Celtic made a wise decision to extend Martin O'Neill's stay at the club, but it doesn't mean their search should end.
O'Neill is now expected to stay on as permanent Celtic boss following his the Bhoys' league and cup titles, but the appointment is unlikely to be a long-term one.
O'Neill decision is a short-term fix
The decision to keep O'Neill makes complete sense. He already has his feet under the table, there is no adjustment time over the summer and into next season, and he has the total respect of everyone involved in the club.
That will allow the veteran boss to truly take command of the positionm and he is more likely to get what he wants from recruitment and other necessary changes.
But there is no avoiding the fact that O'Neill is 74 years of age, and he has already raised concerns about being able to do the job on a day-to-day basis because of the energy it requires.
That means it is unlikely O'Neill will do mor than one season, and if he does, it is very uinlikely he will do more than two.
Now, it's impossible for Celtic to have any agreement in place more than a year in advance, but O'Neill will likely make it clear when he is going to leave from the get-go to allow the Hoops to be able to plan ahead.
And it would be a good idea for Celtic to start getting their ducks in a row as soon as possible. Football changes quickly, and those who are available now may not be in a year or more, but If the club can put together a shortlist of five ideal targets and monitor them over the next year, there is every chance at least one is available.
That shortlist should be added to and subtracted from accordingly along the way, and as the time gets nearer, the club would likely have conversations with representatives to get a feel for possible appointments. The time can also be used to put together a vision for the future, what kind of football the club sees being played, and the appointment can be made in line with that.
But that is the sort of homework the club needs to be doing as it prepares to hire a very senior boss in O'Neill. Some may feel as though that is in bad taste, but it is the nature of football, and it would also mean Celtic are far more equipped to deal with the situation should O'Neill leave before time, whether that is down to poor results or any kind of change in circumstances.
Celtic do not want to be caught cold during the season and relyng on interim bosses, and they want to make sure they are not caught on their heels next summer should O'Neill depart then.
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