all the travelling, I would still ask him to help.
“I’ve said the same thing about Rangers before. You ask someone like that to help and guide the new manager. He knows what it takes to be a Celtic manager.”
Martin O’Neill has stabilised the club during a turbulent spell and earned the right to see through December, even if Celtic’s long-term plan involves fresh leadership.
However, having a new manager in place now, so that he can assess the current squad for a month or so ahead of the January window, would be a massive boost.
