It is an exciting day for Celtic fans as it has been revealed by RecordSport that Shaun Maloney is under consideration for a sporting director role at the club. After helping the Hoops to a double, it's right that the board see him as part of our future, but he isn't the only one.
Martin O'Neill is someone who they see as having something more to offer. He came back this season after Brendan Rodgers resigned, returning yet again when Wilfried Nancy was sacked. He steadied the ship on both occasions and is a key reason why we ended the campaign with two trophies, and now, the Celts are set to speak with him about his future.
As things stand, he is the joint favourite to be the manager for the first game of the 26/27 Scottish Premiership season. The other contender is Robbie Keane, but fans would be much happier if the 74-year-old remained in the dugout.
However, he admitted after the Scottish Cup final win over Dunfermline that he isn't sure he'd be up for it. He said: "I would have thought in the last few weeks that they would be looking at options. They have to be because pre-season is coming. The advantage of us winning the league gives us an extra week.
"It’s nice to think “I’d love to do that again,’ but I really do not know. I think I must be in consideration for the job, even though it might be for a very short term.
"The point is this… It’s all right saying a year, and it sounds great today. I am not sure if we lost three of the first five, I’d be welcome. It doesn’t matter who you are. You have to win football matches.
"I don’t think I’ll ever lose the hunger or the passion for the game. Honestly, I really don’t. When they’re putting a lid on top of me, I think I’ll jump up and say ‘what’s the score?’ And hopefully Celtic have scored!
"But if you’re saying we’d start back in a week’s time, I genuinely couldn’t do that. I’ll have to have a think and I think in the next week I’ll meet up with the owner and see what he’s saying. But I will genuinely have a wee look at it to see.
"I’d be thinking, though, that for the football club to go forward properly, then they’d probably be looking at somebody younger.
"If you’re asking me if I’d have a project or something like that, no, I couldn’t do that. I wouldn’t have it. I’ve never believed in a project anyway, to tell you the truth. But I definitely couldn’t do that.
"Listen, this is a nice feeling. But the football club now will need to have a look to see."
Should Celtic keep O'Neill as manager?
Whether Celtic should keep O'Neill as manager is a difficult question. Of course, he is an incredible head coach and would do great things if he continued, but at the same time, it may be time to give him the send-off he deserved with a double, build the statue, and let him go back to his life outside of management.
It would be good for the Hoops to look at someone younger. If we can bring in an ambitious manager with fresh ideas, it could do Celtic a world of good. That may be hopeful, but we never know what will happen.
Keane recently resigned from his role as manager of Ferencvaros and could be paving the way for a move to Parkhead. He is a contentious choice, and there would likely be backlash if he were to be given the job, so if it is between him and O'Neill, keeping on the 74-year-old has to be the better option.
It shouldn't take long for us to find out, so let's hope for the best.
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