MARTIN: I WON'T PLAY THE LONG GAME

MARTIN O'NEILL insists he won't be in the frame to become permanent Parkhead boss again - even if Celtic leave Hampden tomorrow with a cup final in the diary.

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

The stand-in boss is a hero to Hoops fans and victory over Rangers in their Premier Sports Cup semifinal would turbocharge the season.

Celtic have kicked off the hunt for a new gaffer after the shock departure of Brendan Rodgers on Monday.

Ipswich Town's Kieran McKenna, Wales boss Craig Bellamy, Robbie Keane and England Under-21 coach Lee Carsley are among the early favourites.

Former Ireland boss O'Neill and assistant Shaun Maloney got off to a flier against Falkirk with Wednesday's 4-0 victory, watched by major shareholder Dermot Desmond.

And there would be plenty of backing for the pair to land the gig full-time if they can engineer a triumph over Danny Roht's Ibrox side.

But O'Neill said: “The only people who would be saying that are my two daughters!