O'Neill steers Celtic to final after 20 years away

There have been wackier weeks in the history of Celtic, but not many.

- Ewan Murray

This one concluded with their 73-year-old interim manager being serenaded by an adoring support having guided the team past the 10 men of Rangers and into Scotland’s League Cup final.

Will Martin O’Neill still be in charge when Celtic return to Hampden Park in mid-December? O’Neill claimed he did not even know when the final would take place. He was sticking to his theory that Celtic would have a permanent manager in place during the upcoming international window.

"I don’t think there will be that conversation," said O’Neill when asked whether he was open to an extended spell. "It is all about results and whether the board think about taking their time.” There is also surely an element of whether the hierarchy view O’Neill as a more credible candidate than he will admit. His standing with supporters helps directors who have faced vehement protests.

It was impossible not to reflect on all that came before. On the previous Sunday, Celtic had been swatted aside by Hearts as Brendan Rodgers vowed to work harder than ever to oversee a change in fortunes. Rodgers left a day later, his departure being confirmed immediately before an astonishing attack by the club’s main shareholder, Dermot Desmond. Enter O'Neill, who has removed the sense of turmoil with back-to-back wins.