BIG RETURN IS A PROPER JFK MOMENT

MICHAEL GANNON joins jubilant Celtic fans at The Coachman Hotel in Kilsyth as Martin O'Neill takes the stage after his return to club

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AT first there were murmurs. Then cheers. Then it was the song that echoed around Celtic Park 20 years ago and again for five surreal weeks before Christmas.

Martin O'Neill, Martin O'Neill. Except this wasn't Celtic Park. It was The Coachman Hotel in Kilsyth, where 200 or so Hoops fans couldn't quite believe the news coming through. Or their luck.

In a season more bonkers than any box set on Netflix, this was yet another surreal twist.

News of O'Neill's return to Celtic for a third spell as boss came about an hour before he was due on stage for a fan event.

The Northern Irishman could have pulled out the second Dermot Desmond got back on the blower with yet another SOS. But he felt he owed it to his paying public, having already postponed for personal reasons last week.

The atmosphere was strange. The fact it was going ahead had most fearing it meant O'Neill actually wouldn't be back in the dugout after all.