Celtic have now been dealt yet another frustrating blow to their search for a new manager, having been told how long they will have to wait before appointing Ketil Knudsen.
The Boys are in no hurry. After the shock departure of Brendan Rodgers, they knew they couldn’t afford to make a mistake with their next appointment and handed Martin O’Neill his place on an interim basis to buy time.
To the 73-year-old’s credit, he’s rolled back his years in the dugout so far. Apart from the defeat to Midtjylland in the Champions League, wins against long-established rivals Rangers and Falkirk represent a step in the right direction.
But even after those three games, O’Neal continues to distance himself from full-time employment. He told reporters in midweek that he intended to remain at Celtic until they no longer needed him, before revealing he would be “absolutely fine” with Sunday’s game against Kilmarnock being his last.
“To be honest, I’m not worried about legacy at all, I’ve never been. If you’re talking about legacy, you can talk a little bit about Jock Stein and that great 1967 team.
“I really don’t worry about that one bit, it’s never happened to me. If I’m dead, I’m dead. On a really serious note, if Sunday is my last game, that’s totally fine with me.”
Sadly, as Celtic’s search for their next manager continues, rumors persist that they could turn to O’Neill, at least until the end of the season. It’s easy to see why. The Northern Irishman is experienced and would be a safe option until a suitable candidate emerges.
The decision to keep the interim boss in place until at least next year will allow Parkhead chiefs to play the long game and perhaps secure a top candidate for the job in the long term.
Fresh Knudsen problem by Celtic
As told by Graham Bailey on 67 Hail Hail, Knudsen wants to finish his Champions League campaign with Bodø/Glimt before taking the Celtic job. This means the Bhoys may have to wait until next year as the Norwegian side’s last group game will take place in 2026.
He is currently in 29th place and is unlikely to qualify for the next stage. This means Bodo’s last Champions League game is likely to be against Atletico Madrid in January before he is completely out of football until March. At that point, it would make perfect sense for Knudsen to take the job.
Also boosting Celtic’s pursuit is that the 57-year-old is reportedly keen to take the job if their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League come true. So the big question for Celtic will be whether he is worth the wait.
If you dig deeper into his history, you’ll find that the Bodo/Glimt boss is certainly an interesting option. Knudsen, who has been in charge of the club since 2018 and has won four Norwegian league titles, put his managerial expertise on full display this season in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on the European stage.
