Loads of gossip about O'Neil leaving Celtic end of next season and going to Manure. Shame, I was hoping we may get him when Bobby goes. IMO those two Irishmen O'Neil and O'Leary are head & shoulders above the other 'young' managers in Britain.

PS also rumours of G Graham going to Rangers. Anyone else heard these?

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2001

Answers

Forget O`Neil to Man U, (unless the board will not give him the money to purchase big for CL next season), like Lennon its a Northern Ireland thing , He is a Cloughie Clone with charm , a very good man manager. Graham for Advocat, mmm , could be but that will be a first for David Murray who always backs his manager, lot depends on his buys idea is for Cannegia to team up with Flo.

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2001

I recall O'Neil being interviewed some years ago, when in charge of Wycombe about the Norwich vacancy with which he'd been linked. Norwich were then still in the top-flight, and as a rising young manager, and popular ex-player, O'Neil topped the wanted list. O'Neil was his usual diplomatic self but was quite clear he was staying put: "If I said I was interested you'd accuse me of lacking loyalty to Wycombe, I say I'm not interested I'd be accused of lacking ambition, either way I'm staying at Wycombe"(or something similar). I was impressed. I guess the point I'm trying to make is, like Buff, I wouldn't take it as read that O'Neil would automatically jump at the chance of following Alex Ferguson. He's shown loyalty before, and as an Ulster Catholic Celtic aren't just any club.

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2001

I remember all those lower divisions promises and was mightily impressed at him having a career plan and sticking to it. The challenge of taking Celtic to greatness is too big to ignore. Rangers have dominated yet failed abysmally in Europe. Celtic have waited thirty years for the new Jock Stein and both Celtic and O'Neill know the moment has come.

If I was the Man U heirarchy I'd be questioning O'Neill anyway. He has done superbly whereever he's been but hasn't bought not managed players in the prima donna level. O'Leary has.

Man U want to be seen to be European/Worldly and this may push them to go foriegn, to show off their worldliness. Not sure who that means as I'm not a great follower of these things.

Or of course there is Peter Reid

-- Anonymous, April 24, 2001