MARTIN PUT ME BACK DOWN TO THE RESERVES!

MARTIN O'NEILL might have ended Jim Goodwin's Celtic playing career, but the Dundee United manager reckons he is the ideal man to get the defending champions back on track.

- BY SCOTT BURNS

The legendary Northern Irishman is back for his third spell in charge of the Hoops after Wilfried Nancy's disastrous Parkhead stint.

Goodwin (above) was on Celtic's books in 2000 when O'Neill came in and ended Dick Advocaat's Rangers’ dominance - and he was an immediate casualty of the drive to up standards.

The Irishman said: “Martin came in and soon realised I wasn’t good enough - and put me back down in the reserves!

“He carried a great deal of respect within the dressing room. There were some strong characters in the dressing room like Chris Sutton, John Hartson, Paul Lambert, Neil Lennon - lots of big guys who have done great things in their career.

“But as soon as Martin entered the room, you could hear a pin drop.

“He had a certain aura about him that demanded respect from all the players.