Celtic: Does Martin O’Neill want to stay? And can club afford to let him go?

The problem this time was that he neither had the same standard of players nor was there harmony in the club. Turn on the fan revolt. Bad hiring. A tough challenge from the new-look Hearts.

But O’Neill still couldn’t say no to Celtic. Following back-to-back home defeats at the end of Rodgers’ reign, his fellow Northern Irishman embarked on a run of five league wins and a League Cup semi-final victory over Rangers.

The club grimly thanked O’Neill for his renewed service and went ahead with the appointment of Wilfried Nancy in December.

O’Neill returned in January to attempt to preside over a chaotic transfer window while picking up the pieces of a badly damaged league campaign. Celtic were level with Rangers but six points behind Hearts.

They almost crashed out of the Scottish Cup against Dundee at home, but O’Neill’s Celtic have a strong squad. Junior Adamu’s late, late equalizer paved the way for the sunny Hampden victory the club had just enjoyed.

But the cup is just icing on the cake. The biggest success was defending the league championship. O’Neill achieved this with a win rate of over 80 percent. Here are his Premiership numbers: 23 played, 19 wins, two draws, two defeats.

Impressive by any standards. But in the midst of a season of change and chaos in Glasgow’s east end, they are extremely conspicuous.

The consensus is that this is a Celtic team well past its sell-by date. But O’Neill’s man-management skills earned them two major awards, even though both seemed unlikely.