Jackie McNamara has tipped Martin O’Neill to shelve retirement and stay on for another year as Celtic boss. The veteran gaffer, 74, has yet to decide on his future after steering the Hoops to a remarkable title triumph. His deal as interim manager expires on May 31, and Saturday’s Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline could prove to be his farewell.
McNamara, who spent five seasons playing under O’Neill, reckons the old master may find it impossible to walk away with a huge summer rebuild looming. “Will he stay on? I think he might. One more season. It would need to be a quick turnaround if someone was coming in now. There are a lot of things to be sorted in terms of the players and recruitment,” McNamara said.
After pipping Hearts to the title on the final day, Celtic now face just one qualifier to reach the Champions League group stage. The Hoops crashed out at the same hurdle last summer after a humiliating play-off defeat to Kazakh minnows Kairat Almaty. McNamara believes O’Neill’s vast experience would significantly reduce the risk of missing out on another £40million windfall.
McNamara expects a major squad overhaul in the coming weeks. Six loan players are set to return to their parent clubs, while Kasper Schmeichel has already confirmed his departure. The champions are also braced for interest in star men Daizen Maeda and Arne Engels, with fringe players Reo Hatate and Paulo Bernardo also expected to move on. Decisions have yet to be made over the futures of out-of-contract duo Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
If O’Neill remains in charge, McNamara believes signing a goalscorer will be at the top of his priority list. “I think there needs to be quite a few added. There'll be a few that maybe will leave as well. But, obviously, the striking department having a proper nine coming in,” he said.
McNamara also hopes stalwart Callum McGregor commits his future to the club amid murmurs of interest from Saudi Arabia. The captain recently warned Hoops chiefs he could consider his future unless the club matched his ambition. “It would be a big loss,” McNamara added.
