Martin O’Neill makes surprise Celtic job admission in update on their permanent manager search

Martin O’Neill has revealed he will be Celtic manager for a little while longer.

It had been widely assumed that Sunday’s 2-1 win over Hibernian would be the 73-year-old’s last in interim charge.

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O’Neill answered principal shareholder Dermot Desmond’s call to steer the ship following Brendan Rodgers’ exit.

It was always intended to be a short-term fix as they searched for a new manager.

That man is likely to be Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew.

O’Neill was asked directly about the situation before Sunday’s win at Easter Road and admitted he could still be in charge for their next match.

He said: “Right. I thought it was my last game.

“Then I got a call yesterday to say the process is still ongoing and that there’s a really decent chance that I will still be here for Wednesday.

“I would love to say to you, you must be bored out of your brain hearing it, but I would think that would definitely be my last one.

“But I don’t know how many times I can say that to you.

“That would be it, if that was the case.”

talkSPORT understands that a work permit issue has delayed Nancy’s arrive at Parkhead.

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Martin O’Neill’s record

O’Neill got the shock call to return to Celtic just hours after appearing on talkSPORT.

Rodgers had stepped down after dropping eight points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts.

O’Neill has more than steadied the ship at Celtic, he has put them right back in the title race.

The Bhoys have won all four of their games under O’Neill and put them just two points behind Hearts with a game in hand.

He beat Rangers in the Scottish League Cup, while his only loss came to Midtjylland in the Europa League.

Reacting to the win over Hibs, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton wrote on X: “Martin O’Neill finding a way to win once again. Incredible job but he will know better than anyone this team is being stretched to their limit at present.

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“Plenty of resilience and fight but more quality needed. Great week for Celtic winning three tough away fixtures.”

Celtic are next in action against Dundee at home on Wednesday.