Former Celtic midfielder Charlie Mulgrew believes Martin O'Neill agreed to stay on as Hoops boss for the cash after last season's success. The Bhoys won a league and cup double last season, with O'Neill coming in and saving what could have been a disastrous campaign that had already seen two managerial sackings.
O'Neill wasn't sure whether he wanted to take on the job full-time, but he ultimately agreed a one-year deal with the option of a further year, and we have seen mixed results since. Celtic are still top of the Premiership, but they have blown a four-goal lead to crash out of the Champions League and have now lost all of their last three games, including two Old Firm fixtures.
O'Neill will not be sacked, but he has said he could walk away if he comes to the conclusion that he cannot fix some of the existing issues, some of which are down to the club's poor summer recruitment.
Speaking on The Breakdown, former Hoops midfielder Mulgrew theorised that O'Neill only stayed on for the money.
“A lot of Celtic fans that I am meeting are saying that Martin O’Neill should have just ridden off into the sunset after Celtic won the double," he said. "My take on that is, that’s fair enough, but my opinion is Martin O’Neill would have liked to have done that, like we all would, but his reward would have been a contract. A two-year contract, worth X amount.”
“If he just walks away and says ‘thanks’, I don’t think he is getting a penny – or he is getting very little – compared to what he is due now. If they got rid of him now, it would be close to £1million he is owed, I would imagine.
“I think the standoff now is Martin O’Neill still thinks he can do the job, and I don’t think Martin O’Neill is leaving with no money. I don’t think Celtic want to pay him. Things aren’t a disaster right now; he has only lost three games, three big games, and that is a disaster at Celtic sometimes – but if you actually take a step back, he is still top of the league.
“There is still a lot that can be done this season. If there is one man that can do it. So my point is, I think he would have liked to have done that [left in the summer], but how do you knock back that contract and that money regardless of what age you are?”
One would imagine O'Neill is doing okay for money, given the long and successful career he has had in the game, but you never know, and some people are motivated by extra money regardless.
Ultimately, it's only a theory that can be supported or shot down by O'Neill himself, but judging by how he has been speaking, the veteran would walk away without much care for the money if he doesn't fancy doing the job anymore.
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